[NEohioPAL]Verb Ballets' World Premiere of Super Friends featuring Special Guest "The Flash"

Wed Jan 18 11:12:03 PST 2006

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

January 18, 2006

Contact Information: 216-521-2540=20

Yvette Hanzel, extension 225

 Lynda Sackett, extension 245

=20

~ One Weekend Only ~

Beck Center for the Arts presents

Verb Ballets'

Verb Pops

and the World Premiere of

Super Friends

with Special Guest

The Flash=20

(John Wesley Shipp)

January 20 - 22, 2006

=20

Lakewood, Ohio -- The Beck Center for the Arts presents Cleveland's
National Repertory Dance Company, Verb Ballets, for one weekend only!
Verb Ballets continues its fourth triumphant season launching Verb Pops
on the Beck Center's Main Stage January 20 - 22, 2006.  Tickets range
from $10 - $20.=20

The Verb Pops program features a revival of Ian Horvath's blues ballet,
"Laura's Women," Verb's own Rock n' Roll tribute, "MoonDogg," and the
world premiere of Artistic Director Hernando Cortez' "Super Friends," a
madcap dance sitcom featuring members of the Westside community, as well
as a special appearance by John Wesley Shipp, television actor who
originally created the role of The Flash ~ recently seen on Dawson's
Creek and J.A.G.. "Our new Pops program highlights our commitment to
family enriching repertory." says Artistic Director Hernando Cortez.

Beck's Artistic Director Scott Spence says, "It's a perfect
collaboration - the marriage of Theater and Dance under one roof.  I am
confident our Westsiders will be thrilled and delighted when they
experience Verb's electrifying energy, it's infectious."

Longtime Clevelander and director of Beck's dance program, Lynda Sackett
embraced the collaboration whole-heartedly.  "As soon as these talented
professionals entered the studios,  my students' drive, energy and work
ethic soared.  We all know the effect of having professional dancers
around dance students, it's amazing."

This production is a culmination of a six-week residency hosted by the
Beck Center for the Arts with the support from the John P. Murphy
Foundation and the following sponsors:  BFL Communications and
ideastream.

Show times are Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 3:00 p.m.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students (22 and under with I.D.)
and $10 for children (12 and under). To reserve your seats contact the
Beck Center box office at (216) 521-2540 or visit us online at
www.beckcenter.org <http://www.beckcenter.org/> . Discounts are
available for groups of ten or more. The Beck Center for the Arts is
located just 10 minutes west of downtown Cleveland at 17801 Detroit
Avenue in Lakewood.

###

=20

About JOHN WESLEY SHIPP

Shipp studied acting in New York City following college and earned his
first daytime claim to fame playing Dr. Kelly Nelson on "The Guiding
Light" in 1980.  He won two consecutive daytime Emmy awards for his soap
work -- the first for As the World Turns and the second for Santa
Barbara.  More recently, John Wesley finished WB series, Dawson's Creek,
after four years of playing Mitch Leery, the over-sexed, selfless, and
extremely handsome father of Dawson.  In 2004, Shipp appeared on J.A.G.
playing "Colonel Marcus Sutter" in the episode: "What If."

=20

About THE BECK CENTER FOR THE ARTS

The Beck Center for the Arts is a non-profit, comprehensive performing
arts organization dedicated to enriching the quality of life for
northeastern Ohioans.  We view our unique role as one of creating an
audience for tomorrow's art.  We combine professional theatrical
productions with curriculum-based education in dance, music, theater,
and visual arts.  In addition, the Creative Arts Therapies department
assists individuals who have a variety of special needs by improving
their quality of life through the creative arts. And, in an effort to
come full circle with our arts programming, the Beck Center for the Arts
welcomes local and regional artists to showcase their work in our
Galleria and theater lobby. =20

=20

About Verb Ballets' Artistic Director Hernando Cortez

Hernando Cortez was born in Manila, Philippines, and spent his early
years in British Columbia, where he began his dance training at
Vancouver's Pacific Ballet Theatre. He graduated with Honors from
Purchase College Conservatory of Dance in 1985. In 1987, he joined the
Paul Taylor Dance Company, performing leading roles in such renowned
Taylor repertory as Arden Court, Cloven Kingdom and Company B through
1996. He was featured in two PBS/WNET "Great Performances: Dance in
America" specials and has performed with Mikhail Baryshnikov's White Oak
Dance Project on its national tour in 1998.=20

=20

A popular freelance choreographer, Cortez continues to be commissioned
for new works by regional dance companies and universities nationwide.
He has served on numerous panels, most recently as an advisor for the
National Endowment for the Arts. He has been on the faculties of
Purchase College Conservatory of Dance, The Boston Conservatory, the
Joffrey School, and the school of the Paul Taylor Dance Company.

