Category: Dance Reviews

Dance Reviews 2021

Daring ‘To The Pointe’ Opens Milwaukee Ballet’s 2020-21 Season in Style [REVIEW]

Milwaukee BalletTo The PointeOn Demand Digital Stage ProductionFebruary 25 – March 7, 2021 Reviewed by Steve Sucato Coming on the heels of a year disrupted by pandemic, Milwaukee Ballet artistic director Michael Pink made the bold decision to open the company’s 2020-21 season with a program of challenging classical ballet works. Not fearing dancer technique rust from the sporadic training schedules that have been the … Continue reading Daring ‘To The Pointe’ Opens Milwaukee Ballet’s 2020-21 Season in Style [REVIEW]

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment
Dance Reviews 2020

PNB’s Rep 2 Highlighted by Lang’s Brilliant ‘Ghost Variations’ [REVIEW]

Pacific Northwest BalletRep 2Digital Stage PerformanceNovember 12-16, 2020Reviewed by Steve Sucato Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Rep 2 digital stage production began with a “Five Minute Call,” a short film by principal dancer Dylan Wald. The film was a candid, behind-the-scenes look at PNB company members and musicians preparing to perform Rep 2. Most entertaining were scenes of dancers goofing off in the dressing rooms and hallways … Continue reading PNB’s Rep 2 Highlighted by Lang’s Brilliant ‘Ghost Variations’ [REVIEW]

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment
Dance Reviews 2021

EVIDENCE makes it clear; Choreographer Ronald K. Brown is the King of Smooth [REVIEW]

Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCELivestream – The Joyce Theater, New YorkFebruary 18, 2021 Reviewed by Steve Sucato Brooklyn-based Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE’s livestream performance from The Joyce Theater Thursday night was like many pandemic produced programs these days in that it was a collection of mostly solos and duets. A continuation of the company’s 35th anniversary celebration, the program nonetheless left a lasting impression of award-winning choreographer Ronald … Continue reading EVIDENCE makes it clear; Choreographer Ronald K. Brown is the King of Smooth [REVIEW]

Unknown's avatarartsair1 Comment
Dance Reviews 2020

Verb Ballets: ‘Carnival Macabre’, ‘Building Bridges Together’ [REVIEWS]

Reviewed by Steve Sucato Carnival MacabreVerb Ballets with Neil ZazaVirtual PerformanceOctober 30, 2020 Created as a stand-in for Verb Ballets and guitarist Neil Zaza’s popular One Dark Night…, A Rock Symphony of the Macabre (2019), Carnival Macabre (2020) was a made for the internet short film seeking to capture the spirit of One Dark Night’s Halloween rock symphony live show. The October 30 pay-to-view virtual … Continue reading Verb Ballets: ‘Carnival Macabre’, ‘Building Bridges Together’ [REVIEWS]

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment
Dance Reviews 2020

‘Echo Mine v2’ Brings Message of Loss and Remembrance to Global Audience [REVIEW]

Califone and Robyn Mineko Williams & ArtistsEcho Mine v2Audiotree STAGED Series WebcastOctober 27, 2020 Reviewed by Steve Sucato For those who missed Echo Mine, Robyn Mineko Williams and Artists and Chicago experimental rock band Califone’s acclaimed 2019 collaboration, October 27th’s online restaging, Echo Mine v2 offered up an even more in-depth viewing experience than perhaps the live show.  The evening-length work was inspired by and … Continue reading ‘Echo Mine v2’ Brings Message of Loss and Remembrance to Global Audience [REVIEW]

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment
Dance Reviews 2020

‘Fall For DANCECleveland’ Virtual Dance Film Series Hits Entertainment Bullseye [REVIEW]

Reviewed by Steve Sucato For DANCECleveland’s second virtual dance film series, Fall For DANCECleveland (October 10 -November 18), the 64-year-old dance-only presenting organization culled together five previously recorded dance films of works by three dance companies familiar to their audiences and one new to them. And as with their other pay-to-view virtual dance film series this summer, Fall For DANCECleveland came with bonus features including … Continue reading ‘Fall For DANCECleveland’ Virtual Dance Film Series Hits Entertainment Bullseye [REVIEW]

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment
Dance Reviews 2020

‘Inside’ the Class of GroundWorks’ Outdoor Dance Film Screenings [REVIEW]

GroundWorks DanceTheaterDrive In Dance Film ScreeningsDunham Tavern Museum Parking LotCleveland, OhioOctober 31, 2020 Reviewed by Steve Sucato Part of GroundWorks DanceTheater’s nextSPACE Fall 2020 programming, the company presented a screening of two dance films October 31 at Dunham Tavern Museum’s parking lot in Cleveland. Facing a giant inflatable screen provided by Free Akron Outdoor Movies, a select number of audience vehicles were lined up drive-in … Continue reading ‘Inside’ the Class of GroundWorks’ Outdoor Dance Film Screenings [REVIEW]

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment
Dance Reviews 2020

Despite Inclement Weather and Staging Compromises, Cleveland Ballet’s ‘The Magic Flute’ Delivers Modicum of Artistic Magic [REVIEW]

Cleveland Ballet – The Magic FluteStan Hywet Hall & GardensAkron, OhioSaturday, October 17, 2020 Reviewed by Steve Sucato Adopting the adage “the show must go on,” Cleveland Ballet’s dancers braved forty-degree weather to perform their new production of The Magic Flute outdoors at Akron’s Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens on October 17. Using stage side heaters and a warming tent for the dancers that helped … Continue reading Despite Inclement Weather and Staging Compromises, Cleveland Ballet’s ‘The Magic Flute’ Delivers Modicum of Artistic Magic [REVIEW]

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment
Dance Reviews 2020

Dickinson’s ‘KL3668′ Highlights Verb Ballets’ Engaging ‘NeoClassical Lines’ Program [REVIEW – Arts Air]

Verb BalletsNeoClassical Lines – ACCESS/Verb LivestreamOctober 9, 2020 Reviewed by Steve Sucato Founded in 1987 as The Repertory Project and changing its name (and vision) in 2003, Verb Ballets has had a history of reinvention and adaptation. Keeping with the latter, Verb was one of the first Northeast, Ohio dance troupes to fully embrace virtual performance programming because of the global pandemic. Rather than going the dance film … Continue reading Dickinson’s ‘KL3668′ Highlights Verb Ballets’ Engaging ‘NeoClassical Lines’ Program [REVIEW – Arts Air]

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment
Dance Reviews 2020

Whim W’Him’s ‘Choreographic Shindig VI’ ups the ante on Virtual Dance Offerings [REVIEW-Arts Air]

Reviewed by Steve Sucato The global pandemic caught many dance companies big and small flat-footed when it came to alternative ways to do what they do. And while some of the big budget troupes may have the capability of throwing more resources into creative virtual performance solutions, it has been forward-thinking smaller dance organizations that have been making the most noise and producing some of … Continue reading Whim W’Him’s ‘Choreographic Shindig VI’ ups the ante on Virtual Dance Offerings [REVIEW-Arts Air]

Unknown's avatarartsairLeave a comment