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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><b>For Immediate Release<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoHeader" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">Contacts:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -2in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">At
Verb Ballets: <span style=""> </span><b>For
Media</b></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">:<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">Margaret Carlson <span style=""> </span>Dan
Kilbane<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -2in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">216.397.3757,
ext. 3<span style=""> </span>216.513.3654<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -2in; line-height: 150%;"><span class="email"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn"; color: rgb(52, 52, 52);"><a href="mailto:margaret-carlson@sbcglobal.net">margaret-carlson@sbcglobal.net</a></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><span style=""> </span><a href="mailto:kilbanedan@yahoo.com">kilbanedan@yahoo.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">www.verbballets.org<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><span style=""> </span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; line-height: 150%;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><b>Verb Ballets Is
Home Grown<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; line-height: 150%;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><b>Sunday, January
17, 2010<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; line-height: 150%;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><b>At the new
Breen Center for the Performing Arts<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; line-height: 150%;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><b>Special
Benefit/Performance Packages Available<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><u>December
16, 2009 -- Cleveland, OH</u> -- Verb Ballets, Cleveland’s National Repertory
Dance Company, continues the company’s eighth season with a return to St.
Ignatius High School’s beautiful new Breen Center for the Performing Arts.<span style=""> </span>The afternoon of works features
audience favorites from Verb Ballets in a family-friendly performance.<span style=""> </span>The company’s appearance at the Breen
is part of St. Ignatius’ “Home Grown” series, which features Northeast Ohio
professional arts groups across many disciplines.<span style=""> </span>The Verb Ballets performance is one show only, on <b>Sunday,
January 17, 2010, at 3:00 p.m.</b></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><span style="">
</span>The Board of Trustees and Chief Executive and Artistic Officer Dr.
Margaret Carlson are pleased to announce the return of four audience favorites,
to include Ulysses Dove’s “Vespers,” in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, as
well as a world premiere to be announced.<span style="">
</span>There is also a special show/dinner package available.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><i>Dance
Magazine</i></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">,
in 2004, named Verb one of “25 to Watch,” and in February 2008 bestowed more
kudos on the company by naming Verb Ballets one of 5 “Great Tiny Troupes” in
America.<span style=""> </span><i>The Plain Dealer</i></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"> calls the
company’s work “Compelling....Sweeping and chic artistry."<span style=""> </span>Recently, Coolcleveland.com commented “Verb
Ballets has a way of upping the ante and hitting the jackpot…every time they
perform.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">Advanced
reserved seats are $25, with a $10 student rate, and are available by calling
the Breen Center for the Performing Arts at 216.961.2560, or by ordering online
at <a href="http://www.ignatius.edu/breencenter">www.ignatius.edu/breencenter</a>.<span style=""> </span>A<span style="color: black;"> $5 ticket-processing
fee applies to each order.</span><span style="">
</span>The theatre is located in the historic Ohio City neighborhood of
Cleveland (Lorain Ave. at W. 30th St., 44113), one block away from such popular
restaurants as The Flying Fig, Heck’s, Great Lakes Brewing Company, and Bar
Cento.<span style=""> </span>Free parking is available.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">Verb
Ballets has a great deal in store for patrons, too, and it helps a good
cause:<span style=""> </span>enjoy a champagne brunch
prior to the performance at the nearby, critically lauded Flying Fig
Restaurant, and receive a ticket to the show.<span style=""> </span>Tickets are $75 each, and all proceeds benefit Verb Ballets
operations and educational outreach programs.<span style=""> </span>Call 216.397.3757 to reserve tickets to this benefit/show
package, which begins at The Flying Fig at 1:00 p.m. on January 17.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">The
family-friendly program of Verb Ballets’ revivals includes the following (the
world premiere piece is to be announced):<span style="">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><b>Peter
and the Wolf.<span style=""> </span></b></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">(2008)<span style=""> </span>One of the best-loved and entertaining
children’s classics in the orchestral literature, Verb Ballets’ take on <i>Peter
and the Wolf</i></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">
is choreographed by Pamela Pribisco of New York City.<span style=""> </span>This family-friendly work features the company with original
