New Name, New Ballet, and a Celebration of Franz Schubert’s Music [PREVIEW]

By Steve Sucato For the third time in its 35-year history Verb Ballets, formerly The Repertory Project, is getting a new name. The slow rollout to becoming Ohio Contemporary Ballet in the next 2-3 years begins this season with the transitional moniker of Verb, “Ohio Contemporary Ballet”. The new name reflects the vision, direction, and branding of the company by Producing Artistic Director Dr. Margaret … Continue reading New Name, New Ballet, and a Celebration of Franz Schubert’s Music [PREVIEW]

Cincinnati Ballet: Triumphant Bold Moves Festival [REVIEW]

Cincinnati BalletProcter & Gamble Hall at the Aronoff Center for the ArtsPittsburgh, PA May 21, 2022, afternoon and eveningBold Moves Festival Program 1: Petal, Nine Sinatra Songs, Minus 16Program 2: Children of the Passage (Dayton Contemporary Dance Company), Our Story (world premiere), Bolero Steve Sucato for CriticalDance.org For her last production as Cincinnati Ballet’s Artistic Director, Victoria Morgan programmed a mix of tried-and-true repertory favorites along with a new ballet by company dancer … Continue reading Cincinnati Ballet: Triumphant Bold Moves Festival [REVIEW]

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]

Prejudices, Curiosities and Sexual Power Explored in Cincinnati Ballet’s Latest ‘Kaplan New Works Series’ Production [REVIEW]

Cincinnati BalletThe Kaplan New Works SeriesDigital Stage ProductionFebruary 25-28 & March 5-7, 2021 Reviewed by Steve Sucato Like the classic late 1970’s Heinz Ketchup commercials featuring Carly Simon’s song “Anticipation,” dance fans, because of the global pandemic, have been anxiously anticipating new programming from their favorite dance artists. For fans of Victoria Morgan’s Cincinnati Ballet, that new programming came in the form of this past … Continue reading Prejudices, Curiosities and Sexual Power Explored in Cincinnati Ballet’s Latest ‘Kaplan New Works Series’ Production [REVIEW]

Verb Ballets Wades into the Uncertain Waters of Performing under Pandemic

By Steve Sucato Verb Ballets‘ in-studio performance of The Cleveland Havana Ballet Project Return Celebration on March 13 was the last in-person performance I attended and one of the very last given in Northeast Ohio before pretty much the entire dance world shutdown operations because of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Now more than 3-months later Verb along with the rest of the state of Ohio … Continue reading Verb Ballets Wades into the Uncertain Waters of Performing under Pandemic

Verb Ballets reopens for adult dance classes

By Jen Garlando CLEVELAND, OH – Verb Ballets is excited to welcome our adult Dance For Everyone students back to the studio for in-person classes starting June 8, 2020! These small in-person classes will operate on an adjusted schedule and everyone will wear a mask, maintain social distance and use enhanced cleaning procedures. Classes will be limited to eight students and follow new health and … Continue reading Verb Ballets reopens for adult dance classes

Canton Ballet reopens its doors to classes on Monday, June 29

By Cassandra Crowley CANTON, OH – Canton Ballet reopens its doors for our Summer Intensive dance classes on Monday, June 29. All class levels and dance idioms will be offered in person this summer. Virtual classes are also available. Summer program registration is at: http://www.cantonballet.com. Canton Ballet staff is working to prepare the studios for our students. Many new guidelines designed to provide for social … Continue reading Canton Ballet reopens its doors to classes on Monday, June 29

Dancing Wheels’ Swiss-Miss Celina Speck has sights set on being an Ambassador for Inclusivity in Dance

By Steve Sucato It takes a special person to one day pick up and move to another country and culture to pursue a career in a field they know little about. The Dancing Wheels Company’s Celina Speck is one such person. The 23-year-old from Würenlos, Switzerland, a suburb of Zürich, says before she decided to come to Cleveland, a place she had never been, she … Continue reading Dancing Wheels’ Swiss-Miss Celina Speck has sights set on being an Ambassador for Inclusivity in Dance

Neos Dance Theatre’s ‘1940’s Nutcracker’ brings Nostalgia to a Beloved Holiday Tradition

By Steve Sucato As holiday traditions go, The Nutcracker ballet ranks among this country’s most well known. German author E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic tale reworked by French writer Alexandre Dumas (The Three Musketeers) into the saccharine version we know about the fantastical adventure to faraway lands of young girl with her beloved Nutcracker doll come to life, is one that has entertained audiences and sparked the imagination … Continue reading Neos Dance Theatre’s ‘1940’s Nutcracker’ brings Nostalgia to a Beloved Holiday Tradition