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Arts in August 2024

By Performances, News

Arts in August

August 10, 2024 7:00pm

Arts in August

Tremont’s Arts in August presents Ohio Contemporary Ballet for a captivating community performance at Lincoln Park on Saturday, August 10, 2024 at 7:00pm.The evening will feature a new ballet from rising choreographer Nicholas Rose, the mesmerizing work Light Rain by Gerald Arpino, and the audience favorite Dark Matter by Tommie-Waheed Evans. This performance marks the company’s first performance of the season in Cleveland’s west side.

This event is brought to you through the collaboration of Tremont West Development Corporation, LAND Studio, Cleveland Public Theatre, and Ward 3. This event is free and family friendly. Guests are invited to bring blankets and/or a chair.

SHOW DETAILS

August 10, 2024 7:00pm

Raindate August 11, 2024

Lincoln Park
W. 14th and Starkweather
Cleveland, OH 44113

TICKETS

FREE tickets

Lakeside Chautauqua 2024

By Performances, News

Lakeside Chautauqua

August 9, 2024 7:30pm

Lakeside Chautauqua

Ohio Contemporary Ballet performs with the Lakeside Symphony Orchestra led by Music Director and Conductor Daniel Meyer at Lakeside Chautauqua. Prepare for an unforgettable evening as we present a mesmerizing blend of dance performed with the cherished Lakeside Symphony Orchestra featuring the premiere of a work by a rising choreographer and a fresh adaptation of the classic Carmen. The orchestra will also play Dvorak’s Hungarian Dances which will envelop the listener in a tapestry of vibrant rhythms and soul-stirring melodies that celebrates the spirited essence of Hungarian folklore. This program not only highlights the extraordinary talent and versatility of our dancers but also marries contemporary ballet with timeless narratives for a truly captivating experience. Join us for a night where modern creativity meets classic elegance.

The show is free with a day pass to Lakeside Chautauqua. Day passes are $23.50 for adults. Admission is free for kids under 12 and guests over age 90.

SHOW DETAILS

August 9, 2024 7:30pm

THEATRE

Lakeside Chautauqua
Hoover Auditorium
119 W 3rd St.
Lakeside Marblehead, OH 43440

TICKETS

The show is free with a day pass to Lakeside Chautauqua
Day passes are $23.50 for adults

TICKETS

Lakeside Chautauqua
Hoover Auditorium
119 W 3rd St.
Lakeside Marblehead, OH 43440

GET DIRECTIONS

Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival 2024

By Performances, News

Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival

July 26-27, 2024 8:45pm

The Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival presents Ohio Contemporary Ballet on July 26-27, 2024, 8:45pm at Forest Lodge Park in Akron. Experience an enchanting evening featuring Gerald Arpino’s Light Rain and the audience favorite, Dark Matter, alongside the newest rendition of Carmen. This program showcases our dancers’ talent and versatility, blending the contemporary ballet with the timeless for a memorable experience.

The performance is FREE. Guests are invited to bring blankets and/or a chair for lawn seating. Pre-show children’s dance activities led by The University of Akron Dance Institute start at 7:45pm.

SHOW DETAILS

July 26 & 27, 2024 8:45pm

Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival
Forest Lodge Park
260 Greenwood Ave, Akron, OH 44313

TICKETS

FREE

Guests are invited to bring blankets and/or a chair for lawn seating

Triple your donation

By Performances, News

Triple Your Donation

The first $10,000 received before our end-of-month fundraising deadline will be matched twice by two anonymous donors! 

To make a donation by check

Send to:
Ohio Contemporary Ballet
3558 Lee Rd.
Shaker Heights, OH 44120

For assistance in making a donation please call 216-397-3757 or email.

Fresh Inventions

By Performances, News

Fresh Inventions

April 25-27, 2024 7:30pm

Ohio Contemporary Ballet presents Fresh Inventions, a program of new works created by company dancers: Isaac Hileman, Mathis Joubert & Tailys Poncione, Antonio Morillo, and Martin Skocelas-Hunter. Each piece within the program is thoughtfully choreographed, bringing a unique, personal touch. Expect a mosaic of styles, from the raw power of modern ballet to the subtle nuances of contemporary movement.  It all starts with a spark of creativity, an idea that ignites into a produced work. Witness these Fresh Inventions unfold on stage with this unique initiative to provide opportunities for aspiring choreographers.

Every year, Cleveland Public Theatre welcomes Northeast Ohio’s most adventurous contemporary dance companies to the CPT stage for remarkable and premiere dance performances.

