[NEohioPAL] Berko review: VERB BALLETS & UPCOMING DANCE PERFORMANCES

[Roy Berko]

Verb Ballets back on pointe!   Coming dance attractions.
 
Roy Berko

(Member, Dance Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

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

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During most of the past seven years, Verb Ballets was one of the most exciting dance venues in the area.  Then, about a year and-a-half ago, they seemed to lose their focus.  The programs seemed disorganized and the dancers seemed to be going through the motions.  They lost company members and did not replace them.

A change in artistic management took place, dancers were added and deleted,  and it  has done a world of good.   The company’s recent program, presented as part of the Chagrin Arts 2009 Winter Series and performed at Chagrin Falls High School’s  beautiful Performing Arts Center, was a return to the shining days of the past.  The company’s pieces ranged from traditional ballet, to contemporary and modern dance, to a youth-centered offering, to the late Heinz Poll’s ‘BOLERO.’  All were well performed.  There was precision and a renewed positive attitude.

The opening piece, ‘VESPERS,’ choreographed by Ulysses Dove, with restaging by Dawn Carter, was a disciplined work, centering around a series of chairs, which were sat on, jumped on and over, straddled, and balanced upon.  Based on the passions and the spirituality of women who have faith, it was danced to the music of Mikel Rouse.  

Brian Murphy, one of the best male dancers in the area, was splendid as the solo performer in David Dearling’s ‘DARK WOOD.’  He displayed complete body control as he moved with assurance and power .  This was a tour de force.

‘PETER AND THE WOLF’ was danced to the vocal narration of the late Leonard Bernstein and the recorded music of Sergei Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf,” which uses a musical instrument to represent each of the animals and the people in the piece.  For example, the flute represented the bird; the oboe, the duck; the clarinet, the cat; and grandfather was showcased by the bassoon.  The delightful interpretation by Pamela Pribisco was well costumed by Gino Ventura.  Though the pacing of the piece was a little languid, the children in the audience seemed delighted through out.

Jennifer Moll Safonovs and Brian Murphy, added grace and beauty to the program, dancing Heinz Poll’s ‘classically conceived ANDANTE SOSTENUTO.’ The pas de deux, set to Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 2, was a visual delight as the duo performed floating lifts, alert partnering, and smooth classic movements with ease and assurance.

The program ended with the spirited ‘BOLERO,’ complete with the waving cloaks of the bull fight.  The conclusion was met with an enthusiastic and well deserved standing ovation from the sizeable crowd.

Capsule judgement:  Welcome back Verb Ballets!

The company’s next performance will be at Cleveland Public Theatre on April 16th through the 19th as part of ‘DANCEWORKS 09.’  For tickets call 216-631-2727 or go to www.cptonline.org.
This will be followed by performances as part of Fusion Fest 2009 on May 1 & 2 at the Cleveland Play House.  For tickets call 216-795-7000 or go to www.clevelandplayhouse.com


COMING DANCE ATTRACTIONS


GROUNDWORKS DANCETHEATER

On Saturday, March 28 at 7:30, GroundWorks Dancetheater will present ‘UNPUBLISHED DIALOGUES’ based on the life of Virginia Woolf and ‘MAJOR TO MINOR,’ set to the music of legendary female jazz vocalists Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday.  The performance will be at Philomethian Auditorium at Chagrin Falls Intermediate School.  For tickets call 440-247-8955.

BALLET HISPANICO

Acclaimed New York City-based Ballet Hispanico comes to the Ohio Theatre in PlayhouseSquare for performances on Feb. 20-21 as part of a 16-city national tour.

This dynamic company, whose diverse choreography is infused with traditional Latin and Spanish movements, will perform at 8 p.m. Friday evening and at a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee, co-presented by DANCECleveland and Cuyahoga Community College.  Prior to the Saturday matinee performance, a family festival at 1 p.m. in the Ohio Theatre lobby will showcase Latin culture with dancing, drumming and family activities. Tri-C will also host a free Showtime at High Noon on Friday for students from noon-1 p.m.

For tickets call 216-241-6000 or go online at playhousesquare.org.  For group tickets and for information about the Saturday matinee family festival call DANCECleveland at 216-991-9000. 


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 subscribe visit http://mailman.listserve.com/listmanager/listinfo/neohiopal.)