[NEohioPAL] Berko review: Verb Ballets' EXPLORE DISCOVER; preview: Joffrey Ballet and Cleveland Orchestra

[Roy Berko]

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*Verb Ballets opens Fall season with EXPLORE DISCOVER; preview of Joffrey’s
NUTCRACKER*



Roy Berko

(Member, Dance Critics Association)



This season Verb Ballets, Cleveland’s largest contemporary dance company,
is mainly featuring a single choreographer at each program.  This concept
continues the company’s goal of supporting and fostering emerging
talent.  Programs
will highlight the works of Antonio Brown, Chung-Fu Chang and Richard
Dickinson.



It is appropriate that the first evening of EXPLORE DISCOVER showcases the
work of local dancer and choreographer, Antonio Brown.



Brown, who is a member of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, was
born and raised in Cleveland.  He began his dance training at the Cleveland
School for the Arts under the guidance of Bill Wade (Inlet Dance).  He went
on to study at the Julliard School, and has performed with a number of
noted dance companies.  Besides performing, he developed an interest in
choreography, and staged works for such organizations as Verb Ballets,
August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble, and The Julliard Dance Ensemble.



Brown, who is noted for his dynamic personality as well as his non-stop
energy, displays these traits in his dance concepts.



The Verb program opened with CONTINUUM (2011), performed to a remix
assembled by Brown, which represented his youthful and free form style and
featured a dervish of balletic, rolling, running, sliding, arms flailing,
free form lifts, and movements.  Though a little long, it was engrossing.  Trad
Burns’ lighting and Janet Bolick’s blue and maroon costumes helped create
the right moods.



Tom Evert’s THE PRESIDENT (1986) featured the focused dancing of Brian
Murphy.  The piece showcased the anguish, reconciliation, sleepless nights,
and pressure of the man who holds the highest position in the land.  Complete
with the unfurling of the American flag in the conclusion, it was an
appropriate selection for this season of political infighting.



THE ROAD TOGETHER, choreographed by Brian Murphy was performed to Sigur
Ros’s *Med Sud I Eyrum*.  Short and intense, it showcased Ashley Cohen and
Ryan DeAlexandro nicely exploring the challenges that keep us apart.  Centering
on moving on and around two chairs, the duo came together and broke apart
in anguish and angst.  There was a clear message, nicely developed by
Murphy and his dancers.



I’M ON MY WAY (2012) was choreographed by Brown for himself.  Centering on
a pile of clothing which Brown put on and took off in an attempt to find
the “right look,” there was a shallowness of effect.



Performed to a remix of various artists, PASSING BY (2012), was youthful,
repetitive, and overly long. The free form movements, though well danced,
did little to capture and hold the attention.



*Capsule judgement: Antonio **Brown, whose work was the centerpiece of
EXPLORE DISCOVER (9/22/12) has great potential as a choreographer.  Though
it might be incumbent upon a local reviewer to extol his work, it would not
be a service to him or his audience.  Brown is  just developing a style and
dance philosophy that will take years and maturity to polish, and needs
honest evaluation to help him on his path.  Verb should be praised for
giving the young man a chance to ply his creativity and give him a chance
to experiment. ***



Verb’s next performance is on October 13 when they will perform CARMEN:  STORY
OF PASSION at the Akron Civic Theatre.  This is followed by the works of
Chung-Fu Chang on February 23 at the Breen Center.  Their April 18-20
session will feature Richard Dickinson’s choreography at Cleveland Public
Theatre.  For information go to:  verbballets.org or call 216-397-3757.



*JOFFREY BALLET and THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA*



The Cleveland Orchestra and The Joffrey Ballet will perform THE NUTCRACKER,
Tchaikovsky’s magical work, for five performances on November 29 through
December 2 at the State Theatre in Playhouse Square.  For information go to
playhousesquare.org or call 216-241-6000 or 866-546-1353.


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