Thursday performances are Covid-conscious where masks are required. Click here for COVID-19 Safety Protocols. 

Every Friday is Free Bev Friday where select post-show beverages are on CPT. 

SHOW DETAILS

April 25-27, 2024 7:30PM

THEATRE

Cleveland Public Theatre
6415 Detroit Ave
Cleveland, OH 44102

TICKETS

“Choose What You Pay” and will be offered online, over the phone, and at the Box Office at Cleveland Public Theatre. 

TICKETS

Emerging Choreographer Showcase

By Performances, News

Emerging Choreographers Showcase

March 22-23, 2024

Ohio Contemporary Ballet presents, Emerging Choreographers Showcase, a program featuring an extraordinary blend of creativity from rising choreographers Matthew Roberts, Janice Rosario, and Richard Oaxaca. Each piece serves as a testament to the company’s commitment to elevate marginalized voices and commission works that reflect our times. These performances are presented in our studio theater facility in Shaker Heights and provide an up-close opportunity to experience dance. Learn more about each piece below.

For question about seating or to make arrange accessibility accommodations call 216-397-3757 ext 2.

SHOW DETAILS

March 22, 2024 7:00PM
March 23, 2024 4:00PM
March 23, 2024 7:00PM

THEATRE

Ohio Contemporary Ballet Center
3558 Lee Rd.
Shaker Hts, OH 44120

TICKETS

$30
Ticket fees apply

TICKETS

Emerging Choreographers Showcase

To purchase tickets select from the available performance times below. All tickets cost $30 and are general admission.

March 22, 2024

March 23, 2024

March 23, 2024

Choreographers

Each piece serves as a testament to the company’s commitment to elevate marginalized voices and commission works that reflect our times.

Richard Oaxaca

Richard Oaxaca is originally from Texas where he grew up competing in gymnastics and cheerleading and was named “America’s Number One Male Cheerleader” four times by the National Cheerleaders Association. He was an original member of the now Netflix Famous, Navarro College Cheer team, from Corsicana Texas. He graduated from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio with a Master of Fine Arts in Contemporary Dance. Upon graduating he studied at the Martha Graham School of Dance in New York City, where he was accepted into their teacher training program and had the honor of performing for the Next@Graham Studio Series. After that Oaxaca joined Kanopy Dance Company of Madison WI. In 2015, he performed as a member of the Los Angeles based dance company Diavolo: Architecture in Motion Company B. Notably, he was invited to perform at the 2012 World Expo in Yeosu, Korea and appeared on Season 7 of America’s Got Talent. He has danced for Princess, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and was a principal acrobat and dancer for Norwegian Cruise Lines. . In 2011, Oaxaca choreographed for Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. In 2017 Oaxaca performed as a mainstage dancer and performer in Disney's Aladdin, A Musical Spectacular, on board the The Disney Fantasy Cruise Ship portraying the part of The Magic Carpet. He was nominated for a Broadway World Award for Best Choreography for his regional work in Boston, MA. While in Boston Oaxaca was the Director of Dance for Dance With Energy in Weymouth, MA. Most recently Oaxaca performed as a guest artist for Dancing Wheels Dance Company in Cleveland, OH. He has taught at Case Western Reserve University, University of Wisconsin, and is the former Assistant Director of Dance at Notre Dame College, in South Euclid, OH. Oaxaca is currently the Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance for the Case Western Reserve University Dance Department.

Richard Oaxaca

Richard Oaxaca’s work is a harmonious marriage of movement and music, set to the timeless work of Johann Sebastian Bach. The dancers weave a tapestry of precise and fluid motion, embodying the dualities that resonate within the stirring tones of the harpsichord.

Matthew Roberts

Matthew Roberts is an Akron native who, at the age of 10, discovered he was bilingual and his real native language was dance. After studying at the University of Akron’s Dance Institute, he moved to New York looking to become more fluent and graduated from Marymount Manhattan College in 2013 with a B.F.A. in Dance with a concentration in Choreography. There he performed works by Lar Lubovitch, Robert Battle, Jessica Lang, and Shen Wei. He has danced with Lustig Dance Theatre, Oakland Ballet Company, Awakening Movement, Molissa Fenley, Tami Stronach Dance, Neos Dance Theatre, Bruce Wood Dance, Zion Dance Project, Pegasus Contemporary, Osage Ballet, Ballet Papillon, Störling Dance Theater and MooreDunson Co. He now freelances and teaches Choreography and Modern at the University of Akron, while he forges Frtrss Dance Theatre. He enjoys teaching dance, discussing movement, and leading worship jams, but his love for storytelling, choreography, and sharing the human experience are what fuel his passion to create.

