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Cuban Ballet Masterclass with Laura Alonso

By News

Cuban Ballet Masterclass with Laura Alonso

March 16, 2019 1:00pm

Verb Ballets Center for Dance

Verb Ballets is pleased to present a masterclass taught by Laura Alonso. This Advanced/ Intermediate Advanced Cuban Ballet class is intended for ballet or dance students from 13 years old and up, including adults. The class is specially designed to expand the classical vocabulary, movement potential and kinetic awareness of the student. The class constantly challenges students to refine their technique while learning more specific and technically advanced movements about the Cuban Ballet method. Ballet shoes are required. The studio is located at in the same building as The Dealership. Free parking available.

DETAILS

March 16, 2019 1:00pm

STUDIO

Verb Ballets Center for Dance
3558 Lee Rd.
Shaker Heights, OH 44120

TICKETS

Class is $25
Tickets are sold through EventBrite
Processing fee will apply

Laura Alonso, World Renown Teacher and Coach
Laura Alonso, daughter of world-famous ballerina Alicia Alonso, is known as teacher, coach and an expert at staging the classics. Ms. Alonso had a 25-year performing career with Ballet Nacional de Cuba. As an award-winning teacher and coach, she travels the world teaching and staging the classics. Ms. Alonso has served as an international coach, jury member and teacher at the Jackson International Ballet Competition, the Concours Internationalede Dance de Paris, France, the Alicia Alonso International Ballet Competition and other competitions. Alonso founded the international dance school, Centro Pro Danza and directs the professional company ProDanza. Laura Alonso is in Cleveland to continue the international collaboration with Verb Ballets and ProDanza as the Cleveland Havana Ballet Project in a month-long cultural exchange. Laura Alonso has reunited with the dancers of Verb Ballets for the third year and is in studio to set works in the Cuban Ballet method. This project is supported through the Cleveland Foundation’s Creative Fusion: Cuba Edition.The Cleveland Havana Ballet Project returns to Cleveland with Cuban dance legend, Laura Alonso. Verb Ballets and Pro Danza continue their international collaboration with a month-long cultural exchange in Cleveland. Laura Alonso will reunite with the dancers of Verb Ballets for the third year.

Register for the Masterclass with Laura Alonso

Verb Ballets Center for Dance

3558 Lee Rd
Shaker Heights, OH 44120

The studio is located at in the same building as The Dealership. Please use Verb Ballets entrance on right hand side of building. Free parking available.

Laura Alonso Returns to Verb Ballets

By News

The Cleveland Havana Ballet Project returns to Cleveland with Cuban dance legend, Laura Alonso. Verb Ballets and Pro Danza continue their international collaboration with a month-long cultural exchange in Cleveland. This project blossomed in 2016-17 season when Alonso came to Verb Ballets to train the dancers in the Cuban ballet method for two months through the Cleveland Foundation’s Creative Fusion: Cuba Edition. The company directors Dr. Margaret Carlson and Laura Alonso then came together last season to join the companies for a one of a kind artistic exchange of Cuban and American repertory that toured Cuba. The cultural exchange will continue in the United States this season with a principal dancer of ProDanza coming to Verb Ballets.

 

Year 1 : 2016-17 Season

Verb Ballets hosted Laura Alonso for a two month residency through The Cleveland Foundation Creative Fusion: Cuba Edition. Verb Ballets’ Dr. Margaret Carlson, Producing Artistic Director and Richard Dickinson, MFA, Associate Director had the opportunity to go to Cuba and visit Laura Alonso before she arrived in Cleveland. Through the work of Laura Alonso’s mother, Alicia Alonso, the Ballet Nacional de Cuba was founded and created one of the best ballet training grounds in the world. Laura Alonso’s professional company ProDanza resides in Havana. Her company continues to thrive with beautiful and hardworking professional dancers with honed technique despite the rough working conditions. 

Year 2 : 2017-18 Season

The company directors Dr. Margaret Carlson and Laura Alonso then came together to join the companies for a one of a kind artistic exchange of Cuban and American repertory. Last season this groundbreaking partnership toured Cuba for two weeks with performances at The Alicia Alonso Grand Theater of Havana and the El Teatro Nacional by the combined companiesThis unique internatioanl collaboration was featured on Pointe Magazine.

