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
PerformanceGrand Rapids Ballet: “Diablo Rojo” by James Sofranko, “While Away“ by Jennifer Archibald, “Sherlock” by Penny Saunders PlacePeter Martin Wege Theatre, Grand Rapids, Michigan, October 24, 2025 WordsSteve Sucato for Fjord Review Move over, Matthew Bourne, there is a new voice in theatrical dance plays. Choreographer Penny Saunders’ bespoke production of “Sherlock,” performed by Grand Rapids Ballet, was not only a triumph in bringing literature’s favorite … Continue reading The Game is On [REVIEW]
Grand Rapids BalletOff the CanvasDigital Stage ProductionOctober 17-31, 2021 By Steve Sucato The opening production in Grand Rapids Ballet’s 2021-2022 virtual season, Off the Canvas, was a filmed version of the triple bill presented live by the company, October 15-17 & 22 at their Peter Martin Wege Theatre. In partnership with SALT Creative Production Studio, the productions featuring the works of three contemporaries of GRB artistic … Continue reading Dance and Visual Art Combine Superbly in Grand Rapids Ballet’s Season Opener [REVIEW]
Pacific Northwest BalletRep 2Digital Stage PerformanceNovember 12-16, 2020Reviewed by Steve Sucato Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Rep 2 digital stage production began with a “Five Minute Call,” a short film by principal dancer Dylan Wald. The film was a candid, behind-the-scenes look at PNB company members and musicians preparing to perform Rep 2. Most entertaining were scenes of dancers goofing off in the dressing rooms and hallways … Continue reading PNB’s Rep 2 Highlighted by Lang’s Brilliant ‘Ghost Variations’ [REVIEW]
By Steve Sucato As the world gets used to the global pandemic imposed new normal, Grand Rapids Ballet is forging ahead with its new 2020-21 dance season entitled Moving Beyond and the new realities on how to deliver that season to an audience. Third-year artistic director James Sofranko says because of the pandemic Grand Rapids Ballet has had to turn away from live in-person performance … Continue reading Grand Rapids Ballet’s Adventurous Dance Season to Reflect New Norm in the Dance World
Reviewed by Steve Sucato Seattle contemporary dance company Whim W’him entered its 11th season under the COVID-19 pandemic with the plan to move all their performance online. The experimental season featuring original dance films by some of the world’s most in-demand contemporary dance choreographers kicked off August 13 with the virtual production XALT. Originally planned for live performance, June 2020 at the Cornish Playhouse at Seattle … Continue reading Seattle’s Whim W’him’s Virtual 11th Season Led Off With A Pair Of Brilliant Dance Films [REVIEW-Arts Air]
Reviewed by Steve Sucato Seattle may have been ground zero for the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S., but it was also ground zero for one of the more ambitious dance projects to stem from the global pandemic’s aftereffects on the dance world. Seattle Dance Collective’s (SDC) Continuum: Bridging the Distance was a free month-long virtual series of world-premiere dance works/films performed by members of SDC and … Continue reading Seattle Dance Collective’s Dance Film Series ‘Continuum: Bridging the Distance’ is Satisfying Viewing
By Steve Sucato Welcome to dance’s new reality. The COVID-19 global pandemic has spawned many changes in our lives including how dance is being created, shown, viewed and now reviewed. It is in some ways as if the familiar dance-on-film genre had suddenly become the performance medium of choice for dancers and dancemakers to create and stage works and audiences to view it. For the … Continue reading Grand Rapids Ballet’s ‘Virtual Program II: An Evening with Penny Saunders’ Shows the Beginnings of a Programming Way Forward |REVIEW
By Steve Sucato The Covid-19 Global Pandemic has taken, and continues to take a lot from all of us. But despite the financial losses and emotional hardships visited upon Grand Rapids Ballet (GRB), Michigan’s lone professional ballet company, artistic director James Sofranko is optimistic with a faith of the heart that has been bolstered by the support of company’s staff and dancers as well as … Continue reading Grand Rapids Ballet Pushes Forward with a New Virtual Program Series
By Steve Sucato For Grand Rapids Ballet’s season opening program, the first under new artistic director James Sofranko, the company will present Wild Sweet Love, October 19-21 at GRB’s ’ Peter Martin Wege Theatre. The diverse program including ballets by George Balanchine, Trey McIntyre, GRB resident choreographer Penny Saunders and a world premiere by Sofranko has audience-pleaser written all over it. The production will also … Continue reading ‘Wild Sweet Love’ to usher in Sofranko-Era at Grand Rapids Ballet
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