Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre to Open Applications Soon for 2022 Apprenticeship Program

By Jenna Bodnar PITTSBURGH, PA (Jan. 25, 2022) – Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) is pleased to announce the return of the apprenticeship program, which offers dancers exceptional professional experience and exciting performance opportunities with the PBT company, as well as optional academic courses. Two paid apprenticeship positions are available for the 2022 – 2023 performance season for dancers ages 18 – 21. Positions include the cost of … Continue reading Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre to Open Applications Soon for 2022 Apprenticeship Program

Jodie Gates Named Cincinnati Ballet’s Next Artistic Director

Cincinnati Ballet announced today that it has named Jodie Gates as its new artistic director, effective August 1, 2022. Gates will take over from Victoria Morgan, who is retiring after 25 years at the helm. Gates, most recently the founding director of the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance and founder and artistic director of the Laguna Dance Festival, will inherit stewardship of Cincinnati Ballet’s $11.5 million annual operating budget, 27 … Continue reading Jodie Gates Named Cincinnati Ballet’s Next Artistic Director

Choreographer Jorden Morris, Orlando Ballet’s New Artistic Director, Shares His Vision for the Company

The phrase “being in the right place at the right time” certainly applied to Jorden Morris in the lead-up to his appointment as Orlando Ballet’s new artistic director. Morris, the company’s artist in residence, happened to be in Orlando, preparing to set his production of The Great Gatsby on the company this past August, when the artistic director Robert Hill abruptly stepped down after 13 years. Jonathan Ledden, the company’s board president, … Continue reading Choreographer Jorden Morris, Orlando Ballet’s New Artistic Director, Shares His Vision for the Company

NCCAkron Announces Open Application for Creative Administration Research Program

By Mariclare Hulbert AKRON, Ohio —The National Center for Choreography – Akron (NCCAkron) announces its first Creative Administration Research (CAR) open application period. Funded by a multi-year grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the CAR program is focused on challenging the dance ecosystem to think beyond the boundaries of known, traditional models and “best practices.” The program launched in 2020 and has already initiated … Continue reading NCCAkron Announces Open Application for Creative Administration Research Program

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Cancels February’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’

To Our PBT Family: Since the doors to the Benedum Center opened for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s Season Premiere in October and The Nutcracker in December, we have been thrilled to welcome enthusiastic live audiences back to the theater. Thank you for your support! One ballet that will not make its successful return to theaters is Alice in Wonderland, Feb 11 – Feb 13, 2022.Alice is a U.K. production that involves cross-Atlantic … Continue reading Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Cancels February’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’

Improved Cleveland Ballet Shines in ‘The Nutcracker’ [REVIEW]

Cleveland BalletThe NutcrackerPlayhouse Square – Connor Palace TheatreCleveland, OHDecember 3-5, 2021 By Steve Sucato Cleveland’s premier The Nutcracker production by the Cleveland Ballet returned once again to Playhouse Square December 3-5 after a yearlong hiatus because of the global pandemic. The annual production that regularly plays to sold-out audiences, was performed for the first time at the larger Connor Palace Theatre. In doing so, the … Continue reading Improved Cleveland Ballet Shines in ‘The Nutcracker’ [REVIEW]

NBC’s The Voice Finalist John Holiday Shines in ‘After/Glow,’ a Contemporary Interpretation of Schumann’s Dichterlieben [FILM REVIEW]

By Steve Sucato If director Ryan McKinny’s film After/Glow were nothing visually but 50-minutes of blank screen to the soundtrack of countertenor John Holiday’s angelic voice singing Robert Schumann’s 1840 song cycle Dichterliebe (“A Poet’s Love”), that would still be reason enough to head to the Helio Arts website where the film is now streaming. Add to that new spoken word poems by Marc Bamuthi … Continue reading NBC’s The Voice Finalist John Holiday Shines in ‘After/Glow,’ a Contemporary Interpretation of Schumann’s Dichterlieben [FILM REVIEW]

From Skateboarding Hooligan to Principal Dancer: BalletMet’s Jonathan Jordan Reflects on his Lengthy Dance Career and Taking his Final Bow

By Steve Sucato After a 22-year career as a dancer, BalletMet’s Jonathan Jordan will take his final bow with the company on Wednesday, December 22 in Gerard Charles’s The Nutcracker.  Jordan will dance the role of the Cavalier opposite Sugar Plum Fairy, Caitlin Valentine. The Arizona native began his dance journey at age 12 at the Academy Ballet of Tucson and then the Phoenix School … Continue reading From Skateboarding Hooligan to Principal Dancer: BalletMet’s Jonathan Jordan Reflects on his Lengthy Dance Career and Taking his Final Bow

Slick Meets Surreal in ‘Circles: going in’ [REVIEW]

STAYCEE PEARL dance project & Soy SosCircles: going inAugust Wilson African American Cultural CenterPittsburgh, PAOctober 28-30, 2021 By Steve Sucato The long-awaited world premiere of STAYCEE PEARL dance project & Soy Sos’s Circles: going in, felt like the stylistic culmination of years of choreographer Staycee Pearl finding her voice. Not that the evening-length fusion of dance club vibe and contemporary, hip hop, and modern dance … Continue reading Slick Meets Surreal in ‘Circles: going in’ [REVIEW]

Ballet Legato’s Inaugural ‘The Nutcracker’ Combines Tradition with the Unconventional [PREVIEW]

By Steve Sucato New to Northeast Ohio’s The Nutcracker ballet offerings this holiday season is Ballet Legato’s first-ever production. It will be presented this Saturday, December 18 at Lorain County Community College’s Stocker Arts Center in Elyria. For Ballet Legato executive artistic director Jennifer Kraynik-Muselin the thought of there not being an audience for yet another The Nutcracker production in the area had crossed her … Continue reading Ballet Legato’s Inaugural ‘The Nutcracker’ Combines Tradition with the Unconventional [PREVIEW]