Matthew Roberts

Akron, native, Matthew Roberts’ latest creation is the signature blend of movement and storytelling in the exploration of addiction and relapse. Drawing from emotional depth, the performance seeks to offer a poignant reflection on how relapse affects both those battling addiction and their loved ones.

Janice Rosario

Janice Rosario is a nationally recognized contemporary dance choreographer, educator, and activist. As a native New Yorker, Janice studied at some of NYC's most elite institutions including Ballet Hispánico, Ballet Academy East, and The Ailey School. She is a graduate of LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts and Hunter College. When not in the studio, she is running her nonprofit, The Good Neighbor Collective Inc, to support and empower those underserved in our communities.

As a choreographer, Janice has been commissioned by numerous prestigious institutions throughout the United States including Barnard College/Columbia University, Montclair State University, The University of Alabama, Case Western University, Steps on Broadway Conservatory, Ailey/Fordham University, The Ailey School's Professional Division, Manhattanville College, Bucknell University, Howard University, Dean College, Brockport University, Baltimore School of the Arts, Grand Canyon University, Irvine Valley College, Sacred Heart University, Drexel University, Hunter College, The Martha Graham School, New York Dance Project, Steps on Broadway's Conservatory, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, the Dance Institute of Washington, the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, Davidson High School, Passaic County Technical Institute, The Thacher School, the Joy of Motion Dance Center, Frank Sinatra High School for the Performing Arts, Fort Hamilton High School, Norte Maar's Counterpointe Series, Periapsis Music and Dance, La MaMa Moves! Dance Festival and the Battery Dance Festival.

In addition to her choreographic endeavors, Janice has taught at The Ailey School, Peridance Center, The Martha Graham School, The University of Alabama, Montclair State University, Barnard College/Columbia University, Cornish University, Bucknell University, Manhattanville College, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Florida, Ballet Hispanico, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, Gibney Dance Center, New York Dance Project, Frank Sinatra High School for the Performing Arts, Fort Hamilton High School, Sacred Heart University, Grand Canyon University, Hunter College, Harvard University, High Tech High School, the American Youth Dance Theater, Irvine Valley College, the Contemporary Dance Festival in Tobago and the Joy of Motion Dance Center.

Through her work as an artist, educator and activist, Janice is driven to "create spaces where we can see each other past the divides to contribute to making an ever more inclusive community."

Janice Rosario

Janice Rosario, a renowned New York choreographer, explores themes of letting go, acceptance, and the quest for understanding, connecting the seasons with distinct emotional landscapes of ourselves. Set to Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, Rosario transcends traditional ballet boundaries, presenting an abstract interpretation of the seasons as reflections of the human condition.

Choreographers

Each piece serves as a testament to the company’s commitment to elevate marginalized voices and commission works that reflect our times.

Richard Oaxaca

Richard Oaxaca is originally from Texas where he grew up competing in gymnastics and cheerleading and was named “America’s Number One Male Cheerleader” four times by the National Cheerleaders Association. He was an original member of the now Netflix Famous, Navarro College Cheer team, from Corsicana Texas. He graduated from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio with a Master of Fine Arts in Contemporary Dance. Upon graduating he studied at the Martha Graham School of Dance in New York City, where he was accepted into their teacher training program and had the honor of performing for the Next@Graham Studio Series. After that Oaxaca joined Kanopy Dance Company of Madison WI. In 2015, he performed as a member of the Los Angeles based dance company Diavolo: Architecture in Motion Company B. Notably, he was invited to perform at the 2012 World Expo in Yeosu, Korea and appeared on Season 7 of America’s Got Talent. He has danced for Princess, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and was a principal acrobat and dancer for Norwegian Cruise Lines. . In 2011, Oaxaca choreographed for Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. In 2017 Oaxaca performed as a mainstage dancer and performer in Disney's Aladdin, A Musical Spectacular, on board the The Disney Fantasy Cruise Ship portraying the part of The Magic Carpet. He was nominated for a Broadway World Award for Best Choreography for his regional work in Boston, MA. While in Boston Oaxaca was the Director of Dance for Dance With Energy in Weymouth, MA. Most recently Oaxaca performed as a guest artist for Dancing Wheels Dance Company in Cleveland, OH. He has taught at Case Western Reserve University, University of Wisconsin, and is the former Assistant Director of Dance at Notre Dame College, in South Euclid, OH. Oaxaca is currently the Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance for the Case Western Reserve University Dance Department.

