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Ohio Contemporary Ballet

Black Friday Class Card Sale!

By News

The Verb Ballets Center for Dance will offer an exclusive Black Friday Sale on class cards November 29 – December 1, 2019. During that time purchase a 10-class card for $100 (limited three cards per person). No other discounts apply to this offer. Purchase through our website below or in person during studio hours.

Verb Ballets’ Dance for Everyone program offers an array of dance and fitness classes for adults and teens (14+) throughout the year. We offer an array of ballet, new to ballet, jazz, barre strength, and yoga for a variety of different ability levels. Classes are ongoing and drop-ins are always welcome!

Exclusive Black Friday Pricing

November 29 - December 1, 2019
10 Class Card for $100

Dance For Everyone

Ongoing drop-in dance and fitness classes for teens and adults!

Verb Ballets Center for Dance

3558 Lee Rd. Shaker Hts, Ohio 44120

 

Studio Entrance

Entrance to the studio is located in the garages behind The Dealership. Pull in north driveway on right hand side of the building. Ample free parking is available.

Looking back on 2019

By News

This past year has given us a new home, granted us opportunities for new partnerships, continued our connection to Cuba and allowed us to inspire thousands through performance and outreach programming. Take a moment to watch the past year’s highlights. All we have accomplished is because of the generosity of individuals like YOU.

Donate Now

Your donation helps sustain our Verb Ballets performances, education programs, and community activities. All gifts are fully tax deductible.

Need help? For details on how to contribute gifts of stock or securities or to arrange monthly pledges please contact Nakiasha Moore-Dunson at 216-397-375ext 2.

Check donations may be sent to our Verb Ballets office:
Verb Ballets
3558 Lee Rd.
Shaker Heights, OH 44120

Learn more about other ways to support Verb Ballets including pledges, securities, or stock gifts.

Ways to give
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Dance for Everyone Open House

By News

As our special holiday gift to all new and existing adult/teen students please join us for our Open House on Saturday, December 7, 2019 from 8:30-1:30pm featuring free dance and fitness classes.  These classes are specifically designed for ages 14 and up. We offer an array of ballet, new to ballet, jazz, barre strength, and yoga for a variety of different ability levels. Classes are ongoing and drop-ins are always welcome! All classes that day are drop-in based, but students are encouraged to register below to save their spot! 

Schedule of Classes

December 7, 2019

Dance For Everyone

Ongoing drop-in dance and fitness classes for teens and adults!

Dance For Youth

Verb Ballets also offers youth class sessions in addition to drop-in adult classes. These programs for youth ages 3-14 aim to nurture a love of dance as an art form and healthy activity. Classes will help kids build a strong foundation for dance by improving coordination, strength, flexibility, musicality and good teamwork! Classes are available for a variety of different ability levels and age ranges. Registration for spring session begins December 1, 2019. 

 

Learn More

Verb Ballets Center for Dance

3558 Lee Rd. Shaker Hts, Ohio 44120

 

Studio Entrance

Entrance to the studio is located in the garages behind The Dealership. Pull in north driveway on right hand side of the building. Ample free parking is available.

Rococo Variations returns to the stage

By News

Richard Dickinson, Verb Ballets Associate Artistic Director and former Ohio Ballet dancer, restaged Rococo Variations in September on Verb Ballets. He was in the original cast and is the regisseur for the ballet. This will be the first time the piece has been performed since last by Ohio Ballet  in 1997.  Rococo Variations is set to Tschaikovsky’s score titled Variations on a Rococo Theme. Choreographed by the late Heinz Poll the ballet features two principle female dancers and their partners with a corps de ballet of four female dancers. Costumed in English-style tutus this ballet highlights the technical virtuosity of the dancers and the beauty of the score on cello and piano.

The company premiere will feature live accompaniment by the musicians of the Chamber Music Society of Ohio. The Akron premiere will take place at Tuesday Musical’s Fuze Series on October 10, 2019 at EJ Thomas Performing Arts Hall.

Don't miss the company premiere!

