One misstep aside, Contemporary Choreographers is a strong program
Reviewed by Steve Sucato Emotionally powerful and thrilling was the ultimate effect of this past Sunday’s performance of Conservatory Dance Company’s Contemporary Choreographers program. The annual production showcases works by some of today’s best choreographers and talented up-and-comers. This year’s, however, began with a disappointing performance of David Morse’s “BWV 1063.” Set to vibrant music by J.S. Bach, the neoclassical ballet for 19 female dancers on … Continue reading One misstep aside, Contemporary Choreographers is a strong program
Dance work summons the memory of the passenger pigeon
By Steve Sucato Once they were the most populous bird in North America, accounting for a quarter of all birds. But in less than half a century, starting in the late 1800s, unabated commercial and sport hunting and habitat destruction reduced the passenger pigeon’s numbers from billions to none. Their extinction inspires Passenger, a new program by fledgling company Shana Simmons Dance, staged Nov. 14 … Continue reading Dance work summons the memory of the passenger pigeon
No doubt about it: Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company stuns with ‘If At All’
Reviewed by Steve Sucato The idea of circularity in life and our existing in circles of the individual, the couple, and society was the theme for Israeli choreographer Rami Be’er’s 2012 dance work “If At All,” performed last weekend by Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company in the Ohio Theatre at at PlayhouseSquare in Cleveland. The underlying theme of circles, figurative and abstract, is a recurring one … Continue reading No doubt about it: Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company stuns with ‘If At All’
The renowned Royal Ballet of Cambodia makes its Pittsburgh debut
By Steve Sucato With roots tracing to the seventh century, The Royal Ballet of Cambodia is a unique link to Southeast Asia’s temple dances and mythic tales, as handed down for generations. With their rich, ornate costuming and headdresses, the dancers appear like ancient museum statues come to life. After seeing the company on a rare tour to France in 1906, sculptor Auguste Rodin declared, … Continue reading The renowned Royal Ballet of Cambodia makes its Pittsburgh debut
Broken Hearts and Broken Minds Highlight GroundWorks’ Emotionally Penetrating Fall Program
GroundWorks dancers in Johannes Wieland’s wait. now. go. now. Photo by Mark Horning. GroundWorks DanceTheater – Fall Program October 24-25, 2014 Allen Theatre at PlayhouseSquare Cleveland, OH Reviewed by Steve Sucato Whoever coined the phrase “bigger is better” could not have accounted for what Cleveland-based GroundWorks DanceTheater has been able to accomplish with just five dancers. In its 16th season the tiny troupe led by … Continue reading Broken Hearts and Broken Minds Highlight GroundWorks’ Emotionally Penetrating Fall Program
Internationally known troupe makes rock-infused Pittsburgh debut
By Steve Sucato A one-time ballet prodigy, “beautiful boy” and heroin addict, Scottish dancer/choreographer Michael Clark created a Warhol-esque persona for himself in the 1980s. A cultural celebrity and iconoclast, Clark traded a promising mainstream dance career for one influenced by punk, with a desire to shock audiences with sexual content, gender-bending and provocative social messages. Clark’s globe-trotting, London-based troupe, the Michael Clark Company, makes … Continue reading Internationally known troupe makes rock-infused Pittsburgh debut
Geeks and Ghouls
By Steve Sucato Who doesn’t enjoy a good ghost story this time of year? Combine those stories with creepy dance and you get Manifestations II: Ambitions Running Cold. The 90-minute production at the 99-seat The Maker Theater — Geeksdanz‘s sequel to last season’s Manifestations — features storyteller Stas Ziolkowski. He will spin original and classic spine-tinglers including W.W. Jacobs’ “The Monkey’s Paw,” about a mysterious, … Continue reading Geeks and Ghouls
Tweet Review: GroundWorks DanceTheater
Clev.10/24 GroundWorks DT,5 strz – Gibney ‘Always’ = 🙂 – Wieland ‘Wait.Now..’ (WP) = Schizo Fab – Koresh ‘Coda’ = 🙂 Continue reading Tweet Review: GroundWorks DanceTheater
Recent Hirings Illustrate There Is No One Approach To Finding A New Artistic Director
By Steve Sucato Hiring a new artistic director can be a daunting task especially if your organization has had little or no experience in doing so. Where to begin? Who to involve in the hiring process? What steps to take? These were some of the questions facing Pennsylvania Ballet, BalletMet Columbus, and Ballet San Jose recently when they went through a lengthy process of examining … Continue reading Recent Hirings Illustrate There Is No One Approach To Finding A New Artistic Director
Pittsburgh Ballet launches its 45th season with ‘The Sleeping Beauty’
By Steve Sucato In a great story ballet, the principal roles provide the emotional adrenaline and the corps de ballet the pulse. The corps creates the world for the main characters to play off of, and is integral to advancing the narrative and creating much of the beauty audiences associate with such ballets. What would Swan Lake be without its swans, or Giselle without its ghostly wilis? … Continue reading Pittsburgh Ballet launches its 45th season with ‘The Sleeping Beauty’
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