Popular ‘Carmen’ Ballet Returns to Open Cleveland Ballet’s Ninth Season [PREVIEW]

By Rena Vysnionis (with Steve Sucato) Cleveland Ballet opens its 2023-2024 mainstage season at Playhouse Square’s Connor Palace, September 22-23, with the triple bill Carmen & Other Works. Here’s a look: “Pas de Dix” from the 1898 ballet Raymonda features exquisite original choreography by Marius Petipa for five couples to the inspiring score by Alexander Glazunov. It is one of the most performed works by major ballet companies worldwide. Casting: Gabriela Checo, Alexander Guzmán, … Continue reading Popular ‘Carmen’ Ballet Returns to Open Cleveland Ballet’s Ninth Season [PREVIEW]

‘Nina-isms’ highlight Cleveland Ballet’s Masterclass with Legendary Ballerina Nina Ananiashvili 

By Steve Sucato The week before Nina Ananiashvili’s State Ballet of Georgia’s U.S. tour began, the former Bolshoi Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and Houston Ballet star came to Cleveland to fulfill a promise she made to friend Gladisa Guadalupe to teach a masterclass for her Cleveland Ballet. Ananiashvili and Guadalupe became fast friends after meeting as jurors at the Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition in 2019. … Continue reading ‘Nina-isms’ highlight Cleveland Ballet’s Masterclass with Legendary Ballerina Nina Ananiashvili 

Lake Erie to don ‘Swan Lake’ moniker in honor of Cleveland Ballet’s upcoming production

By Julia Tze   CLEVELAND, OH – Mayor of Cleveland Justin M. Bibb has announced that Lake Erie will don the name ‘Swan Lake’ in recognition of the premiere of Cleveland Ballet’s production of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, a production sponsored in part by Roe Green and the Roe Green Foundation. “I am honored to offer this Proclamation in recognition of Cleveland Ballet, our City’s resident professional ballet company, … Continue reading Lake Erie to don ‘Swan Lake’ moniker in honor of Cleveland Ballet’s upcoming production

Cleveland Ballet’s ‘Swan Lake’ Looks To Be Its Best Yet [PREVIEW]

By Steve Sucato When Gladisa Guadalupe’s reconstituted Cleveland Ballet emerged on Northeast, Ohio’s dance scene in 2014, it was a fledgling professional ballet company with modest expectations. Now entering its 8th season, with an ever-improving roster of dancers, a growing budget nearing 3 million dollars, and much of the other trappings of a proper ballet organization, expectations are much higher as the troupe has taken … Continue reading Cleveland Ballet’s ‘Swan Lake’ Looks To Be Its Best Yet [PREVIEW]

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]

Cleveland Ballet’s Condensed Don Q is a Keeper [REVIEW]

Cleveland BalletDon QuixotePlayhouse Square – Mimi Ohio TheatreCleveland, OhioOctober 15-16, 2021 By Steve Sucato A Don Quixote for a modern audience is how Cleveland Ballet artistic director Gladisa Guadalupe described the 7-year-old company’s new paired-down ballet production. In it, Miguel de Cervantes’s familiar Don Quixote tale was delivered in 2-acts instead of the traditional 3 or 4 acts often used. Guadalupe’s interpretation, with choreography after … Continue reading Cleveland Ballet’s Condensed Don Q is a Keeper [REVIEW]

Heading into its 7th Season, Cleveland Ballet Is Making Huge Strides

By Steve Sucato If you haven’t been paying close attention to Cleveland Ballet of late, the company has gotten rather big, rather fast. Founded in 2014, it has gone from a fledgling ballet troupe with a handful of dancers and being funded out of pocket by company founders Gladisa Guadalupe, a dancer with the former Cleveland Ballet which folded in 2001, and Russian businessman, Dr. … Continue reading Heading into its 7th Season, Cleveland Ballet Is Making Huge Strides

Despite Inclement Weather and Staging Compromises, Cleveland Ballet’s ‘The Magic Flute’ Delivers Modicum of Artistic Magic [REVIEW]

Cleveland Ballet – The Magic FluteStan Hywet Hall & GardensAkron, OhioSaturday, October 17, 2020 Reviewed by Steve Sucato Adopting the adage “the show must go on,” Cleveland Ballet’s dancers braved forty-degree weather to perform their new production of The Magic Flute outdoors at Akron’s Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens on October 17. Using stage side heaters and a warming tent for the dancers that helped … Continue reading Despite Inclement Weather and Staging Compromises, Cleveland Ballet’s ‘The Magic Flute’ Delivers Modicum of Artistic Magic [REVIEW]

Cleveland Ballet to Perform Newly Enhanced Version of Ramón Oller’s ‘Coppélia’

By Steve Sucato Cleveland Ballet closes out perhaps its most successful mainstage season to date with a reprise of their 2016 hit, Ramón Oller’s adaptation of the comic ballet Coppélia. The first full-length ballet production created on the now 5-year-old company returns to Playhouse Square’s Ohio Theatre for three performances on April 5 & 6. “It’s very dear to us,” says company artistic director Gladisa Guadalupe. … Continue reading Cleveland Ballet to Perform Newly Enhanced Version of Ramón Oller’s ‘Coppélia’