Tuesday Musical Fuze Series: Akron Legends of Jazz and Dance
Thursday, October 10, 2019 EJ Thomas Hall

Heinz Poll

Heinz Poll was born in Oberhausen, Germany, in 1926.  Poll was a champion ice skater before he became a dancer.  His experience on the rinks imbued him with a love of speed that he expressed in his athletic baroque ballet, Cascade (1985). After World War II, he studied dance at Joss’s Folkwang School in Essen, began his professional career at the Municipal Theatre in Goettingen and became a principal dancer with the Berlin State Opera Ballet.  In 1951, he joined the National Ballet of Chile as a dancer, ballet master, and teacher.  The company’s tradition of bringing serious programs to indigenous people in remote mountain villages served as the model for Ohio Ballet’s Summer Festival of free outdoor performances.  In 1962, Poll joined Ballet de Jeunesse Musicales de France as ballet master.  Two years later, he came to the United States as a guest artist with the Chilean company.  He performed in the American Dance Festival the following summer and stayed in New York to teach at Thalia Mara’s National Academy of Ballet.  In Akron, he developed Ohio Ballet into one of America’s most polished, respected, and widely traveled chamber dance troupes. Poll was awarded the Association of Ohio Dance Companies Award in 1983, the Cleveland Arts Prize in 1995, and the Ohio Arts Council’s Governor’s Award in 1999.  After his retirement, he wrote his memoir and has conferred a number of his ballets to former Ohio Ballet dancers.  Poll passed away in 2006.

Fall Challenge

By News, Dance Classes

Verb Ballets Center for Dance is excited to announce our Fall Challenge! We challenge YOU to complete fifteen classes between September 30th and October 31st, 2019. Verb Ballets offers classes for all ability levels in ballet, jazz, yoga, and barre strength. Also check out new class times added to our schedule!

Fall Challenge Rules

  • Grab a challenge card from the front desk.
  • All adult/teens are counted as one class, including pointe.
  • Upon completing 15 classes between September 30 – October 31, 2019 earn a free class credit! Plus be entered into a drawing to win a free 10 class card!
  • After each class see the front desk for a stamp of completion.
  • You can complete more than one card in the challenge time frame
  • The winner of our 10 class card will be announced on November 1, 2019!

Learn more about all the classes we offer!

Verb Ballets offers drop-in dance and fitness classes for adults and teens!

New Barre Strength Classes

Barre Strength class at Verb Ballets Center for Dance is perfect for all levels, from beginner to the advanced athlete. Barre classes are famous for changing the shape of the body and creating strength through a series of isometric holds and tiny movements, offering a blend of strengthening, stretching, endurance, and stamina building. Come prepared to sweat and strengthen your entire body! *Bare feet or grippy socks preferred. Please bring your own yoga mat, however there are a limited number of mats at the studio for students to use.

New Yoga Offerings

Beginning in October morning classes added in addition to weekend schedule. Yoga classes at Verb Ballets are alignment based with an emphasis on proper form and core strength. These fun and hard working classes are for all levels with modifications for beginners and challenges for the more experienced. *Please bring your own yoga mat, but there are a limited number of mats available at the studio for students to use.

Drop-in Classes for Adults and Teens

Bringing the supernatural to life

By News, Neil Zaza

Verb Ballets will make a guest appearance on Neil Zaza’s One Dark Night…, A Rock Symphony of the Macabre, on October 19, 2019 at the Akron Civic Theatre. Verb Ballets building on the inventive collaboration from the summer to bring rock and ballet together on stage with new works by company dancer Daniel Cho and Antonio Morillo.  Neil Zaza’s production is an orchestral exploration mixes dark, powerful arrangements of macabre classical masterpieces by Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Prokofiev, Saint-Saëns and more with the fury of a rock band and string orchestra. In the spirit of the Halloween season the dancers join the rock maestro on a musical journey with a visually impressive stage set, light show and multi-media screens to tell the evil tale of the monster within.

Don't miss this Halloween extravaganza!

