Neglia’s “Baba Yaga” is a bewitching ballet

By Steve Sucato News Contributing Reviewer Neglia Ballet Artists opened its 15th anniversary season Saturday afternoon in Shea’s Performing Arts Center with the often-performed Halloween favorite, “Baba Yaga.” The kid-friendly ballet – based on a Russian folktale and adapted for the stage by Neglia Ballet artistic director/choreographer Sergio Neglia – delighted the audience, many who came in Halloween costumes. With an easy-to-follow and spooky story, … Continue reading Neglia’s “Baba Yaga” is a bewitching ballet

Landmark Production One for the Ages

BalletMet Columbus, Opera Columbus and Columbus Symphony Orchestra and Chorus – Twisted: A Trio of Excellence Ohio Theatre Columbus, Ohio September 25-28, 2014 Reviewed by Steve Sucato It’s a wonderful thing when what sounds good in theory is even better in real life. Such was the case in the landmark collaboration Twisted: A Trio of Excellence featuring BalletMet Columbus, Opera Columbus and the Columbus Symphony … Continue reading Landmark Production One for the Ages

World-Renowned Choreographers’ Works to be Showcased by GroundWorks DanceTheater in Cleveland

  By Beth Rutkowski GroundWorks DanceTheater will perform the works of three of dance world’s finest choreographers at PlayhouseSquare’s  Allen Theater in Cleveland on Friday, October 24th and Saturday, October 25th.  These performances comprise: The world premiere of German choreographer Johannes Wieland’s now. go now. Johannes Wieland is the Artistic Director/Choreographer of the resident dance company at the State Theatre of Kassel, Germany. A native German and former principal dancer … Continue reading World-Renowned Choreographers’ Works to be Showcased by GroundWorks DanceTheater in Cleveland

A new dance work explores love and friendship between African-American men

By Steve Sucato Beyond simply entertaining audiences, concert dance is an important means of self-expression for its creators and performers. Some artists employ dance as a forum to air their thoughts and feelings on issues important to them. In Loving Black, Oct. 17 at The Alloy Studios, local dancer and choreographer Anthony Williams uses dance to advance his own views on the complicated attitudes surrounding … Continue reading A new dance work explores love and friendship between African-American men

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet returns with three commissioned ballets to launch Pittsburgh Dance Council’s season

By Steve Sucato The last time Aspen Santa Fe Ballet performed in Pittsburgh, four years ago, the company was just becoming a staple on the U.S. touring circuit. Now, having built its stalwart reputation on new contemporary-dance works by world-class choreographers, the small troupe of 11 dancers makes its long-anticipated return to the Byham Theater to kick off Pittsburgh Dance Council’s new season. The Oct. … Continue reading Aspen Santa Fe Ballet returns with three commissioned ballets to launch Pittsburgh Dance Council’s season

Moroccan choreographer Hind Benali takes a journey of self-discovery in ‘Identity’

By Steve Sucato Moroccan-based dancer/choreographer Hind Benali’s new work, Identity, began as a solo journey of self-discovery after the deaths of her two grandmothers in the same year. Both were of Algerian decent, and both lived with her. “All the traditional parts of my identity came from them,” Benali said recently by telephone from Washington, D.C., where the company was performing the work. “The question then … Continue reading Moroccan choreographer Hind Benali takes a journey of self-discovery in ‘Identity’

In return to Northeast Ohio, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet wows with ‘Return to a Strange Land’

By STEVE SUCATO Special to The Plain Dealer AKRON, Ohio — DANCECleveland, in conjunction with The University of Akron’s EJ Thomas Hall, kicked off its 2014-2015 with the return of Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Sunday. The 11-member touring company, last seen in the region in 2010, brought with it to the former home of the Ohio Ballet — another troupe known for its touring popularity … Continue reading In return to Northeast Ohio, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet wows with ‘Return to a Strange Land’

Two world premieres highlight LehrerDance’s solid night of dance

By Steve Sucato News Contributing Reviewer For the third year running, Buffalo’s LehrerDance opened the M&T Bank Dance Series in University at Buffalo Center for the Arts. The internationally touring professional dance company presented six works by artistic director/choreographer Jon Lehrer, including two world premieres Saturday night on the Mainstage Theatre. The vibrant program opened with “Fused by 8” (2009), a work in which its … Continue reading Two world premieres highlight LehrerDance’s solid night of dance

Attack Theatre launches its 20th-anniversary season

By Steve Sucato It was 1994, and movies like Speed and Pulp Fiction were packing theaters; a Chicago law professor named Barack Obama had yet to run for state senate. And in Pittsburgh, two former Dance Alloy dancers formed a new company that would indelibly change Pittsburgh’s dance landscape. Combining athletic modern dance, original live music, multimedia and interdisciplinary art forms, Attack Theatre, led by co-artistic … Continue reading Attack Theatre launches its 20th-anniversary season

Hubbard Street + The Second City present the world premiere of The Art of Falling

By Zachary Whittenburg CHICAGO – Hubbard Street Artistic Director Glenn Edgerton; Andrew Alexander, CEO/Executive Producer of The Second City, Inc.; and Kelly Leonard, Executive Vice President of The Second City are excited to present the world premiere of The Art of Falling, an unprecedented and collaboratively devised production first announced in February 2014 at The Second City. Helmed by Jeff Award–winning director Billy Bungeroth (The Second … Continue reading Hubbard Street + The Second City present the world premiere of The Art of Falling