[NEohioPAL] PRESS RELEASE: Verb Ballets in Tremont for free, outdoor performances

[Dan Kilbane]

For Immediate Release
Press Contact: Dan Kilbane, 216.513.3654, kilbanedan at yahoo.com
 
Verb Ballets Returns to Tremont 
Free, Outdoor Performances
Friday, August 22, and Saturday, August 23, 2008 at 8:15 p.m.
 
August 14, 2008, Cleveland, OH  -- Verb Ballets, Cleveland’s National Repertory Dance Company, returns to Lincoln Park in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood on Friday, August 22 and 23, 2008, at 8:15 p.m., for the neighborhood “Arts in August” programming.  The free, outdoor program features the summer 2008 world premiere “Mondo Jumbo”; the company premiere “Ski-Du”; and the return of “Chichester Psalms,” “Laura’s Women,” and “Andante Sostenuto.” Admission is free for this family-friendly event; audience members are encouraged to arrive early and to bring blankets or chairs.  Rain date is Sunday, August 24.  Lincoln Park is located between West 14th, West 11th, Kenilworth and Starkweather Avenues in the Tremont neighborhood, Cleveland, Ohio 44113.
 
The repertory for these performances includes the following:
 Mondo Jumbo.  Summer 2008 World Premiere.  As in the popular “Planet Soup,” Artistic Director Hernando Cortez’s exploration of the fusion of world and ethnic dance forms continues.  “Mondo Jumbo” is a celebratory swirl of long sweeping passages of African, West Indian, Chinese, and Caribbean dances, accompanied by world music and an ensemble from The University of Akron Steel Drum Band.  The Band’s Co-Director Matthew Dudack’s own compositions spice up the world music mix.  Skin tight jungle-style costumes are by New York designer Edward Sylvia and resident costume designer Suzy Campbell.  The creation of this work is made possible with the support of The Cleveland Foundation and the Bascom Little Fund.
 
Ski-Du.  Summer 2008 Company Premiere.  In homage to Moses Pendleton’s popular “Skiva,” which was created for Pilobolus, Cortez expands on Mr. Pendleton’s original exploration of “the possibilities for motion when one’s feet are encased in boots attached to skis.”  Suzy Campbell’s sleek silver unitards and Trad A Burn’s dramatic lighting enhance the gravity defying effects.  The creation of this work is made possible with the support of The Cleveland Foundation and the Gund Foundation. 
 
Andante Sostenuto.  Revival.  Ohio Ballet Founder Heinz Poll’s romantic duet features music by Felix Mendelssohn (his Piano Concerto No. 2, D minor, second movement).  The piece is restaged by former Ohio Ballet dancer Richard Dickinson.  Janet Bolick recreates the original Ohio Ballet costumes.  The mounting of this work is made possible through the generous support of The AHS Foundation. 
 
Laura’s Women.  Revival.   This work received its world premiere in 1974 in Cleveland, by Cleveland Ballet. The first work created by Ian Horvath (1943-1990), “Laura’s Women” speaks of the life of women caught in a world of poverty and loneliness. The dance was inspired by the music and life of blues singer, Laura Nyro.  Receiving its first performance at The Cleveland Play House, “Laura’s Women” remained in the repertory of Cleveland Ballet until 1998 as an audience favorite. The work has been staged on dance companies throughout the US and was performed by the Jose Limon Dance Company at Ian Horvath’s memorial in New York City at the Joyce Theatre. This revival of “Laura’s Women” is made possible by the generosity of Millie L. Carlson and Ginger Shane. 
 
Chichester Psalms.  Revival.  Choreographed by Artistic Director Hernando Cortez, this piece is a full company work with sweeping passages of impassioned dancing.  Chichester Psalms (music) was Leonard Bernstein's first composition after the Third Symphony, Kaddish (composed for the Boston Symphony Orchestra's seventy-fifth anniversary, though not completed until 1963, eight years after that event).
 
Verb’s Tremont performances are presented by Tremont West Development Corporation, ParkWorks and Cleveland City Councilperson Joe Cimperman. 
 
The company includes Danielle Brickman, Ashley Cohen, Erin Conway, Katie Gnagy, Sydney Ignacio, Catherine Meredith, Jennifer Moll Safonovs, Brian Murphy, Anna Roberts, and Robert Wesner.  Intern:  Alyssa Marquez.  Trainees:  Leisa DeCarlo, Annie Gagen, and Alexis Spooner.  Lighting designer Trad A Burns once again joins Verb.
 
Major sponsors of Verb Ballets include AHS Foundation; Akron Community Foundation; The Bascom Little Fund; Millie L. Carlson; Cuyahoga Arts and Culture; The Cleveland Foundation; The George Gund Foundation; Kulas Foundation; The Laub Foundation; Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation; The McGregor Foundation; John P. Murphy Foundation; The National Endowment for the Arts; and The Ohio Arts Council.  Additional individual sponsors include Charles and Sandy Abookire, Chuck and Ann Ennis, Norma and Jeffrey Glazer, David Pierce, and Rob Schwab. 
 
DANSKIN is the official 2008-2009 sponsor of Verb Ballets.  Additional Verb sponsors include Baumgarten & Company, LLP; Cedar Hill Communications; Fitworks; Mann Jewelers; PrimeZone Media; Shima Limo; WCLV; and WCPN.
Verb Ballets is now beginning its seventh season under the leadership of Artistic Director Hernando Cortez, Executive Director Dr. Margaret Carlson, an energetic staff and its dedicated Board of Trustees, who have established Verb as Cleveland’s premiere dance repertory company. Verb Ballets was named one of “25 to Watch in 2004” by Dance Magazine, the country’s leading news magazine covering dance, and recently the magazine bestowed more kudos on the company by naming Verb one of 5 “Great Tiny Troupes” in America. 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.  Additional information may be found at www.verbballets.org.
 




      
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