=20

Cortez is the founding director of Dancers Responding to AIDS (DRA), a
fundraising program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA). The
funds that DRA raises are distributed to over 400 AIDS service
organizations across the United States. In connection with his work at
DRA, Cortez was a recipient of the 1996 New York Dance and Performance
(aka "Bessie") Award and the 1997 Dance Magazine Award. In 2003, Cortez
was nominated for a Northern Ohio Live Award of Achievement in Dance,
and won the Award in 2004. Cleveland Magazine voted Cortez one of 30
"Most Important People" for 2005.

=20

About VERB BALLETS

Verb Ballets begins its fourth season under the leadership of Artistic
Director Hernando Cortez, Executive Director Margaret Carlson and an
energetic staff and board of trustees, who have established it as
Cleveland's premiere contemporary dance repertory company.  Verb has
been named as one of "25 to Watch in 2004" by Dance Magazine, the
country's leading news magazine covering dance.  Verb Ballets discovers,
collects, interprets, and stages choreography that matters to the region
and to the world of dance.  As a curator of expressive movement that is
globally connected and nationally respected, Verb Ballets has a mandate
to support and foster emerging talent, present excellence in
contemporary choreographers, and revive and honor modern dance classics.

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<div class=3DSection1>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D1 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'>=
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D1 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>January 18, 2006<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D1 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>Contact Information: 216-521-2540 =
<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D1 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Yvette Hanzel, extension =
225<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D1 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> <st1:PersonName w:st=3D"on">Lynda =
Sackett</st1:PersonName>,
extension 245<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><b><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></fon=
t></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><b><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>~ One Weekend
Only ~<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter =
style=3D'text-align:center'><st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName
 w:st=3D"on"><b><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
  font-weight:bold'>Beck</span></font></b></st1:PlaceName><b><span
 style=3D'font-weight:bold'> <st1:PlaceType =
w:st=3D"on">Center</st1:PlaceType></span></b></st1:place><b><span
style=3D'font-weight:bold'> for the Arts =
presents<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><b><font =
size=3D5
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Verb
Ballets’<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter =
style=3D'text-align:center'><b><i><font size=3D5
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>Verb Pops<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><b><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>and the
World Premiere of<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter =
style=3D'text-align:center'><b><i><font size=3D5
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'>Super Friends</span></font></i></b><b><font =
size=3D5><span
style=3D'font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b>=
</p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><b><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>with
Special Guest<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter =
style=3D'text-align:center'><b><i><font size=3D5
color=3Dred face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:18.0pt;color:red;
font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>The =
Flash</span></font></i></b><b><font
size=3D5 color=3Dred><span =
style=3D'font-size:18.0pt;color:red;font-weight:bold'> =
</span></font></b><b><font
size=3D5><span =
style=3D'font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b>=
</p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><b><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>(John
Wesley Shipp)<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter =
style=3D'text-align:center'><st1:date Month=3D"1"
Day=3D"20" Year=3D"2006" w:st=3D"on"><b><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
 style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>January 20 – 22, =
2006</span></font></b></st1:date><b><span
style=3D'font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<st1:City =
w:st=3D"on">Lakewood</st1:City>, <st1:State =
w:st=3D"on">Ohio</st1:State> --
The <st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Beck</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType =
w:st=3D"on">Center</st1:PlaceType>
for the Arts presents <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:City =
w:st=3D"on">Cleveland</st1:City></st1:place>’s
National Repertory Dance Company, Verb Ballets, for one weekend =
only! 
Verb Ballets continues its fourth triumphant season launching Verb Pops on the <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName
 w:st=3D"on">Beck</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType =
w:st=3D"on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>’s
Main Stage <st1:date Month=3D"1" Day=3D"20" Year=3D"2006" =
w:st=3D"on">January 20
 – 22, 2006</st1:date>.  <st1:PersonName =
w:st=3D"on">Tickets</st1:PersonName>
range from $10 - $20. <o:p></o:p>

