[NEohioPAL] PRESS RELEASE: Verb Ballets' World Premiere "Peter and the Wolf"

[Dan Kilbane]

For Immediate Release:          
Contact
Dr. Margaret Carlson
Executive Director
216.397.3757
www.verbballets.org

Pamela Pribisco of New York City to Create World Premiere of “Peter and the Wolf” for Verb Ballets.

November 21, 2008 Cleveland, OH--Verb Ballets, Cleveland’s National Repertory Dance Company, will collaborate with The Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra to present a family concert for the holiday season on Sunday, December 7th at 3:00 p.m. at Cuyahoga Community College’s Western Campus Theater in Parma.  Music Director Victor Liva will lead the orchestra in a program that combines music for the holidays with one of the best-loved and entertaining children’s classics in the orchestral literature.  Included on the program will be the world premiere of “Peter and the Wolf,” choreographed by Pamela Pribisco of New York City. WCLV host John Simna will narrate “Peter and the Wolf”.  This exciting new work will feature Verb Ballets’ eight dancers with original costume designs by Suzy Campbell and lighting design by Dennis Dugan.  Reserved seats are $8 - $12 and are available by calling 216.556.1800 or by mail order.  Ticketing details can be
 found at www.clevephil.org.  The “Peter and the Wolf” creation was commissioned by Millie L Carlson.

In addition to Verb Ballets’ contribution to this family friendly performance, the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra, with conductor Victor Liva at the helm, performs the following program: Corelli’s “Christmas” Concerto; Rimsky-Korsakov’s Christmas Eve Suite; the Beautiful Blue Danube Waltzes of Johann Strauss Jr.; and festive arrangements of traditional holiday music by Leroy Anderson, along with Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf,” narrated by John Simna, and choreography by Pribisco.

About Pamela Pribisco
Born in Ohio, Pamela Pribisco was a founding member and principal dancer with the Cleveland Ballet.  As a highly respected teacher of classical ballet and pointe in New York City, she has been on the faculty of the Joffrey Ballet School, Ballet Hispanico, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, and teaches annually at the School at Jacob's Pillow.  Ms. Pribisco served as ballet mistress for the Cleveland Ballet, American Ballroom Theatre, and Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, for which she staged and choreographed numerous pieces in the company's repertoire. She was profiled in The New York Times for her work with the ‘”Trocks.” Currently, Ms. Pribisco is company teacher for Alvin Ailey Dance Company and ballet mistress for Complexions Contemporary Ballet Company. She also writes for dance publications, advising young dancers on various aspects of their careers, and is creator of 'Wigglewords™' a fitness literacy program for children.

About Verb Ballets

The Verb Ballets organization has established the company as Cleveland’s premiere national 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.

Verb Ballets’ seventh season continues under the theme “Verb All Stars,” highlighting collaborations with other arts organizations.  This series of performances takes place in Northeast Ohio as well as without:  On January 17, 2009, the company travels to Fort Myers, Florida, to perform at Florida Big Arts Theatre in Sanibel.  On January 31 – February 1, 2009, Verb Ballets will be performing in conjunction with a residency at Ohio Northern University, premiering a work set on their students, by Verb Ballets dancer, Catherine Meredith Lambert.  On February 7, 2009, the company will perform at the beautiful new Chagrin Falls performance center.  In April 2009, Verb Ballets returns to Cleveland Public Theatre’s Danceworks series, highlighting local choreographers, from April 16 – 19, 2009.  On May 1 and 2, 2009, the company makes its fourth appearance at the Cleveland Play House’s FusionFest.

Verb Ballets’ company of dancers includes Danielle Brickman, Ashley Cohen, Katie Gnagy, Sydney Ignacio, Catherine Meredith Lambert, Erin Conway Lewis, Brian Murphy, and Anna Roberts. 

About Millie L Carlson
Millie L Carlson underwrites verb’s performance with the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra.  Millie Carlson has been a member of the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra for more than 40 years, playing in the second violin section.  She has also served on the orchestra’s board of directors for a number of terms.  She received her early training at the University of Utah, where she met her husband, Allan.  Dr. Allan Carlson was the President of Cleveland Crystals, a research company that was the leader in laser research and quantum physics.  He also served on the orchestra’s board of directors as its Treasurer.  The Cleveland Philharmonic has an endowment in Dr. Carlson’s name, established by Millie.  For the past five years, Millie has underwritten Verb Ballets programs that feature the work of Cleveland composers.  Verb Ballets and the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra are very grateful for her ongoing support.  The commissioning of the Verb Ballets
 choreography by Pamela Pribisco marks the first collaboration between the two groups.  

Cuyahoga Community College’s Western Campus Theater, the location of this performance, is at 11000 West Pleasant Valley Road, Parma, Ohio, 44130.  Seats are $8 - $12 and are available by calling 216.556.1800 or by mail order.  Ticketing details can be found at www.clevephil.org. 

Major sponsors of Verb Ballets include AHS Foundation; Akron Community Foundation; The Bascom Little Fund; Millie L. Carlson; The Cleveland Foundation; Cuyahoga Arts and Culture; The George Gund Foundation; Kulas Foundation; The Laub Foundation; The McGregor Foundation; Margaret Clark Morgan Foundation; John P. Murphy Foundation; The National Endowment for the Arts; The Ohio Arts Council.  Additional individual sponsors include Chuck and Ann Ennis, Norma and Jeffrey Glazer, David R. Pierce, and Robert M. Shwab.  DANSKIN is the official 2008 – 2009 sponsor of Verb Ballets.  Additional Verb sponsors include Baumgarten & Company, LLP; Cedar Hill Communications; Fitworks and GlobeNewswire, Inc.