Richard Oaxaca

Richard Oaxaca’s work is a harmonious marriage of movement and music, set to the timeless work of Johann Sebastian Bach. The dancers weave a tapestry of precise and fluid motion, embodying the dualities that resonate within the stirring tones of the harpsichord.

Matthew Roberts

Matthew Roberts is an Akron native who, at the age of 10, discovered he was bilingual and his real native language was dance. After studying at the University of Akron’s Dance Institute, he moved to New York looking to become more fluent and graduated from Marymount Manhattan College in 2013 with a B.F.A. in Dance with a concentration in Choreography. There he performed works by Lar Lubovitch, Robert Battle, Jessica Lang, and Shen Wei. He has danced with Lustig Dance Theatre, Oakland Ballet Company, Awakening Movement, Molissa Fenley, Tami Stronach Dance, Neos Dance Theatre, Bruce Wood Dance, Zion Dance Project, Pegasus Contemporary, Osage Ballet, Ballet Papillon, Störling Dance Theater and MooreDunson Co. He now freelances and teaches Choreography and Modern at the University of Akron, while he forges Frtrss Dance Theatre. He enjoys teaching dance, discussing movement, and leading worship jams, but his love for storytelling, choreography, and sharing the human experience are what fuel his passion to create.

Matthew Roberts

Akron, native, Matthew Roberts’ latest creation is the signature blend of movement and storytelling in the exploration of addiction and relapse. Drawing from emotional depth, the performance seeks to offer a poignant reflection on how relapse affects both those battling addiction and their loved ones.

Janice Rosario

Janice Rosario is a nationally recognized contemporary dance choreographer, educator, and activist. As a native New Yorker, Janice studied at some of NYC's most elite institutions including Ballet Hispánico, Ballet Academy East, and The Ailey School. She is a graduate of LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts and Hunter College. When not in the studio, she is running her nonprofit, The Good Neighbor Collective Inc, to support and empower those underserved in our communities.

As a choreographer, Janice has been commissioned by numerous prestigious institutions throughout the United States including Barnard College/Columbia University, Montclair State University, The University of Alabama, Case Western University, Steps on Broadway Conservatory, Ailey/Fordham University, The Ailey School's Professional Division, Manhattanville College, Bucknell University, Howard University, Dean College, Brockport University, Baltimore School of the Arts, Grand Canyon University, Irvine Valley College, Sacred Heart University, Drexel University, Hunter College, The Martha Graham School, New York Dance Project, Steps on Broadway's Conservatory, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, the Dance Institute of Washington, the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, Davidson High School, Passaic County Technical Institute, The Thacher School, the Joy of Motion Dance Center, Frank Sinatra High School for the Performing Arts, Fort Hamilton High School, Norte Maar's Counterpointe Series, Periapsis Music and Dance, La MaMa Moves! Dance Festival and the Battery Dance Festival.

In addition to her choreographic endeavors, Janice has taught at The Ailey School, Peridance Center, The Martha Graham School, The University of Alabama, Montclair State University, Barnard College/Columbia University, Cornish University, Bucknell University, Manhattanville College, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Florida, Ballet Hispanico, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, Gibney Dance Center, New York Dance Project, Frank Sinatra High School for the Performing Arts, Fort Hamilton High School, Sacred Heart University, Grand Canyon University, Hunter College, Harvard University, High Tech High School, the American Youth Dance Theater, Irvine Valley College, the Contemporary Dance Festival in Tobago and the Joy of Motion Dance Center.

Through her work as an artist, educator and activist, Janice is driven to "create spaces where we can see each other past the divides to contribute to making an ever more inclusive community."

Janice Rosario

Janice Rosario, a renowned New York choreographer, explores themes of letting go, acceptance, and the quest for understanding, connecting the seasons with distinct emotional landscapes of ourselves. Set to Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, Rosario transcends traditional ballet boundaries, presenting an abstract interpretation of the seasons as reflections of the human condition.