Year 3 : 2018-19 Season

The Cleveland Havana Ballet Project returns to Cleveland with Cuban dance legend, Laura Alonso. Verb Ballets and Pro Danza continue their international collaboration with a month-long cultural exchange in Cleveland. Laura Alonso and her principle dancer Luz Marina Hidalgo Alejo will travel to Cleveland to reunite with the dancers of Verb Ballets for the third year of this international collaboration.

Opportunities to see The Cleveland Havana Ballet Project

Laura Alonso

Laura Alonso, daughter of world-famous ballerina Alicia Alonso, is known as teacher, coach and an expert at staging the classics. Ms. Alonso had a 25-year performing career with Ballet Nacional de Cuba. As an award-winning teacher and coach, she travels the world teaching and staging the classics. Ms. Alonso has served as an international coach, jury member and teacher at the Jackson International Ballet Competition, the Concours Internationale de Dance de Paris, France, the Alicia Alonso International Ballet Competition and other competitions. Alonso founded the international dance school, Centro Pro Danza and directs the professional company Pro Danza.   

Cleveland Havana Ballet Project

By Performances

Cleveland Havana Ballet Project

SHOW DETAILS

March 15, 2019 7:00pm

THEATRE

Verb Ballets Center for Dance
3558 Lee Rd.
Shaker Heights, OH 44120

TICKETS

SOLD OUT
Tickets $45 includes a reception following
Tickets are sold through EventBrite
Box Office fee will apply

March 15, 2019 7:00pm

Verb Ballets Center for Dance

The Cleveland Havana Ballet Project returns to Cleveland with Cuban dance legend, Laura Alonso. Verb Ballets and Pro Danza continue their international collaboration with a month-long cultural exchange in Cleveland. Laura Alonso will reunite with the dancers of Verb Ballets for the third year. Be the first to see the presentation of the new Cuban ballets set by Laura Alonso. This unique opportunity on Friday, March 15, 2019 at 7pm will provide an intimate studio performance of premières followed by a reception with Laura Alonso. This event is very limited!

The studio is located at in the same building as The Dealership. Free parking available.

Get tickets for Cleveland Havana Ballet Project Evening

Seating is general admission. Tickets are sold through EventBrite. Box Office fee will apply.

Verb Ballets Center for Dance

3558 Lee Rd
Shaker Heights, OH 44120

The studio is located at in the same building as The Dealership. Please use Verb Ballets entrance on right hand side of building. Free parking available.

Cleveland Havana Ballet Project in Akron

By Performances

Cleveland Havana Ballet Project

SHOW DETAILS

March 17, 2019 2:00pm

THEATRE

Akron-Summit County Public Library Auditorium
60 South High Street
Akron, OH 44326

TICKETS

$10 Tickets
Tickets are sold through EventBrite
Box Office fee will apply

March 17, 2019 2:00pm

Akron-Summit County Public Library Auditorium

Verb Ballets presents a perfomance of The Cleveland Havana Ballet Project on Sunday, March 17, 2019 at 2:00 pm at the Akron-Summit County Public Library Auditorium. The Cleveland Havana Ballet Project returns to Northeast Ohio with Cuban dance legend, Laura Alonso. She will collaborate with Verb Ballets for a month-long cultural exchange setting Cuban ballets on the dancers. The Akron performance will feature works from her company’s repertory. The Cleveland Havana Ballet Project toured Cuba last season and was nationally noted by Pointe Magazine for this one of a kind partnership.

Get tickets for Cleveland Havana Ballet Project in Akron

Seating is general admission. Tickets are sold through EventBrite. Box Office fee will apply.

Akron-Summit County Public Library

Main Auditorium
60 South High Street, Akron, OH 44326

Parking deck is available next to the library

Live @ Noon

By Performances

SHOW DETAILS

March 8, 2019 12:00pm

THEATRE

Verb Ballets Center for Dance
3558 Lee Rd.
Shaker Heights, OH 44120

TICKETS

$15 Adults
$10 Children
Includes dessert

Live @ Noon with Laura Alonso

March 8, 2019 12:00pm

Join Verb Ballets for an exclusive working rehearsal on Friday, March 8, 2019, at noon with Cuban dance legend Laura Alonso. Verb Ballets and ProDanza of Cuba continue their international collaboration with The Cleveland Havana Ballet Project. Laura Alonso will come to Cleveland for a month-long cultural exchange setting Cuban ballets on the dancers of Verb Ballets. This unique opportunity will provide insight into rehearsing the Cuban ballet style.