The Verb Pops program features a =
revival of
Ian Horvath’s blues ballet, “Laura’s Women,”
Verb’s own Rock n' Roll tribute, “MoonDogg,” and the =
world
premiere of Artistic Director <st1:PersonName w:st=3D"on">Hernando =
Cortez</st1:PersonName>’
“Super Friends,” a madcap dance sitcom featuring members of =
the
Westside community, as well as a special appearance by John Wesley =
Shipp,
television actor who originally created the role of The Flash ~ recently =
seen
on Dawson's Creek and =
J.A.G.. “Our new Pops =
program
highlights our commitment to family enriching repertory.” says =
Artistic
Director <st1:PersonName w:st=3D"on">Hernando =
Cortez</st1:PersonName>.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%'>Beck’s
Artistic Director <st1:PersonName w:st=3D"on">Scott =
Spence</st1:PersonName> says,
“It’s a perfect collaboration – the marriage of =
Theater and
Dance under one roof.  I am confident our Westsiders will be =
thrilled and
delighted when they experience Verb’s electrifying energy, =
it’s
infectious.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%'>Longtime
Clevelander and director of Beck’s dance program, <st1:PersonName =
w:st=3D"on">Lynda
 Sackett</st1:PersonName> embraced the collaboration =
whole-heartedly. 
“As soon as these talented professionals entered the =
studios,  my
students’ drive, energy and work ethic soared.  We all know =
the
effect of having professional dancers around dance students, it’s
amazing.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

This
production is a culmination of a six-week residency hosted by the =
<st1:place
w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Beck</st1:PlaceName> =
<st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
for the Arts with the support from the John P. Murphy Foundation and the
following sponsors:  BFL Communications and =
ideastream.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%'>Show
times are Friday and Saturday at <st1:time Hour=3D"20" Minute=3D"0" =
w:st=3D"on">8:00
 p.m.</st1:time> and Sunday at <st1:time Hour=3D"15" Minute=3D"0" =
w:st=3D"on">3:00
 p.m.</st1:time>  <st1:PersonName =
w:st=3D"on">Tickets</st1:PersonName> are
$20 for adults, $15 for students (22 and under with I.D.) and $10 for =
children (12
and under).  To reserve your seats contact the <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName
 w:st=3D"on">Beck</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType =
w:st=3D"on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
box office at (216) 521-2540 or visit us online at <a
href=3D"http://www.beckcenter.org/">www.beckcenter.org</a>.  =
Discounts are
available for groups of ten or more.  The <st1:PlaceName =
w:st=3D"on">Beck</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">Center</st1:PlaceType> for the Arts is =
located just 10
minutes west of downtown <st1:City w:st=3D"on">Cleveland</st1:City> at =
<st1:Street
w:st=3D"on"><st1:address w:st=3D"on">17801 Detroit =
Avenue</st1:address></st1:Street>
in <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:City =
w:st=3D"on">Lakewood</st1:City></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>=

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter =
style=3D'text-align:center;text-indent:.5in;
line-height:200%'><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;line-height:200%'>###<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:150%'><b><font size=3D3 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial;font-weight:=
bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:150%'><b><font size=3D3 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial;font-weight:=
bold'>About
JOHN WESLEY SHIPP</span></font></b><o:p></o:p></p>

Shipp studied acting in <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:City
 w:st=3D"on">New York City</st1:City></st1:place> following college and =
earned
his first daytime claim to fame playing Dr. Kelly Nelson on "The =
Guiding
Light" in 1980.  He won two consecutive daytime Emmy awards =
for his
soap work -- the first for As the =
World
Turns and the second for <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:City =
w:st=3D"on">Santa =
Barbara</st1:City></st1:place>. 
More recently, John Wesley finished WB series, Dawson's
Creek, after four years of playing Mitch Leery, the =
over-sexed,
selfless, and extremely handsome father of <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:City
 w:st=3D"on">Dawson</st1:City></st1:place>.  In 2004, Shipp =
appeared on J.A.G. playing "Colonel =
Marcus
Sutter" in the episode: "What =
If."<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:150%'><b><font size=3D3 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial;font-weight:=
bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:150%'><b><font size=3D3 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial;font-weight:=
bold'>About
THE <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName =
w:st=3D"on">BECK</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
 w:st=3D"on">CENTER</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> FOR THE =
ARTS</span></font></b><o:p></o:p></p>