costume designs by Suzy Campbell.<span style="">
</span>The <i>Peter and the Wolf</i></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"> creation was commissioned by Millie L
Carlson.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><b>Vespers.<span style=""> </span></b></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">(1987)<span style=""> </span>Choreographed by Ulysses Dove.<span style=""> </span>Restaged by Dawn Carter.<span style=""> </span>Verb Ballets is proud to have acquired this seminal
contemporary dance piece during the 2008 – 2009 season.<span style=""> </span>Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
first performed <i>Vespers</i></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"> in 1987.<span style="">
</span>“Ulysses Dove's bold choreographic voice and daring athleticism are
embodied…in <i>Vespers</i></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">, a dramatic work full of raw energy and profound
grace.<span style=""> </span>Mikel Rouse's percussive
score matches the dancers' insistent drive as they propel themselves across the
stage in this ballet that <i>The Village Voice</i></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"> proclaimed
“astonishing...an exemplary vehicle for six…women, showing off their
streamlined power and how coldly they can burn.”—Alvin Ailey American Dance
Theater website.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<pre><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><b>Lady Be Good.<span style=""> </span></b></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><i>2009 – 2010 Company Premiere</i></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">.<span style=""> </span>Choreographer and champion ballroom dancer Gary Piece set a feisty ballroom piece on the Verb Ballets company set to the music of George Gershwin.<span style=""> </span>Ballroom dance popularity has soared in the last several years, thanks to the TV reality competition series “Dancing With the Stars,” and here Verb Ballets brings their special take on the phenomenon.<span style=""> </span><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></pre>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><b>Speed</b></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">. (2003)<i> Revival.<span style=""> </span></i></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">This family-favorite of the Verb Ballets
repertory drives up onto the Breen stage in this modern adaptation of
Icarus.<span style=""> </span>Set to music by Alpha Team
and DJ Keoki, and choreographed by Hernando Cortez.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><u>Choreographer
Biographies<o:p></o:p></u></span></p>
<p class="NoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">Born
in Ohio, <b>Pamela Pribisco</b></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"> was a founding member and <span class="yshortcuts">principal
dancer</span> with the Cleveland Ballet.<span style="">
</span>As a highly respected teacher of <span class="yshortcuts">classical ballet</span>
and pointe in New York City, she has been on the faculty of the <span class="yshortcuts">Joffrey Ballet School</span>, <span class="yshortcuts">Ballet
Hispanico</span>, the <span class="yshortcuts">Alvin Ailey American Dance</span>
Center, and teaches annually at the School at Jacob's Pillow.<span style=""> </span>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 <span class="yshortcuts">Alvin Ailey Dance Company</span> and ballet mistress for
Complexions Contemporary <span class="yshortcuts">Ballet Company</span>. 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="NoSpacing"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><b>Ulysses Dove </b></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">was an independent
choreographer who worked in both the modern dance and ballet idioms. After
attending a Graham performance in 1967, Dove gave up his pre-med
studies at Howard University to dance professionally with Merce Cunningham,
Alvin Ailey, and Anna Sokolow. His first choreography, <i>I See the
Moon...and the Moon Sees Me</i></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"> (1979), was commissioned by Ailey.<span style=""> </span>Although he never maintained a
company of his own, Dove worked closely with Jeraldyne Blunden's
Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, and created works for American Ballet
Theatre, Ballet France de Nancy, the Basel Ballet, Cullberg Ballet of Sweden,
Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, New York City Ballet, and the Swedish National
Ballet, for which he created the transcendent <i>Dancing on the Front
Porch of Heaven</i></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"> (1993).<span style=""> </span>In 1980, he became the assistant
director of the experimental Choreographic Research Group of the Paris Opera. A
benefit titled For the Love of Dove, with proceeds dedicated to the
Actor's Fund and its programs for dancers and other needy professionals, was
produced just days after his death from complications of AIDS. Five major
modern dance and ballet companies performed Dove's works on that program.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn"; color: black;"><b>Gary
Pierce </b></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">A
former U.S. Ballroom Champion, Mr. Pierce co-founded and performed with the
American Ballroom Theatre Company, New York City. For over 10 years he served
as resident choreographer for the company. He has performed all over the world
in dance companies and as a guest artist in festivals and special arts events
