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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><b><u>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</u></b> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Contact: </b>Lindgren Carson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Phone: 216-320-9000 <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:lindgren@clevelandballet.org">lindgren@clevelandballet.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>www.clevelandballet.org <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>Cleveland Ballet Premieres <i>A Celebration of Dance and Music</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:120%;text-autospace:none'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:120%;text-autospace:none'><b>CLEVELAND, OH October 3</b>—As part of its second season, Cleveland Ballet looks to add to its growing repertoire with an original collection of dances under the title <i>A Celebration of Dance and Music</i>. Following a well-reviewed inaugural season, Cleveland Ballet will continue its vision to reimagine classical ballet by highlighting the artistry of individual dancers. Through innovative choreography, strong lighting design and creative costumes, Cleveland Ballet brings Northeast Ohio performances to remember. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:120%;text-autospace:none'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This season’s fall production features the return of lighting designer Trad A. Burns and costume designer Victoria Mearini. Burns recently lit <i>Coppélia</i> and Mearini designed last fall’s <i>Past. Present. Future</i>. Mearini became a designer following a full career as a ballerina. She studied at Kent State University and is currently studying silversmithing at Cleveland Institute of Art <span style='color:black'>through a Gund Family scholarship and is pursuing a degree in Jewelry and Metals. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>“To be a part of Cleveland Ballet’s growth for yet another production brings me great joy,” notes Mearini. “It’s so exciting to apply what I know about a dancer’s needs because I was a dancer with a costume designer’s desire to create something that can compliment and support a dancer’s movement and is also beautiful.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:120%;text-autospace:none'>Artistic Director Gladisa Guadalupe will join guest choreographer Ramón Thielen in creating dances inspired by the music of some of the most well known composers. Guadalupe and Thielen will also set ballets to Argentinian Tangos, Spanish Granadas and romantic Arias that focus on the dancer’s unique physical gifts to tell rather than simply highlight the stories of these well known and romantic dances. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:120%;text-autospace:none'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:120%;text-autospace:none'>Cleveland Ballet looks to separate itself from traditional ballet companies. One way <i>A Celebration of Dance and Music </i>differentiates itself is to move its musicians from the orchestra pit to the stage. Allowing dancers to share the stage with musicians lets audiences see how the fluidity of dance and a musicians grace compliment each other. Tenor Mikhail Usurov will accompany the dancers with the arias “Amore Perduto” and “Granada”. Cleveland Ballet’s Music Artistic Advisor Alexandra Preucil will also be featured.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:120%;text-autospace:none'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>“As we build our company of dancers and group of artistic collaborators,” says Gladisa Guadalupe, Artistic Director, “we are looking for ways to create a look unique to Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. Building a repertoire of dances influenced by many cultural styles is one way to achieve that goal.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> -more-<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:1.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:120%;text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:1.0pt;line-height:120%'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>To purchase tickets ($25-$99) and<a name="_GoBack"></a> learn more about how to support Cleveland Ballet or enter into an educational partnership, please visit clevelandballet.org. For VIP packages or group ticket discounts visit playhousesquare.org or call: <span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black;mso-fareast-language:JA'>216-640-8603.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:4.0pt;line-height:120%;text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:120%;color:black'>ABOUT CLEVELAND BALLET<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>In 2014 a group of dedicated volunteers and artists reconnected to build on the artistic legacy of the Cleveland San Jose Ballet and form Cleveland Ballet. Under the artistic leadership and vision of Gladisa Guadalupe, Cleveland has the opportunity to welcome a professional and resident dance company back to the stage. Cleveland Ballet marked its return to the Cleveland arts scene with the artistically and financially successful October 2015 production, <i>Past. Present. Future</i>, a production that featured traditional and innovative ballet performed in collaboration with Neos Dance Theatre of Mansfield, Ohio. The collaboration addresses an important Cleveland Ballet tenant, to create artistic partnerships with the area’s leading cultural organizations. This debut production was presented to a nearly sold-out audience and exemplified Cleveland Ballet’s collaborative spirit, and the community support demonstrates that a passion for professional ballet exists in Cleveland. The world premiere production of <i>Coppélia, </i>choreographed by the acclaimed artist Ramón Oller, concluded the inaugural season. Cleveland Ballet has simultaneously established a number of exciting education and outreach programs such as our collaboration with Warrensville Heights and Maple Heights School Districts and The Cleveland Orchestra’s Family Concert series. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>What:</b> Cleveland Ballet premieres new work<i><o:p></o:p></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Who:</b> Cleveland Ballet<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Location:</b> Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Admission:</b> $25-$99<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For Tickets: <span class=phone-tickets>(216) 241-6000</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For Group Sales: <span style='color:black;mso-fareast-language:JA'>216-640-8603</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For more information on Cleveland Ballet, visit clevelandballet.org, or call 216-320-9000 <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Stay connected on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClevelandBallet">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/BalletCleveland">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/clevelandballetcompany/">Instagram</a>. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'># # #<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:10.5pt'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>Lindgren Carson</span></b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#999999'> </span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>|</span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#999999'> </span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>Executive Assistant</span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#999999'><br></span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>330.518.7000 |</span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#999999'> </span><a href="mailto:michael@clevelandballet.org"><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#4DB0E4'>lindgren@clevelandballet.org</span></a><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#999999'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-line-height-alt:10.5pt'><a href="http://www.clevelandballet.org/"><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=250 height=60 id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D21DA2.4EF4F6F0" alt="Cleveland Ballet"></span></a><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:10.5pt'><b><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#4DB0E4'>YOUR VERY OWN</span></b><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#4DB0E4'> CLEVELAND BALLET COMPANY.</span><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>Office: </span></b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>216.320.9000</span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'> </span><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>| Fax: </span></b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>216.438.7661</span><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>