[NEohioPAL]Berko review: VERB BALLETS @ BECK + dance previews

[Roy Berko]

VERB BALLETS, GROUNDWORKS, GARTH FAGAN, NATIONAL
BALLET OF CANADA

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--


Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times	


VERB BALLET WOWS WEST SIDE AUDIENCE

There  appears to be little doubt that Verb Ballets
has emerged as the leading large- ensemble dance
company in the area.  It far outstrips Ohio Ballet,
its nearest rival, for attendance, creativity,
positive reviews and the development of a loyal
following.

The company is in its fourth season under the creative
Artistic Direction of Hernando Cortez and the savvy
Executive Director Dr. Margaret Carlson.  The two have
carefully honed offerings and public relations that
reach out to more than traditional attenders of dance
programs.  The recent offerings at Beck Center, for
example, found a mixture of preteens through senior
citizens in attendance, with many seldom seen
twenty-five to forty year-olds, including many men.

Verb has been dubbed by Dance Magazine as one of the
“25 to Watch.” I’ve declared in reviews that, “Verb’s
the word in local ballet” and “It is so exciting to be
able to look forward to every performance of this
wonderful group.” 

Verb Ballets' mission is reflected in the company’s
repertory which includes Ian Horvath’s “Piano Man” and
“Laura’s Women”; David Parsons’  “The Envelope,” and
“Sleep Study”; Sean Curran’s “Mozart Piano Trio”; and,
Hernando Cortez’s “Two Hours that Shook the World,”
“MoonDogg-Cleveland Celebrates Rock n’ Roll,”
“Chichester Psalms,” “Planet Soup” and “Carmina
Burana.”

Their recent program at Beck Center, whose three
performances played to near sold out audiences,
included “MoonDogg,’ “”Laura’s Women,” and the world
premiere of “Super Friends-Episode 6.  

“MoonDogg” is a tribute to Rock and Roll, specifically
to the contributions of Alan Freed.  Cortez’s
choreography was right-on, but this was one time when
being too proficient in traditional dance excellence
somewhat got in the way.  Rock and roll is
spontaneous, filled with joy and abandonment.  The
well-trained company did the right moves, but with
none of the needed flair.   Except for dynamic Jason
Ignacio, they danced  with emotional control.  It was
interesting that when the younger students in the
company’s dance school came on stage for a brief
appearance, joyous excitement over-form filled the
stage.   The next time the company performs this piece
I’d love to hear Cortez tell them to just let loose,
have fun, forget the precise movements and really have
a great time rocking and rolling!

Ian Horvath was one of the founding artistic directors
of the now defunct Cleveland Ballet.  Unfortunately,
he become ill and died at a young age, before he had
the chance to develop a comprehensive repertory.  One
of his finest pieces was “Laura’s Women.”  The second
piece in ‘VERBS POPS PROGRAM,’ the ballet was restaged
by Margaret Carlson and danced to perfection by
Danielle Brickman, Elizabeth Flynn and Katie Gnagy. 
Trad Burns’ lighting helped create the perfect mood
and images.

‘SUPERFRIENDS-EPISODE 6, THE MONOLITH OF EVIL exposed
the audience to the dancing exploits of Batman and
Robin, Superman, Mighty Mouse, Spiderman, Wonder
Woman, Popeye and Olive, Tarzan and Jane, and Speed
Racer.

The piece started with a wonderful reenactment of
“Magic to Do,” the opening number from the musical
‘PIPPIN.’  I’ve know for a long time that Mark Tomasic
is one of the area’s best dancers, but little did I
know that he was also a proficient singer.  Any
director planning to do ‘PIPPIN’ should definitely
cast him as the Leading Player.  Or, for that matter,
in such musicals as ‘CHICAGO’ which requires a macho
male with a big voice who can really dance.  

The audience loved ‘SUPERFRIENDS.’  This is a program
which should be done for school students to introduce
them to dance.  The cast was wonderful, especially
Jason Ignacio as Mighty Mouse.   The program was
narrated by John Wesley Shipp, who played the title
role in the CBS comic book series, “The Flash.”  This
is a piece that will surely be added to the company’s
repertory.  

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:   If you haven’t seen Verb Ballets,
you should make every effort to get to their next
performance, ‘HONORING POLL’ to be presented on
Friday, March 24 and Saturday, March 25 at the Ohio
Theatre in Playhouse Square.   Their last downtown
Cleveland performance was a total sell-out, so you
would be well-advised to quickly call 216-241-6000 or
go on line to www.playhousesquare.com and get tickets.


GROUNDWORKS

Another of my favorite dance companies, GroundWorks
Dancetheater, will present an entry in its Landmark
Series at Cleveland Botanical Garden from January 27th
to the 29th.  David Shimotakara’s company will
present:   ‘RETURN,’ choreographed by Gina Gibney with
an original score by Ryatt Lott, and ‘BOOK OF WATER,’
choreographed by David Shimotakahara.  For tickets
contact Cleveland Botanical Garden Box Office at 
216-721-1600 extension 168.  Again, if you haven’t
seen this group, you MUST!

 GARTH FAGAN DANCE

Dance Cleveland brings the jazz-infused Garth Fagan
Dance to the Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square for
one-night-only on Saturday, February 25 at 8 p.m.  
The program will include the Ohio premiere of ‘LIFE: 
DARK/LIGHT,’ which has received rave reviews.  Set to
the music of jazz violinist Billy Bang’s “Vietnam: 
The Aftermath,” the work grew from Bang’s experiences
of fear, loss and rejuvenation during his service in
the Vietnam War.  Also to be performed are:  ‘PRELUDE’
(music by Abdullah Ibrahim and Max Roach), ’SONATA AND
THE AFTERNOON’(music by Johannes Brahms) and 
‘TRANSLATION/TRANSITION’ performed to music by the
Jazz Jamaica All Stars.  For tickets call 800-241-6000
or visit www.tickets.com.  Prices are $20 to $47.

NATIONAL BALLET OF CANADA

The National Ballet of Canada, recognized as one of
the world’ finest international ballet companies, will
be in residence from January 27-29 at Playhouse
Square’s State Theatre.  The company’s appearance is
part of the Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital
Ballet Series.  Under Artistic Director Karen Kain,
the company will dance ‘THE FIREBIRD’ and ‘THE FOUR
SEASONS.’   The former has been hailed by critics as
“a visually and choreographically extravagant
pageant.” The latter, a signature work of the company,
is an abstract ballet that showcases the talents and
athleticism of the company’s dancers.




Roy Berko's web page can be found at www.royberko.info.  His theatre and dance reviews appear on NeOHIOpal, an on-line source.   To subscribe to this free service via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.fredsternfeld.com/mailman/listinfo/neohiopal.

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