Neil Zaza presents One Dark Night…
Saturday, October 19, 2019 The Akron Civic Theatre

Neil Zaza

Not only has guitarist Neil Zaza helped to define the genre of melodic instrumental guitar, he has become a worldwide ambassador for the instrument itself. His melodic compositions have changed the way musicians play, and what audiences worldwide demand out of their guitar heroes. With fiery technical brilliance and breathtaking musical interpretation, Neil Zaza has defined himself as the instrumental guitarist with an unparalleled ability to combine solid, catchy songwriting with a keen melodic sense and technical fury. From his virtuoso rock solos, to laying a funk groove, to demonstrating his classical prowess by performing Bach and Mozart compositions, Zaza’s extreme versatility has been showcased worldwide in concerts, clinics, festivals, as well as on his own solo instrumental albums. Zaza has shared the bill with Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Dweezil Zappa, Steve & Mike Porcaro (Toto), Yngwie Malmsteen, Vinnie Moore, and Andy Summers among countless others. He has performed on albums by Dweezil Zappa, Eric Carmen, Michael Stanley and also supplied guitar tracks for a Stewart Copeland-produced movie soundtrack.

It all began… in Akron, Ohio, where Neil Zaza was born, and still resides. Zaza started playing guitar at the age of 10 and went on to study classical guitar at The University of Akron under renowned educator and performer Stephen Aron. Zaza began to teach guitar, and in 1987 he formed the rock band Zaza, which quickly became one of the hottest U.S. touring bands at that time. After a successful run and even a hit song “Maybe Tomorrow”, the band disbanded, and a brilliant solo career began.

Daniel Cho

Daniel is first generation Korean American born and raised in San Francisco, California. He graduated with a BA special major in Dance and Education from Swarthmore College. He received his training from Point Park Conservatory, the Laban Conservatoire in London, the Ballet X Summer Intensive, the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance and the Coastal City Ballet in Vancouver, British Columbia. Daniel is a recent graduate of the Alonzo King LINES Ballet Training Program, where he had the pleasure of performing works by Alonzo King, Angela Dice Nguyen, Sidra Bell, Shannon Gillen, Alex Ketley, Gioconda Barbuto, Maurya Kerr, and Gregory Dawson. Daniel joined Verb Ballets in 2018 and has been featured in such works as Mowgli’s Jungle Adventures.

Antonio Morillo

Antonio is a first-generation Cuban American born in Orlando, Florida. He received his Associate of Arts in Dance Performance from Valencia College and his BFA in Dance Performance from the University of South Florida. Antonio has performed with the Patel Conservatory’s Next Generation Ballet as well as Tampa City Ballet. He has performed works by Jon Lehrer, José Limón, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Robert Moses’ Kin, and Maurice Causey. Antonio joined Verb Ballets in 2016 and has been featured in works such as Andante Sostenuto and Aposiopesis.

Neil Zaza’s One Dark Night…

By Performances

One Dark Night...

Saturday, October 19, 8:00PM

Rock maestro Neil Zaza presents an orchestral exploration that mixes dark, powerful arrangements of macabre classical music masterpieces with the fury of a rock band and string orchestra. Verb Ballets will make a guest appearance merging rock and ballet together to bring the supernatural to life in spirit of the Halloween season. Verb Ballets will perform the critically acclaimed Adagio Reimagined choreographed by Sabatino Verlezza plus two new works by company dancers Antonio Morillo and Daniel Cho. Together these artists will build upon these classic selections to demonstrate technical virtuosity with rock style that fit the dark tale of the monster within.

