Emotionality Unbound [REVIEW]

“Ballet Unbound” was a diverse mixed-repertory program that landed squarely in Ohio Contemporary Ballet’s sweet spot as a company presenting classical, modern dance, and neoclassical and contemporary ballet works. PerformanceOhio Contemporary Ballet: “Ballet Unbound”  PlaceMimi Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square, Cleveland, March 28, 2026 WordsSteve Sucato The nearly four-decade-old Cleveland, Ohio-based troupe opened the program with Paul Taylor’s 1978 modern dance masterwork, “Airs.” Set to … Continue reading Emotionality Unbound [REVIEW]

World Premiere Ballet to Janáček’s Moving ‘From the Street’ Highlights OCB’s ‘Ballet Unbound’ in Cleveland [PREVIEW]

By Steve Sucato Premiered in February in Akron, Ohio Contemporary Ballet’s Ballet Unbound now moves to Cleveland at Playhouse Square’s Mimi Ohio Theatre on March 28, 2026. The diverse mixed repertory program of works by Paul Taylor, Heinz Poll, and Nycole Ray will now include the world premiere of Gordon Peirce Schmidt’s timely “From the Street.”  Set to a piano sonata of the same name … Continue reading World Premiere Ballet to Janáček’s Moving ‘From the Street’ Highlights OCB’s ‘Ballet Unbound’ in Cleveland [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]

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 

Airings: August 2025

A monthly digest of select dance news and performance impressions, primarily from the regions I cover in Ohio, and parts of Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania. By Steve Sucato [NEWS AND NOTES] Michigan Arts Funding is at Risk — We Need Your VoiceThe Michigan House of Representatives has passed a budget that eliminates all arts and cultural funding. This isn’t just about numbers on a … Continue reading Airings: August 2025

Airings: July 2025

A monthly digest of select dance news and performance impressions, primarily from the regions I cover in Ohio, and parts of Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania. By Steve Sucato [NEWS AND NOTES] Ohio Contemporary Ballet welcomes three new dancers for the 2025-26 season. They are Dallas-native Joseph Dang, who was with Sacramento Ballet, Sophia Gray, who grew up in Cincinnati and recently graduated from The … Continue reading Airings: July 2025

Airings: June 2025

A monthly digest of select dance news and performance impressions, primarily from the regions I cover in Ohio, and parts of Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania. By Steve Sucato [NEWS AND NOTES] Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre announced the appointment of Nicolas Gaudreau as its new director of development. Gaudreau will begin his role on July 7, 2025, just prior to the start of PBT’s 2025-2026 season. … Continue reading Airings: June 2025

Ohio Contemporary Ballet Celebrates Beloved Retiring Company Dancers in a Free Performance at Cain Park [PREVIEW]

By Steve Sucato Ohio Contemporary Ballet’s annual free performance at Cain Park this Saturday, June 21, is a bittersweet one as the company celebrates the retirements of longtime company dancers Kate Webb and Antonio Morillo. The beloved dancers have been the focal point of many of the company’s marquee dance works, thrilling audiences and critics alike.  A native of Richmond, Virginia, 31-year-old Webb will retire … Continue reading Ohio Contemporary Ballet Celebrates Beloved Retiring Company Dancers in a Free Performance at Cain Park [PREVIEW]

OCB’s Man in the Middle, Antonio Morillo, Discusses His Dance Career, Retirement, and His Next Adventure [INTERVIEW]

By Steve Sucato Whether the red-caped focal point in Heinz Poll’s Bolero, or the male anchor of many of the company’s marquee works, Ohio Contemporary Ballet’s Antonio Morillo has been the man in the middle of some of what’s been best about the company the past nine years.   An audience favorite, the 34-year-old Morillo will take his final curtain call with OCB this coming Saturday, … Continue reading OCB’s Man in the Middle, Antonio Morillo, Discusses His Dance Career, Retirement, and His Next Adventure [INTERVIEW]

Ohio Contemporary Ballet’s Kate Webb Talks about Her Career, Retirement, and What’s Next [INTERVIEW]

By Steve Sucato One of Northeast Ohio’s most beloved dancers, Ohio Contemporary Ballet’s Kate Webb, will take her final bow with the company this coming Saturday, June 21, in a free performance at Cain Park’s Evans Amphitheater.  A native of Richmond, Virginia, Webb trained in dance at the School of Richmond Ballet, where she was also a trainee with the professional company. After graduating from … Continue reading Ohio Contemporary Ballet’s Kate Webb Talks about Her Career, Retirement, and What’s Next [INTERVIEW]