From Raining Feathers and T.S. Eliot Poetry to Puppetry and Fitzgerald’s Gatsby, Chamber Dance Project’s Latest Production is Must See [PREVIEW]

By Steve Sucato In its 22nd season and ninth in Washington, D.C., Chamber Dance Project is once again branching out in its repertory offerings. With its upcoming production Grace, Grandeur & Gatsby, June 16 – 19 at American University’s Greenberg Theatre in Washington, Artistic Director/Choreographer Diane Coburn Bruning has programmed two unique-for-the-company world premiere works along with the return of three recent repertory favorites and … Continue reading From Raining Feathers and T.S. Eliot Poetry to Puppetry and Fitzgerald’s Gatsby, Chamber Dance Project’s Latest Production is Must See [PREVIEW]

Cincinnati Ballet: Triumphant Bold Moves Festival [REVIEW]

Cincinnati BalletProcter & Gamble Hall at the Aronoff Center for the ArtsPittsburgh, PA May 21, 2022, afternoon and eveningBold Moves Festival Program 1: Petal, Nine Sinatra Songs, Minus 16Program 2: Children of the Passage (Dayton Contemporary Dance Company), Our Story (world premiere), Bolero Steve Sucato for CriticalDance.org For her last production as Cincinnati Ballet’s Artistic Director, Victoria Morgan programmed a mix of tried-and-true repertory favorites along with a new ballet by company dancer … Continue reading Cincinnati Ballet: Triumphant Bold Moves Festival [REVIEW]

Celebrated Choreographer Donald Byrd Talks about his New Work for Dancing Wheels and the National Physically Integrated Dance Festival [PREVIEW]

By Steve Sucato The National Physically Integrated Dance Festival: Beyond Barriers, Boundaries & Belief! brings together dancers with and without disabilities in a three-company, three-city tour beginning in Cleveland, this Friday, June 10 at Playhouse Square’s Allen Theatre. Conceived by the Dancing Wheels Company founding artistic director Mary Verdi-Fletcher, the nation’s oldest physically integrated dance company now in its 41st season, will host the first … Continue reading Celebrated Choreographer Donald Byrd Talks about his New Work for Dancing Wheels and the National Physically Integrated Dance Festival [PREVIEW]

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Alexandra Kochis Reflects on her Career, her Swan Song Performance, and What’s Next

By Steve Sucato After a 27-years career as a professional dancer with the last 16 of those years spent at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT), beloved principal dancer Alexandra Kochis will take her final bow this Saturday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m., in a new version of Swan Lake by outgoing company Artistic Director Susan Jaffe. Kochis will dance the lead roles of Odette/Odile in the … Continue reading Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Alexandra Kochis Reflects on her Career, her Swan Song Performance, and What’s Next

Alejandro Cerrudo, Charlotte Ballet’s New Artistic Director, Talks About His Vision for the Company

By Steve Sucato for Pointe Magazine Each step along Alejandro Cerrudo’s 24-year career, he’s planted the seeds for his next area of growth in the dance field. Born in Madrid, he first became a dancer, then a choreographer and, most recently, the producer of his own dance projects. Now, the 41-year-old is taking his next step, as Charlotte Ballet’s new artistic director. On April 7, the company … Continue reading Alejandro Cerrudo, Charlotte Ballet’s New Artistic Director, Talks About His Vision for the Company

Susan Jaffe to Return to American Ballet Theatre as Artistic Director

By Jenna Bodnar Effective December 2022, the Former ABT Principal Dancer Will Return to the NYC Company as Artistic Director PITTSBURGH, PA (May 9, 2022) – Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Artistic Director Susan Jaffe announced this morning that she has been named Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre, where she spent more than 30 years of her career. She will begin her new role at ABT in … Continue reading Susan Jaffe to Return to American Ballet Theatre as Artistic Director

With Her New Production, PBT’s Susan Jaffe Seeks A More Enlightened ‘Swan Lake’ [PREVIEW]

By Steve Sucato Former American Ballet Theatre (ABT) star Susan Jaffe has danced more than her fair share of Swan Lake productions in her career. Her first in the lead role of Odette-Odile came at ABT when she was just nineteen in what The New York Times called, “a beautiful triumph.” She then danced it again every year of her 22-year career, including productions in England, Germany, … Continue reading With Her New Production, PBT’s Susan Jaffe Seeks A More Enlightened ‘Swan Lake’ [PREVIEW]

Grand Rapids Ballet’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Continues with Stowell’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and Balanchine’s “Serenade”

By Steve Sucato and Jessica MeldrumMichigan’s lone professional ballet company, continues its 50th Anniversary Celebration with Christopher Stowell’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, April 22-24 and April 29-May 1 at the Peter Martin Wege Theatre as well as online, May 3 as part of GRB’s 2021-2022 virtual season offerings. The production also features George Balanchine’s timeless masterwork, Serenade. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of William Shakespeare’s most … Continue reading Grand Rapids Ballet’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Continues with Stowell’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and Balanchine’s “Serenade”

Sidra Bell Dance New York: Highlights Program Shows Company in its Best Light [REVIEW]

By Steve Sucato for CriticalDance.org In celebration of Sidra Bell Dance New York’s 20th Anniversary Season, company Founder/Artistic Director/Choreographer Sidra Bell put together a program of eleven excerpts from her works for the company since its founding in 2001. The highlights show, dubbed IN|REP, presented by Mutual Dance Theatre, strung together those excerpts without pause or intermission to create a finely curated, deep dive into Bell’s … Continue reading Sidra Bell Dance New York: Highlights Program Shows Company in its Best Light [REVIEW]

BalletMet’s Production of “Cinderella” Returns April 8 -10

By Sarah Irvin Clark (Columbus, OH) – BalletMet’s Cinderella is back by popular demand this April at the Ohio Theatre afterit performed to full houses in the 2018-19 season. Under Edwaard Liang’s artistic direction, the family-friendly ballet will follow the iconic servant girl, her missing glass slipper, and many other fan-favoritecharacters as well as feature more than 80 Academy students in the production. “Cinderella is … Continue reading BalletMet’s Production of “Cinderella” Returns April 8 -10