for television and the stage. As a choreographer, Mr. Pierce has created over
three hundred shows, revues, and industrials. Artistically, his work has been
acclaimed by the New York Times, the Village Voice, and the New York Post, as
well as many other publications. Mr. Pierce has directed and choreographed
shows for many dance organizations from symphony orchestras to the New York Knicks
cheerleaders. From ballet to ballroom, tap to tango, salsa to swing, he is at
home in any dance medium. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><b>Hernando Cortez </b></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">began his dance
training at Vancouver's Pacific Ballet Theatre. He graduated with Honors from
Purchase College Conservatory of Dance in 1985.<span style=""> </span>Soon after, he was invited to join Feld Ballets/NY. In 1987,
he joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company, performing leading roles in such
renowned Taylor repertory as <i>Arden Court, Cloven Kingdom </i></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">and <i>Company B </i></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">through 1996. He
was featured in two PBS/WNET Dance in America specials (<i>Speaking in Tongues </i></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">and <i>The
Wrecker's Ball</i></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">),
and his own choreography is showcased in the Taylor Company's critically
acclaimed smash hit <i>Funny Papers</i></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">. He performed with Mikhail Baryshnikov's
White Oak Dance Project in their 1998 national tour.<span style=""> </span>Cortez was Artistic Director of Verb Ballets from 2002 –
2008.<span style=""> </span>Also a popular freelance
choreographer, he previously created dances for American Ballet Theatre (the
Studio Company), the Williamstown Theater Festival (<i>Camino Real</i></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">, 1999, starring
Ethan Hawke; <i>Where's Charley?</i></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">, directed by Nicholas Martin), the Sands
Hotel in Atlantic City (Latin Sol, a theatrical revue co-created with actor
Taylor Negron and director David Schweizer).<span style=""> </span>He has been on the faculties of Purchase College Conservatory
of Dance, The Boston Conservatory, the Joffrey School, and the school of the
Paul Taylor Dance Company.<span style=""> </span>Cortez
is Founding Director of Dancers Responding to AIDS (DRA), a fundraising program
of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.<span style="">
</span>Cortez was awarded a 1997 Dance Magazine Award and a 1996 New York Dance
and Performance Award (aka Bessie) for his work with DRA. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">Information
about the new Breen Center for the Performing Arts can be found at <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";"><a href="http://www.ignatius.edu/s/237/cmsindex.aspx?sid=237&gid=1&pgid=1467">http://www.ignatius.edu/s/237/cmsindex.aspx?sid=237&gid=1&pgid=1467</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">The
Verb Ballets company includes Danielle Brickman, Ashley Cohen, Megan Coleman*,
Erin Conway Lewis, Leisa DeCarlo*, Antwon Duncan, Katie Gnagy, Gary Lenington, Kevin
Marr II, Catherine Meredith Lambert (on dancer leave), Jennifer Moll, and Brian
Murphy. {* intern}<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span class="normtext1"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">Major sponsors of Verb Ballets include </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">AHS Foundation,
The Bascom Little Fund, Millie L. Carlson, Change For Charity, Cuyahoga Arts
and Culture, The Cleveland Foundation, The George Gund Foundation, Helen C.
Cole Charitable Trust Fund, Kulas Foundation, The Laub Foundation, Lubrizol
Foundation, The McGregor Foundation, John P. Murphy Foundation, The National
Endowment for the Arts, and The Ohio Arts Council.<span style=""> </span>Additional individual sponsors include<b> </b></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">Chuck and Ann
Ennis, David R. Pierce, Alan Miles Ruben, and Robert M. Shwab.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">Additional
sponsors include Baumgarten & Company, LLP; Cedar Hill Communications;
Cleveland Scene; FITWORKS; WCLV; and WCPN/Ideastream.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">The
Ohio Arts Council helped fund this organization with state tax dollars to
encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for
all Ohioans.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">Verb
Ballets is generously funded by Cuyahoga County residents through Cuyahoga Arts
and Culture.<b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span class="normtext1"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">V</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">erb Ballets is now in its eighth
season under the leadership of Chief Executive and Artistic Officer Dr.
Margaret Carlson, an energetic staff and its dedicated Board of Trustees, who
have established Verb Ballets as Cleveland’s premiere dance repertory company.
Verb Ballets was named one of “25 to Watch in 2004” by <i>Dance Magazine</i></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Frutiger LT Std 57 Cn";">, the country’s
leading news magazine covering dance, and in 2008 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.<span style=""> </span>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. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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