Gerald Arpino: His time to be celebrated
By Steve Sucato The Joffrey Ballet, co-founded in 1956 by Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, is proudly described on the company website as “America’s Company of Firsts.” It was the first dance company to appear on American television, the first to grace the cover of Time magazine, the first to perform at the White House, and the first classical dance company to use multimedia and a rock music … Continue reading Gerald Arpino: His time to be celebrated
Tap Dance Production Brings a Taste of Brazil’s Carnival to Cleveland [REVIEW]
Music From the Sole – I Didn’t Come To StayCain Park’s Evans AmphitheaterCleveland Heights, OHAugust 5, 2023 By Steve Sucato For their triumphant Ohio debut, New York-based music and tap dance troupe Music From the Sole created a joyous, party vibe Saturday night at Cain Park’s Evans Amphitheater with their production I Didn’t Come To Stay (2022). Presented by DANCECleveland to open their 67th season, … Continue reading Tap Dance Production Brings a Taste of Brazil’s Carnival to Cleveland [REVIEW]
Verb, Ohio Contemporary Ballet Cain Park Program to Celebrate Retiring Dancer Lieneke Matte [PREVIEW]
By Steve Sucato After a decade with the company, beloved dancer Lieneke Matte is retiring from Verb, Ohio Contemporary Ballet. The company will recognize Matte with the free program, Celebrating the Career of Lieneke Matte, on June 23 at Cain Park’s Evans Amphitheatre. A native of the Bronx, New York, Matte received her early dance training at New York’s Ballet Tech, the School of American … Continue reading Verb, Ohio Contemporary Ballet Cain Park Program to Celebrate Retiring Dancer Lieneke Matte [PREVIEW]
Cleveland’s Dancing Wheels Company to Honor Legendary Ladies of Jazz
Cleveland’s Dancing Wheels Company & School brings to life the passionate and dynamic work of women of color who revolutionized the 1920s─1950s jazz era in Legendary Ladies of Jazz, a dance concert celebrating female vocalists and muscians who changed the tenor and tone of Jazz music and paved the way for female muscians going forward. The inspiring and spirited concert takes place at Playhouse Square’s … Continue reading Cleveland’s Dancing Wheels Company to Honor Legendary Ladies of Jazz
Paul Vasterling Reflects on His More Than Three-Decade Career at Nashville Ballet
By Steve Sucato for Pointe Magazine In his 33 years with Nashville Ballet, artistic director Paul Vasterling has left an indelible mark on the organization. This month, he retires from the company, marking the end of an era. A Louisiana-bayou native, Vasterling joined Nashville Ballet in 1989 as a dancer. After a back injury cut short his performance career, he became the company’s ballet master … Continue reading Paul Vasterling Reflects on His More Than Three-Decade Career at Nashville Ballet
Classic Dance Works Prove Their Staying Power in Limón Dance Company Program [REVIEW]
Limón Dance CompanyPlayhouse Square’s Mimi Ohio TheatreCleveland, OhioApril 22, 2023 By Steve Sucato The idiom “An oldie but a goodie” was apropos this past Saturday night at Playhouse Square’s Mimi Ohio Theatre as New York’s Limón Dance Company presented a program of three delightful modern dance classics and one gritty contemporary dance work as part of their 75th Anniversary Tour. Co-presented by DANCECleveland and Cuyahoga … Continue reading Classic Dance Works Prove Their Staying Power in Limón Dance Company Program [REVIEW]
Part Two of DanceWorks Series to Feature More of Cleveland’s Dance Stalwarts [PREVIEW]
By Steve Sucato (with Kim Furganson) In welcoming back eager audiences to re-engage with its annual DanceWorks series again, Cleveland Public Theatre decided on a two-part approach. In Part One of the series that ran from February 23 – March 11, Cleveland mainstay dance company Inlet Dance Theatre was paired with two relatively new dance troupes to Cleveland’s dance scene, MadJax Dance Company, and Reflections Dance Theater. … Continue reading Part Two of DanceWorks Series to Feature More of Cleveland’s Dance Stalwarts [PREVIEW]
‘Nina-isms’ highlight Cleveland Ballet’s Masterclass with Legendary Ballerina Nina Ananiashvili
By Steve Sucato The week before Nina Ananiashvili’s State Ballet of Georgia’s U.S. tour began, the former Bolshoi Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and Houston Ballet star came to Cleveland to fulfill a promise she made to friend Gladisa Guadalupe to teach a masterclass for her Cleveland Ballet. Ananiashvili and Guadalupe became fast friends after meeting as jurors at the Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition in 2019. … Continue reading ‘Nina-isms’ highlight Cleveland Ballet’s Masterclass with Legendary Ballerina Nina Ananiashvili
With Steady Growth, Ballet Arkansas Is Making Its Presence Known in Little Rock and Beyond
By Steve Sucato for Pointe + Magazine With roots that can be traced back to 1966, Ballet Arkansas has had an off-and-on history as a professional dance company. During a period in the 1980s, the company had some paid dancers and an academy, and it presented tours by Mikhail Baryshnikov, Rudolf Nureyev, Miami City Ballet, and others. “But it was really in 2009 that the organization affirmed … Continue reading With Steady Growth, Ballet Arkansas Is Making Its Presence Known in Little Rock and Beyond
Grand Rapids’ Romeo & Juliet: James Sofranko’s first full-length story ballet [REVIEW]
By Steve Sucato for Dance International Magazine The crown jewel in Grand Rapids Ballet’s 50th anniversary season, artistic director James Sofranko’s Romeo and Juliet, was decidedly a traditional classical ballet take on Shakespeare’s famous tale. The three-act production plus epilogue, the first full-length story ballet the former San Francisco Ballet soloist has choreographed, premiered on February 17 at home in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in the DeVos Performance Hall. … Continue reading Grand Rapids’ Romeo & Juliet: James Sofranko’s first full-length story ballet [REVIEW]
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