Pack a lunch to enjoy during the rehearsal and dessert will be provided. Doors open at 11:45pm and viewing begins at noon. The studio is located in the same building as The Dealership. Free parking available.

Get tickets for Live @ Noon

Laura Alonso

Laura Alonso, daughter of world-famous ballerina Alicia Alonso and renowned teacher and coach Fernando Alonso, is herself known as a teacher, coach and an expert at staging the well-known classics. For seven years she served as the personal coach and teacher for international prima ballerina assoluta, Alicia Alonso. Dance Theatre of Harlem artistic director, former prima ballerina and former editor of Pointe magazine, Virginia Johnson, calls her an, “international master teacher extrordinare.”

Ms. Alonso’s 25 year performing career with Ballet National de Cuba included soloist work in all of the traditional classics. Today she travels around the world teaching and staging the classics for pre-professional as well as professional companies such as London’s Royal Ballet School and The Royal Danish Ballet.

Although born in the United States, Alonso is a resident of Havana where she has an international dance school, Centro Pro Danza, which welcomes 1,500 students, and a professional performing company, ProDanza.

A teacher of world-class experience, Ms. Alonso has taught for professional ballet companies all over the world including Cuban National Ballet, the Royal Danish Ballet, the Australian Ballet, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, the Cleveland/San Jose Ballet, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Tokyo Ballet, the Toronto Ballet, the Alberta Ballet. She was a member of the faculty at the Regional Dance America’s National Festival in 1997 as well as at the RDA/NE Festival 1998 and the RDA/SE 1999. For seven years, she served as the personal coach for international ballerina Alicia Alonso.

Ms. Alonso was honored with an award as the best coach at the Jackson International Ballet Competition in 1990. Her student, Jose Manuel Carreno, won the Grand Prix de Ville, the highest award possible. Ms. Alonso has served as coach, jury member and teacher at the Jackson IBC and as jury member of the Concours International de Dance de Paris, France, the Alicia Alonso International Ballet Competition and other competitions around the world.

Along with her expertise in working with professionals and aspiring professionals, Ms. Alonso is extremely gifted at working with young dancers of all ages and experiences. She is willing to instruct anyone who wants to learn and has transformed students in just a few classes. Alonso’s mission is to bring the highest quality dance to students everywhere.

Verb Ballets Center for Dance

3558 Lee Rd
Shaker Heights, OH 44120

The studio is located at in the same building as The Dealership. Please use Verb Ballets entrance on right hand side of building. Free parking available.

Kay Eichman in Studio

By News

Verb Ballets is excited to welcome Kay Eichman in studio. Eichman joined Cleveland Ballet in 1976, in its first season at the Hanna Theatre. A distinguished 15-year career ensued, including principal roles in numerous traditional and contemporary works. The program will close with the comapny premiere of Kay Eichman’s new neoclassical ballet, Mendelssohn Italian Symphony. The sophisticated and fast moving work requires brilliant technique.  Her new ballet is inspired by her memories of dancing to the same symphony with Cleveland Ballet.

Kay Eichman

Kay Eichman received her early ballet training from Pat Leclercq in New Orleans. She later studied on scholarship at the National Ballet, Washington DC; the National Ballet of Canada; The Conservatoire de Nice, France; and Joffrey’s American Ballet Center in New York. Kay left the Joffrey II company to join Cleveland Ballet in its inaugural season, A distinguished 15-year career ensued, including principal roles in numerous traditional and contemporary works. Among these were Balanchine’s Theme and Variations, The Four Temperaments, Agon, Concerto Barocco, and Serenade. Kay also spent one season in Germany as Principal Guest Artist with the Giessen Ballet. As a teacher, she has served on the faculties of the School of The Minnesota Ballet, The University of Akron Dance Program, and currently at the Dance Institute of Akron. During her tenure at the Cleveland School of the Arts, Kay served as guest artist, teacher, ballet mistress, and co-director of the Dance Department. In addition to teaching at numerous local studios, she has also taught company class for Verb Ballets, August Wilson, and Greene Works Project. Kay was on the faculties of IABD conference, Joffrey Ballet Jazz & Contemporary Summer Session, and Dance Caravan; and served as a talent judge throughout the United States with “Dance Explosion,” “Dynamite,” and others. She is now the Ballet Mistress for the Tri C Arts Academy.

