[NEohioPAL] Berko review: 'to hope,' VERB BALLET (Fusion Fest)

[Roy Berko]

‘VERB’ good, but needs to step up their game

Roy Berko

(Member, Dance Critics Association)

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I consider Verb Ballets to be one of the best dance
companies in the area.  I have watched in pleasant joy
as the company matured.  Unfortunately, in the last
year, I’ve seen what I consider a stagnation setting
in.  They haven’t upped their game.

The females in the company are outstanding.  They
consistently are up to the task of interpreting the
works of Artistic Director Hernando Cortez and guest
choreographers.  

Early this year Verb lost two of its male dancers.  
Neither has been replaced.  This leaves the company
with three male dancers.  The very proficient Brian
Murphy; Robert Wesner, who is a fine solo dancer but
doesn’t always pull back and blend when he is dancing
in corps, and Sydney Ignacio, who does excellent
leaps, but does not fit in with Cortez’s  disciplined
style.

Yes, it is difficult to find strong male dancers, but
if Verb is to continue to grow and not atrophy, it
needs to find two or at least one very strong male
dancer.  The missing link was evident in their recent
‘to hope’ program at Fusion Fest ’08.

‘APPALACHIAN SPRING,’ is subtitled “Ballet for Martha”
because of its strong ties to choreographer Martha
Graham, who created the dance in 1944.  Verb has
performed this piece many times.   In spite of strong
performances by Murphy, Catherine Meredith and Katie
Gnagy, this was the company’s weakest rendition of the
Graham classic.  Sydney Ignacia simply does not have
the stage presence and power to portray the fanatic
Revivalist whose followers quake at his every command
and blindly follow his lead.  In addition, The
Followers often reverted to a pounding on the ground
pattern, that evoked laughter from some of the
audience.  This is the not the intended purpose of
that choreography.

In Cortez’s ‘TWO HOURS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD,’ another
revival, Wesner did what he does best, shine as a
soloist.  Though Cortez contends that he did not set
out to create a 9/11 tribute, the piece does have much
of a disaster-centered theme.  The chaos, panic and
strong movements project an emotional core.  Edward
Hille’s video background helps create the mood, though
watching a video of dancers paralleling the movements
on stage could confuse some.  Why not just accept that
this is a 9/11 piece and have the video show the
destructive holocaust of the fall of the Twin Towers. 
The ending seemed to catch the audience by surprise,
not realizing that the piece was over they sat quietly
sitting, waiting.  Waiting for whatever.

‘THE YELLOW RIVER,’ in its world premiere, was an
agreeable piece that used ballet movements to
interpret Asian music (Jian Zhong-Wang’s “The Yellow
River Concerto”) and the classical “The Mermaid Ballet
Suite:  Waterweed.”  Though the dancers were not
always in sync, the overall effect was generally
positive.   The piece allowed an opportunity for the
company’s interns to perform.  The lovely female
costumes were designed by Suzy Campbell.

A Verb fundraiser, “Cutting’ Up the Rug:  A Victrola
Party” will be held on May 9 at a private home in
Shaker Heights.  For tickets ($75) and information
call 216-397-3757.  Another fund-raiser will be at
Fleming’s Steakhouse on May 30.   For $35 you get to
meet the Verb Ballet dancers and participant in a
raffle.  For details call 216-397-3757.  Verb’s next
major production will be at Cain Park on August 1. 
They will also perform at Hardesty Park in Akron on
July 25 and 26, Perkins Park in Warren on August 15
and Lincoln Park in Tremont on August 22 & 23.  Check
the company’s website (www.verbballets.org) for
details.



Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2001 through 2008, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info
      
His reviews can also be found on www.coolcleveland.com and NeOHIOpal (to subscibe visit http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/neohiopal.)


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