Spring Gala Sponsorship

By Gala, News

Spring Gala Sponsorship 2026

Sponsoring Ohio Contemporary Ballet Spring Gala on April 11, 2026, is a unique and highly-visible way for your company, organization, or family foundation to help sustain the company. Proceeds from the Gala will go directly towards supporting operations, performances, and outreach programs. Ohio Contemporary Ballet is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

  • 16 Gala Tickets
  • Full-page ad in self-produced programs through April 2026
  • Top billing on Gala marketing (print, web, social media visibility)
  • Gala night signage and company recognition video

  • 10 Gala Tickets
  • Half-page ad in self-produced programs through April 2026
  • Top billing on Gala marketing
  • Gala night signage and company recognition video

  • 6 Gala Tickets
  • Logo on Gala materials and website
  • Gala night signage and recognition

  • 4 Gala Tickets
  • Logo on Gala materials and website
  • Gala night signage and recognition

  • 2 Gala Tickets
  • Logo on Gala materials and website
  • Gala night signage and recognition

  • Contribute what you wish. Funds cover expenses including dancers’ dinners, auctioneer, valet, and performance costs.

Ready to be a sponsor?

Please complete the form below to register as a sponsor for the Spring Gala. If you have any questions please call Jessie Li at 216-397-3757 ext. 2 or email.

As you wish to be listed in text.
I will provide Ohio Contemporary Ballet with my logo.
Name of Contact
Mailing Address

Sponsorship Details

Minimum Price: $10.00

Spring Gala 2024

By News, Gala

Up, Up & Away!

Saturday, April 6, 2024

Join us for Up, Up & Away! a reflection of Ohio Contemporary Ballet’s performance excellence and how the company continues to break barriers. At this exciting fundraiser, guests can explore the home of Vocon, an award-winning interior design and architectural firm, while engaging in interactive experiences. A presentation by Ohio Contemporary Ballet dancers will be followed by a Raise-the-Paddle fundraiser. Click here for the events of the evening.

Ohio Contemporary Ballet’s (formerly Verb Ballets) annual Spring Gala provides the vital financial support necessary to maintain the company’s high level of artistry, its general operations, and education opportunities.

I can not attend but wish to make a donation toward supporting the gala.

Please click here to make a donation by credit card.

Checks can be mailed to Ohio Contemporary Ballet 3558 Lee Rd. Shaker Heights, OH 44120.

GALA DETAILS

April 6, 2024 7:00PM

Vocon Partners, LLC
3142 Prospect Avenue East
Cleveland, Ohio 44115 (Map)

GALA TICKETS

Patron $175.00 ($65.00 tax-deductible)
Benefactor $275.00 ($165.00 tax-deductible)
Group of Eight Patrons $1,200.00 ($40.00 tax-deductible per guest)

RSVP by March 22, 2024

RSVP

Generous Sponsors

Sponsorship

Your company, organization or family foundation can support Ohio Contemporary Ballet  in a highly visible way by becoming a sponsor.

Events of the Evening

7:00PM
Cocktails & Hors d’oeuvres
Dinner Stations by Trifles Catering
8:30PM
Company Dance
Live Auction and Raise-the-Paddle
9:00PM
Dessert and Dancing
10:00PM
Good night and Thank you!

Cocktail Attire

Vocon is a Top 100 architecture and design firm with a coast-to-coast clientele of Fortune 500 companies and an award-winning record of designing environments that reflect cultures, personalities, strategies and operational needs. Vocon has had the privilege of sponsoring Ohio Contemporary Ballet for many years, as well as many other Northeast Ohio organizations, including the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, ACE Mentorship Program and the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, as well as many others.

Let your spaces speak.

create engage collaborate for you.

Vocon Cleveland Headquaters

3142 Prospect Avenue E
Cleveland, OH 44115

Complimentary Valet Parking

Cleveland Inspirations

By Performances, News

Cleveland Inspirations

February 10, 2024 8:00pm

Ohio Contemporary Ballet presents, Cleveland Inspirations, a program featuring two world premieres based on local Cleveland history plus the last chance to see Gerald Arpino’s, Celebration. Robert Gardner has re-imagined Bacchanale, a work made famous by the great Anna Pavlova. It is based on the sculpture that sits in the gardens of the Cleveland Museum of Art that was created by Malvina Hoffman. As it was being sculpted, it was overseen by Pavlova to maintain absolute balletic accuracy. Choreographer Francisco Gella will create a work based on the story of Daisy Hill, the companion and friend of the Van Sweringen brothers, visionary developers of the Terminal Tower, the RTA system, Shaker Heights and many other Cleveland notables.

For question about seating call 216-397-3757 ext 2.

SHOW DETAILS

February 10, 2024 8:00PM

THEATRE

The Breen Center for the Performing Arts
St. Ignatius High School
2008 West 30th Street
Cleveland, OH 44113

TICKETS

$40/$35/$30/$28/$10
Ticket fees apply

TICKETS