Don't miss the company premiere!

Saturday, February 9, 2019 : The Breen Center for the Performin Arts : Tickets $10-35

Margaret Mullin in Studio

By News

Margaret Mullin, a renowned soloist with Pacific Northwest Ballet, received a prestigious fellowship from the Princess Grace Foundation. Mullin began her training at Ballet Arts Tucson with Mary-Beth Cabana, a former Cleveland Ballet Principal Dancer. At the age of 13 she first saw Ian Horvath’s Laura’s Women performed. She was so struck by the profound beauty of the ballet she counldn’t get it out of her head 11 years later. She then joined forces with Nel Shelby to create the documentary No Dominion, The Ian Horvath Story.

Margaret Mullin came to Cleveland to set Ian Horvath’s No Dominion on Verb Ballets the first week of January. Ian Horvath choreographed his final work No Dominion, for the Jose Limon Dance Company in 1988. Set to Sir William Walton’s cello concerto, the work for an all-male cast is a reflection on his impending death from AIDS. No Dominion takes its title from the poem “And Death Shall Have No Dominion,” by Dylan Thomas. This peice will be featured on the two programs celebrating the life and work on Ian Horvath in February.

© Lindsay Thomas

Margaret Mullin

Margaret Mullin is from Tucson, Arizona. She studied on scholarship at Ballet Arts Tucson with Mary-Beth Cabana and at Pacific Northwest Ballet School, and she attended summer courses at Ballet Tucson and Pacific Northwest Ballet School. She was the recipient of a Thurber Scholarship Award in 2003 and 2004, the 2007 Founding Director Scholarship Award from Angela Whitehill of Burklyn Ballet, and a 2011 Princess Grace Award recipient. Ms. Mullin joined Pacific Northwest Ballet as an apprentice in 2008. She was promoted to corps de ballet in 2009 and soloist in 2013.

Ms. Mullin has choreographed works for Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Choreographers’ Showcase and NEXT STEP. In 2012, she choreographed her first ballet, Lost in Light, for the Company. She has also choreographed works, performed as a guest artist (including a leading role in Antony Tudor’s Continuo), and served as guest teacher for Ballet Tucson and Ballet Arts School in Tucson.

No Dominion Film

By News

No Dominion: The Ian Horvath Story seeks to shed new light on the life and accomplishments of late artist Ian Horvath. After a successful career as a professional dancer and founding Artistic Director of the Cleveland Ballet, Ian became a great advocate for dance in the United States. His work with Dance USA, The Carlisle Project, and The National Endowment for the Arts created a more secure future for dancers and dance companies in the US today. As tribute to his effect on the art form as a whole, dancers from Pacific Northwest Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, Boston Ballet, Ballet Tucson, and Verb Ballets have come together in collaboration to perform two of Ian’s choreographic works for the film, Laura’s Women and No Dominion. Horvath was also a passionate AIDS awareness advocate during the AIDS crisis of the 80s, most prominently helping arts organizations to relate to employees suffering from the disease. AIDS tragically claimed his life in 1990, but the work he did to help others lives on. There is so much more to tell about this remarkable man and this film will share his inspiring story with the world for the first time.

Learn more about the film and progress at www.nodominionfilm.com.

The making of the documentary

For the past three years, Margaret Mullin and Nel Shelby Productions, have been working on the documentary film, No Dominion: The Ian Horvath Story. Verb Ballets is honored to be involved in this remarkable documentary since the beginning in 2015. Verb Ballets’ Producing Artistic Director, Dr. Margaret Carlson, was instrumental in filming the ballets for the documentary owing to her role as regisseur (producing rehearsal director) for Ian Horvath’s works and as a founding member of Cleveland Ballet. In addition to her restaging Laura’s Women in the film she participated in the documentary interviews. Verb Ballets dancer Lieneke Matte performed with Margaret Mullin of Pacific Northwest Ballet and Deanna Doncsecz Becicka of Ballet Tuscon in the documentary. The dancers in the film came from incredible companies from across the country including Pacific Northwest Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Boston Ballet, Ballet Tucson and Verb Ballets. The documentary film is in final production in preparation for screenings at national film festivals.

