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]

Dutch National Ballet’s New “Raymonda” Brings Modern Sensibilities to a Petipa Classic [Preview]

By Steve Sucato for Pointe Magazine On April 3, Dutch National Ballet presents the crown jewel in its 60th-anniversary season: a new, full-length production of Raymonda, the company’s first.  “Raymonda is one of the greatest classical ballets,” says DNB artistic director Ted Brandsen. “It is a complete display of everything classical ballet has to offer.” Raymonda, the last hit ballet created by choreographer Marius Petipa, premiered in … Continue reading Dutch National Ballet’s New “Raymonda” Brings Modern Sensibilities to a Petipa Classic [Preview]

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre: Distinction and Delight [REVIEW]

Pittsburgh Ballet TheatreOpen Air: A Series in Celebration of the Performing ArtsPrograms A and BMay 21 and 22, 2021 Flagstaff Hill at Schenley ParkPittsburgh, PA Steve Sucato As the hosts of the much-anticipated “Open Air: A Series in Celebration of the Performing Arts,” Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) gave audiences a heaping helping of the kind of repertory new artistic director Susan Jaffe will be bringing to … Continue reading Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre: Distinction and Delight [REVIEW]

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s Susan Jaffe opens-up about ‘Open Air: A Series in Celebration of the Performing Arts’

By Steve Sucato One of the first things new Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre artistic director Susan Jaffe did in the job beginning the summer of 2020, was oversee the purchase of a portable outdoor stage. It was acquired to give the company more options in performing around the region especially in these pandemic times, but also to provide a means for PBT to bring their art … Continue reading Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s Susan Jaffe opens-up about ‘Open Air: A Series in Celebration of the Performing Arts’