The <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName
 w:st=3D"on">Beck</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType =
w:st=3D"on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
for the Arts is a non-profit, comprehensive performing arts organization
dedicated to enriching the quality of life for northeastern =
Ohioans.  We
view our unique role as one of creating an audience for tomorrow’s
art.  We combine professional theatrical productions with =
curriculum-based
education in dance, music, theater, and visual arts.  In addition, =
the
Creative Arts Therapies department assists individuals who have a =
variety of
special needs by improving their quality of life through the creative =
arts.
And, in an effort to come full circle with our arts programming, the =
<st1:place
w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Beck</st1:PlaceName> =
<st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
for the Arts welcomes local and regional artists to showcase their work =
in our
Galleria and theater lobby.  <o:p></o:p>=

<p style=3D'margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><b><font size=3D3 =
color=3Dblack
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;
font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p style=3D'margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:150%'><b><font =
size=3D3
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:bold'>About Verb =
Ballets’
Artistic Director Hernando Cortez<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

Hernando Cortez was born in <st1:City =
w:st=3D"on">Manila</st1:City>,
<st1:country-region w:st=3D"on">Philippines</st1:country-region>, and =
spent his
early years in <st1:State w:st=3D"on">British Columbia</st1:State>, =
where he
began his dance training at <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:City =
w:st=3D"on">Vancouver</st1:City></st1:place>'s
Pacific Ballet Theatre. He graduated with Honors from Purchase College
Conservatory of Dance in 1985. In 1987, he joined the Paul Taylor Dance
Company, performing leading roles in such renowned <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:City
 w:st=3D"on">Taylor</st1:City></st1:place> repertory as Arden Court, Cloven Kingdom and =
Company B through 1996. He was =
featured in
two PBS/WNET "Great Performances: Dance in <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region
 w:st=3D"on">America</st1:country-region></st1:place>" specials and =
has
performed with Mikhail Baryshnikov's White Oak Dance Project on its =
national
tour in 1998. <o:p></o:p>

<p style=3D'margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><i><font size=3D2 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;color:black;font-style:
italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></p>

A popular freelance choreographer, Cortez continues to =
be
commissioned for new works by regional dance companies and universities
nationwide. He has served on numerous panels, most recently as an =
advisor for
the National Endowment for the Arts. He has been on the faculties of =
Purchase
College Conservatory of Dance, The Boston Conservatory, the <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName
 w:st=3D"on">Joffrey</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType =
w:st=3D"on">School</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>,
and the school of the Paul Taylor Dance =
Company.<o:p></o:p>

<p style=3D'margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><i><font size=3D2 =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;color:black;font-style:
italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></p>

Cortez is the founding director of Dancers Responding =
to AIDS
(DRA), a fundraising program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS =
(BC/EFA). The
funds that DRA raises are distributed to over 400 AIDS service =
organizations
across the <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region w:st=3D"on">United =
States</st1:country-region></st1:place>.
In connection with his work at DRA, Cortez was a recipient of the 1996 =
New York
Dance and Performance (aka "Bessie") Award and the 1997 Dance
Magazine Award. In 2003, Cortez was nominated for a Northern Ohio Live =
Award of
Achievement in Dance, and won the Award in 2004. Cleveland Magazine =
voted
Cortez one of 30 "Most Important People" for =
2005.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:150%'><b><font size=3D3 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial;font-weight:=
bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:150%'><b><font size=3D3 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:Arial;font-weight:=
bold'>About
VERB BALLETS</span></font></b><o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:150%'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%'>Verb Ballets begins its =
fourth season
under the leadership of Artistic Director Hernando Cortez, Executive =
Director
Margaret Carlson and an energetic staff and board of trustees, who have
established it as <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:City =
w:st=3D"on">Cleveland</st1:City></st1:place>’s
premiere contemporary dance repertory company.  Verb has been named =
as one
of “25 to Watch in 2004” by <u>Dance Magazine</u>, the
country’s leading news magazine covering dance.  Verb Ballets
discovers, collects, interprets, and stages choreography that matters to =
the
region and to the world of dance.  As a curator of expressive =
movement
that is globally connected and nationally respected, Verb Ballets has a =
mandate
to support and foster emerging talent, present excellence in =
contemporary
choreographers, and revive and honor modern dance =
classics.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

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