Cast and production staff photo after taping to Laura’s Women. Loren R. Robertson, Deanna Doncsecz Becicka, Margaret Carlson, Trad A Burns, Margaret Mullin, Lieneke Matte and Nel Shelby.

Ian (Ernie) Horvath (1943-1990)

Ian (Ernie) Horvath, was formerly producing director of the Jose Limon Dance Foundation, a founder of the Cleveland Ballet, and a soloist with Joffrey Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. He died of AIDS in 1990. Mr. Horvath was 46 years old. “Ernie Horvath was one of the wisest, most ecumenical, most passionate artists and counselors that dance will ever know,” Donald A. Moore, executive director of Dance/USA, a national service organization for professional dance, said. “He was an irresistible statesman. He had valuable, informed opinions on esthetics and institutions, steps and balance sheets, and he used these effectively in a life dedicated to the advancement of the art form he loved.” Mr. Horvath, a native of Cleveland, danced with Joffrey Ballet from 1964 to 1966, creating roles in Gerald Arpino’s “Viva Vivaldi!” and “Olympics.” In the mid-1960s, he also appeared on Broadway in “Sweet Charity,” “Funny Girl,” and “Fade Out-Fade In.” He also danced in television specials. Mr. Horvath, a faunlike, mercurial dancer, joined American Ballet Theatre in 1967, appearing in a variety of classical and contemporary roles. He left in 1972 to found the Cleveland Ballet (later the Cleveland-San Jose Ballet) with Dennis Nahat, and was its artistic director until 1983. His final performance as a dancer was in 1988 at City Center, when he appeared in “Together,” a program featuring Cynthia Gregory and Fernando Bujones. Mr. Horvath began choreographing in 1974. His last piece, created for the Limon Dance Company in 1988, was No Dominion, a dance inspired by his illness. His ballets are in the repertories of the Cleveland-San Jose Ballet, Ballet Nuevo de Caracas, the Limon Dance Company, Ballet Tucson, Verb Ballets, and Pacific Northwest Ballet. Mr. Horvath was an articulate spokesman for dance and for people with AIDS. He was associate director of the Carlisle Project, a national developmental program for ballet choreographers, and had been chairman of Dance/USA and a dance panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts and the Ohio Arts Council. He was also a consultant to the City Center in New York and was developing special dance projects when he died.

Don't miss the chance to celebrate Ian Horvath life and work

Dance Legacy

The Breen Center for the Performing Arts
February 9, 2019 8:00pm

Verb Ballets celebrates the life and work of Ian Horvath.  This special evening which includes his first and last works, documentary interview excerpts and the premiere of a new ballet by Kay Eichman. A preshow panel at 7:15pm will discuss the AIDS epidemic and its impact on a generation of dancers, who were lost to the disease.

Tickets $10, $25, $28, $35

GET TICKETS

Dance Legacy

Akron- Summit County Public Library
February 10, 2019 2:00pm

Verb Ballets presents an encore presentation in Akron honoring the life and work of Ian Horvath. This matinee will include his first and last works, documentary interview excerpts and a panel discussion about the AIDS epidemic and its impact on a generation of dancers, who were lost to the disease.

Tickets $10

GET TICKETS

No Dominion: Celebrating the Life of Ian Horvath

By Performances

Unfortunately, this performance has been canceled on February 10, 2019.

No Dominion

Celebrating the Life of Ian Horvath

February 10, 2019 2:00pm

Akron-Summit County Public Library Auditorium

Verb Ballets continues the celebration of the life and work of Ian Horvath on Sunday, February 10, 2019 at 2:00 pm in a matinee performance at the Akron-Summit County Public Library Auditorium. He is best known as a founder of the Cleveland Ballet and an AIDS activist. His legacy will live on through this special matinee which includes his first and last works plus documentary interview excerpts. A panel will discuss the AIDS epidemic and its impact on a generation of dancers, who were lost to the disease. This performance is generously supported by the Peg’s Foundation and the Akron Community Foundation.