Newly Commissioned Works
Adaigo Reimagined (2019 Premiere), Sabatino Verlezza
Dance Macabre (2019 Premiere), Antonio Morillo
Carnaval des Animaux (2019 Premiere), Daniel Cho

SHOW DETAILS

October 19, 2019 8:00pm

THEATRE

Akron Civic Theatre
182 South Main Street
Akron, Ohio 44308

TICKETS

Tickets $25-35 / $75 VIP
Tickets call 330-253-2488

GET TICKETS

Akron Civic Theatre

182 South Main Street
Akron, Ohio 44308

Tuesday Musical Akron Legends

By Performances

Akron Legends of Jazz & Dance

Thursday, October 10, 7:30 PM

Honoring the work of Akron composer Pat Pace and Ohio Ballet Founder Heinz Poll, Tuesday Musical presents Verb Ballets and The Chamber Music Society of Ohio. Verb Ballets will perform Poll’s Rococo Variations in original costumes; its first staging since Ohio Ballet’s closing. Also premiering is Shéhérazade Retold; a re-conceived tale of women as warriors, choreographed by Loretta Simon. Set to Pat Pace’s composition Excursions, dancer Kate Webb will present a new full ensemble ballet inspired by celestial life cycles.

Preshow Talk

Enjoy our intimate “Concert Conversation” with creators of this special evening George Pope and Dr. Carlson at 6:30 p.m. in EJ’s Flying Balcony. Easily accessed by elevator, the Flying Balcony offers comfortable seating and a cash bar.

Program
Stellar Syncopations (2019 Premiere), Kate Webb
Shéhérazade Retold (Premiere 2019), Loretta Simon
Rococo Variations (1993), Heinz Poll

SHOW DETAILS

October 10, 2019 7:30pm

THEATRE

E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall
198 Hill St.
Akron, OH 44325

TICKETS

Tickets $45
Students FREE with voucher
Tickets call 330-761-3460

GET TICKETS

E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall

198 Hill St.
Akron, OH 44325

Verb Ballets welcomes new dancers and trainees for 2019-20 Season

By Press Releases

CLEVELAND, OH (July 22, 2019) – Verb Ballets under the direction of Producing Artistic Director, Dr. Margaret Carlson and Associate Artistic Director, Richard Dickinson, MFA welcome five new dancers to the company. The contemporary ballet company based out of Cleveland, Ohio is currently comprised of dancers, apprentices and trainees that hail from all over the United States and as far as Japan. Meet them below.

Hunter Hoffman is a first generation American raised by his Cuban family and born in Miami, Florida. He is a recent graduate of Mercyhurst University and prior trained at the Mencia Pikeiris School of Dance and the Miami Youth Ballet. Hunter had the opportunity to work with The Mercyhurst Dancers, Lake Erie Ballet, New World Connection, and Ballet Concerto. Hoffman has joined Verb Ballets as an apprentice for the 2019-20 season.

Noe Iwamatsu was born in Japan and began her ballet training at Prendre Ballet Studio in Japan. She moved to London after acceptance to the Central School of Ballet where she graduated with honors with a BA in professional dance and performance. She performed with Ballet Central, the junior company of Central School of Ballet, and toured the United Kingdom. Most recently, Noe was a trainee with American Repertory Ballet in New Jersey. Iwamatsu is excited to join Verb Ballets as an apprentice for the 2019-2020 season.

Verb Ballets welcomes Julie Russel, born in China and raised in Cedar, Michigan. Julie spent summers training at Washington School of Ballet, BalletMet Columbus, and Cecchetti Council of America. Julie graduated from the University of Oklahoma in May of 2019 with a BFA in Dance Performance and BA in Environmental Sustainability. She has most recently also performed with Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre in Chicago. Russel has joined Verb Ballets as an apprentice for the 2019-20 season.

Originally from Ohio, Ashley Forché received her dance training from BalletMet. Ashley moved to Tennessee for her senior year of high school to be a trainee with Nashville Ballet. She began pursuing a business degree through Belmont University following graduation while simultaneously continuing to dance with Nashville Ballet. Last season, Ashley was a trainee with Oklahoma City Ballet. Forché joins the company as a trainee for the 2019-20 season.

Elizabeth Schaeffer was born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan before returning home to New Hampshire at the age of eleven. Schaeffer graduated from Belhaven University in Mississippi where she received awards for outstanding artistic and scholastic achievements. She most recently danced professionally with Ballet Hartford in Connecticut. Schaeffer joins the company as a trainee for the 2019-20 season.