Ballet Excel Ohio Celebrates 50th Anniversary with New ‘Aladdin’ Ballet [PREVIEW]
By Steve Sucato Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio-based Ballet Excel Ohio, formerly Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet, is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this weekend with the world premiere of choreographer Erich Yetter’s Aladdin at Akron Civic Theatre. Founded in 1975 by the late Nan Klinger, the pre-professional ballet troupe grew out of Klinger’s widely respected Excellence in Dance Studio. Now led by Artistic Director Mia Klinger, Nan’s daughter, … Continue reading Ballet Excel Ohio Celebrates 50th Anniversary with New ‘Aladdin’ Ballet [PREVIEW]
Attack Theatre’s 30th Anniversary Season Continues with the Grateful Dead Scored ‘Once in a While’ [PREVIEW]
By Steve Sucato Who the f-word is Attack Theatre? Those words were uttered in frustration by a famous rock singer some years back after Attack’s longtime music director, Dave Eggar, told them he couldn’t perform with them because of a prior commitment with the small-scale Pittsburgh dance troupe. Rock star aspersions aside, Attack has answered the question of who they are over the past 30 … Continue reading Attack Theatre’s 30th Anniversary Season Continues with the Grateful Dead Scored ‘Once in a While’ [PREVIEW]
Premieres and Recent Works Feature in Ohio Contemporary Ballet’s ‘Ballet Unbound’ in Akron [PREVIEW]
By Steve Sucato Primed to chase away the winter doldrums, Ohio Contemporary Ballet (OCB) returns to the University of Akron’s E. J. Thomas Hall on Saturday, February 28, 2026, with Ballet Unbound*. The mixed repertory program will showcase four diverse dance works, including two premieres. Choreographer Avree Walker’s commissioned work for OCB, “Eternal,” is a world premiere danced to music by Johann Sebastian Bach, including … Continue reading Premieres and Recent Works Feature in Ohio Contemporary Ballet’s ‘Ballet Unbound’ in Akron [PREVIEW]
Choreographer Trey McIntyre Details His Re-envisioned ‘Peter Pan’ Ballet For BalletMet [INTERVIEW]
By Steve Sucato Columbus, Ohio-based BalletMet will whisk audiences off to Neverland this Valentine’s Day weekend, February 13-15, in a brand new adaptation of choreographer Trey McIntyre’s 2002 ballet, Peter Pan. Based on J.M. Barrie’s beloved early 20th century tale about Peter Pan, a boy who never grows up, and his adventures with Wendy Darling and her siblings, Captain Hook and his pirates, Tinkerbell and … Continue reading Choreographer Trey McIntyre Details His Re-envisioned ‘Peter Pan’ Ballet For BalletMet [INTERVIEW]
Graham Dance Company Triumphs in 100th Anniversary Tour Performance [REVIEW]
By Steve Sucato A full house of enthusiastic dance fans welcomed the Martha Graham Dance Company back to Cleveland Saturday night for the first time in nearly two decades. Presented by DANCECleveland and Playhouse Square, Graham 100, at KeyBank State Theatre, was part of the company’s worldwide 100th Anniversary Tour. The company delighted the audience with a mixed repertory program of works spanning the company’s … Continue reading Graham Dance Company Triumphs in 100th Anniversary Tour Performance [REVIEW]
Lessons in Caring Highlight Dancing Wheels’ Production of “Puff the Magic Dragon” [PREVIEW]
By Steve Sucato First, there was the 1962 song made famous by folk trio Peter, Paul, and Mary. Then, a 1979 juvenile fiction book adaptation by Romeo Muller. Now, Puff the Magic Dragon, the familiar children’s tale about childhood imagination and growing up, is being told as a multimedia ballet. On Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Lake Erie College’s Rickel Theater, Cleveland’s Dancing Wheels Company … Continue reading Lessons in Caring Highlight Dancing Wheels’ Production of “Puff the Magic Dragon” [PREVIEW]
Dance Magazine’s 2026 “25 to Watch”
Steve Sucato Whose careers will skyrocket in 2026? Dance Magazine’s editors and contributors, including myself, from across the dance world, have a few predictions—namely, the artists on our annual “25 to Watch” list. These dancers, choreographers, directors, and companies are already doing exceptional work, but we’re betting on them to break through in a major way in the year to come. Click here to check … Continue reading Dance Magazine’s 2026 “25 to Watch”
BEST OF 2025
By Steve Sucato 2025 was a year of experimentation for me as a professional dance writer/reviewer. I launched a monthly Airings digest on my website, artsair.art, featuring select dance news, performance impressions, and upcoming event listings, and expanded my arts coverage to include more non-dance events. So, why not end the year with one more experiment, compiling best-of-2025 lists from the dance productions and dancer … Continue reading BEST OF 2025
Former Dancer Losing Her Vision Is Granted a Nutcracker Wish
By Steve Sucato for Pointe Magazine The holiday season is the perfect time for wishes to come true. So it was for former dancer Jennifer Levine, who received hers thanks to Wish of a Lifetime, a charitable affiliate of AARP that grants life-changing wishes to adults 65 years or older. Jennifer, who is in the advanced stages of macular degeneration, had hoped to once again experience a live … Continue reading Former Dancer Losing Her Vision Is Granted a Nutcracker Wish
Hometown Hero Dianne McIntyre’s ‘In the Same Tongue’ was Superbly Spoken in Music and Dance [REVIEW]
Dianne McIntyre Group – In the Same TongueMimi Ohio Theatre at Playhouse SquareCleveland, OhioNovember 15, 2025By Steve Sucato There was no place like home for Cleveland-native Dianne McIntyre on Saturday night. The 79-year-old dancer/choreographer’s eyes welled up with heartfelt appreciation when taking her bow during a lengthy and enthusiastic standing ovation for her latest dance work, In the Same Tongue. Performed by her eponymous dance … Continue reading Hometown Hero Dianne McIntyre’s ‘In the Same Tongue’ was Superbly Spoken in Music and Dance [REVIEW]