Please note Kaye Eichman’s, Mendelssohn Italian Symphony, will only be performed in Cleveland at the Dance Legacy show on February 9, 2019.

Photo: Christopher Duggan Photography

SHOW DETAILS

February 10, 2019 2:00pm

THEATRE

Akron-Summit County Public Library Auditorium
60 South High Street
Akron, OH 44326
Located inside the downtown Library

TICKETS

Not available

Tickets are sold through EventBrite
Box Office fee will apply

Get tickets for No Dominion: Celebrating the Life of Ian Horvath

Seating is general admission. Tickets are sold through EventBrite. Box Office fee will apply.

Ian (Ernie) Horvath (1943-1990)

Ian (Ernie) Horvath, was formerly producing director of the Jose Limon Dance Foundation, a founder of the Cleveland Ballet, and a soloist with Joffrey Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. He died of AIDS in 1990. Mr. Horvath was 46 years old. “Ernie Horvath was one of the wisest, most ecumenical, most passionate artists and counselors that dance will ever know,” Donald A. Moore, executive director of Dance/USA, a national service organization for professional dance, said. “He was an irresistible statesman. He had valuable, informed opinions on esthetics and institutions, steps and balance sheets, and he used these effectively in a life dedicated to the advancement of the art form he loved.” Mr. Horvath, a native of Cleveland, danced with Joffrey Ballet from 1964 to 1966, creating roles in Gerald Arpino’s “Viva Vivaldi!” and “Olympics.” In the mid-1960s, he also appeared on Broadway in “Sweet Charity,” “Funny Girl,” and “Fade Out-Fade In.” He also danced in television specials. Mr. Horvath, a faunlike, mercurial dancer, joined American Ballet Theatre in 1967, appearing in a variety of classical and contemporary roles. He left in 1972 to found the Cleveland Ballet (later the Cleveland-San Jose Ballet) with Dennis Nahat, and was its artistic director until 1983. His final performance as a dancer was in 1988 at City Center, when he appeared in “Together,” a program featuring Cynthia Gregory and Fernando Bujones. Mr. Horvath began choreographing in 1974. His last piece, created for the Limon Dance Company in 1988, was No Dominion, a dance inspired by his illness. His ballets are in the repertories of the Cleveland-San Jose Ballet, Ballet Nuevo de Caracas, the Limon Dance Company, Ballet Tucson, Verb Ballets, and Pacific Northwest Ballet. Mr. Horvath was an articulate spokesman for dance and for people with AIDS. He was associate director of the Carlisle Project, a national developmental program for ballet choreographers, and had been chairman of Dance/USA and a dance panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts and the Ohio Arts Council. He was also a consultant to the City Center in New York and was developing special dance projects when he died.

Akron-Summit County Public Library

Main Auditorium
60 South High Street, Akron, OH 44326

Parking deck is available next to the library

Peter and the Wolf

By Performances, News

Peter & the Wolf

January 27, 2019 2:00pm

Akron-Summit County Public Library Auditorium

Join Verb Ballets for family fun matinee of Peter and the Wolf. The story ballet choreographed by Pamela Pribisco is a captivating 30-minute set to the well know classical music of Sergei Prokofiev. In 1936, Prokofiev composed Peter and the Wolf to introduce children to the different instruments of the orchestra. Verb Ballets performs the story of Prokofiev’sPeter and the Wolfas told through dance. The ballet introduces the plot and colorful characters through expressive movements to share the wisdomof courage. Students experience storytelling through the interaction of narrative, music and movement, and gain understanding of how character and plot are communicated across multiple art forms. This program is FREE and open to the public.

SHOW DETAILS

January 27, 2019 2:00pm

THEATRE

Akron-Summit County Public Library
Main Auditorium
60 South High Street
Akron, OH 44326
Located inside the downtown Library

TICKETS

FREE! Seat Reservations are required
Tickets are sold through EventBrite

Get FREE tickets for Peter & the Wolf

Seating is general admission. Free ticket reservation processed through EventBrite.

Akron-Summit County Public Library

Main Auditorium
60 South High Street, Akron, OH 44326

Parking deck is available next to the library