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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=DocumentLabel align=right style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:2.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:right;text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:windowtext;letter-spacing:0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoTitle style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:23.75pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:41.75pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal'><img width=331 height=222 id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image003.jpg@01CE3C53.2B740920" alt="odt shades"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=DocumentLabel style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:windowtext;letter-spacing:0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoTitle style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal'><b><i><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#0070C0;letter-spacing:0pt'>Firebird </span></i></b><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#0070C0;letter-spacing:0pt'>is both Savage and Seductive at Oberlin’s Hall Auditorium</span></b><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";letter-spacing:0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span class=Lead-inEmphasis><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";letter-spacing:0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;line-height:175%'><span class=Lead-inEmphasis><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:175%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";letter-spacing:0pt'>Ohio Dance Theatre performs</span></span><span class=Lead-inEmphasis><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:175%;letter-spacing:0pt'> </span></span><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:175%;letter-spacing:0pt'>Stravinsky’s Firebird in a battle of g</span><span class=Lead-inEmphasis><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:175%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";letter-spacing:0pt'>ood over evil that plays out on the stage of Oberlin’s Hall Auditorium May 10<sup>th</sup> and 11<sup>th</sup> at 7:00 pm</span></span><span class=Lead-inEmphasis><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:175%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>.</span></span><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:175%'> The one act ballet will be coupled with two other seductive works for a steamy mixed bill. Tickets are available on line at <a href="http://www.ohiodancetheatre.org">www.ohiodancetheatre.org</a> or by calling ODT at 440-774-6077.</span><span class=Lead-inEmphasis><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:175%'> </span></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;line-height:175%'><span style='font-size:8.0pt;line-height:175%'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;line-height:175%'><span lang=EN style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:175%'>Choreographer Michel Fokine’s 1910 <i>Firebird</i> –- sometimes called an anti-classical ballet for its then-unorthodox steps and costumes, along with Igor Stravinsky’s masterful score -– was one of the glory productions of Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. </span><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:175%'>Ohio Dance Theatre’s Founder and Artistic Director Denise </span><span lang=EN style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:175%'>Gula’s contemporary take on this classical favorite will bring Stravinsky’s</span><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:175%'> memorable music</span><span lang=EN style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:175%'> to life through choreography that examines subtle subtext in the traditional story. </span><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:175%'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;line-height:175%'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:175%'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;line-height:175%'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:175%'>Ohio Dance Theatre’s production will feature new costumes in the tale about the power of love and redemption, but will also take a more universal look into the dangers of giving over one’s own personal power and how the human spirit and soul is compelled to find its own freedom. “Our version emphasizes the age old struggle of good and evil in the form of an abuse of power,” said ODT Artistic Director, Denise Gula and choreographer of the Ballet. “The original ballet is based on a magical Russian tale of a young man who frees the love of his life with the help of a mystical bird-like creature,” said Gula. “But the ballet is also very symbolic. It reveals the struggle that occurs when power is abused, and one individual strives to control others stripping those they overpower of their individuality, creativity and sense of freedom,” continued Gula.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;line-height:175%'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:175%'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;line-height:175%'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:175%'>The program will include Guest choreographer Lisa Lock’s <i>The Dream</i> and Gula’s bluesy, <i>Come Rain or Come Shine.</i> Tickets range from $10 - $30 and may be purchased on line at <a href="http://www.ohiodancetheatre.org">www.ohiodancetheatre.org</a>. For more information you may call Ohio Dance Theatre at 440-774-6077.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;line-height:175%'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:175%'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><b><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:150%'>About Ohio Dance Theatre:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:150%'>Currently celebrating its 20<sup>th</sup> Anniversary season, Ohio Dance Theatre, Northeast Ohio’s professional ballet company presents classical and contemporary works with a strong theatrical element. Ohio Dance Theatre’s principal artistic goal is to encourage the growth and support of serious dance through the presentation of exceptional performances, instruction and educational programs that enhance the community’s quality of life. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;line-height:175%'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;line-height:175%'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-left:.5in;text-align:center;line-height:175%'><span style='color:#333333'>###</span><i><o:p></o:p></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>