Jan 16

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Spring Gala 2024

By Ohio Contemporary Ballet News, Gala

Up, Up & Away!

Saturday, April 6, 2024

DONATE

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

DONATE TO THE GALA

Generous Sponsors

Sponsorship

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

Learn More

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.

View space

Vocon Cleveland Headquaters

3142 Prospect Avenue E
Cleveland, OH 44115

Complimentary Valet Parking

Jan 05

Love1

Cleveland Inspirations

By Ohio Contemporary Ballet Performances, News

Cleveland Inspirations

February 10, 2024 8:00pm

TICKETS

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

Dec 19

Love0

Twas the night before the performance

By Ohio Contemporary Ballet News

‘Twas the night before the performance

‘Twas the night before the performance, when all through the house…

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse…

Suddenly, out of the silence, arose such a clatter…

Of feet tapping, and bodies swaying, as if nothing else mattered…

With a leap and a twirl, so lively and quick…

They danced through the night, each move perfectly slick…

And what to their wondering eyes did appear…

But candies and sweets, joining in with cheer…

As dawn approached, they vanish from sight…

Whispering ‘best wishes to all, and to all a good night.

From all of us best wishes for a happy holiday season and New Year!

Your support amplifies the impact in each graceful movement we make, helping us to fulfill our unique vision. This fuels our forthcoming season of vibrant performances and high-quality educational outreach programs. Help us continue to be a beloved community asset with a tax-deductible donation to support our operations before the year concludes. If you’ve already made a contribution to this year, we extend our heartfelt thanks!

DONATE NOW

Nov 24

Love14

Black Friday Sale!

By Ohio Contemporary Ballet News

Black Friday Sale

Special Black Friday class card offer! Buy a five-class pass for $75! The Black Friday Sale, which is online only, ends at midnight on 11/29/24. No discount code needed, simply select the Black Friday Class Pass at checkout. Limit 1 Black Friday class pass special per student.

Dance For Everyone

Ongoing drop-in dance classes for teens and adults!

View class schedule

OCBallet Center

3558 Lee Rd. Shaker Hts, Ohio 44120

Studio Entrance

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

Nov 14

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Hip Hop Masterclass with Samuel McIntosh

By Ohio Contemporary Ballet Dance Classes, News

Hip Hop with Samuel McIntosh

Friday, November 17, 2023 6:00pm

Come and learn techniques of West Coast street dance styles, Popping and Boogaloo! Samuel McIntosh will teach the basic beginner tools and techniques in the genre of Boogaloo / Popping and cypher mechanics associated with the style and street dance culture. Beginner to advanced levels welcome, ages 14+. The cost is $25 for adults and $20 for students. Class cards do not apply. Advance registration required.

The studios are located at 3558 Lee Road in Shaker Heights behind The Dealership. Click here for directions. Free parking available use lot closest to Chagrin Rd.

Register Now

Samuel McIntosh- dancer, choreographer, and Hip Hop ambassador

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to wear a mask?

Masks are optional for all individuals including guests and teachers who are vaccinated. Please read our Health and Safety Policy here.

What should I wear?

Whatever you want! Athletic wear, sweats, or a leotard and tights-whatever makes you feel comfortable and ready to dance! Certain more advanced ballet classes do require ballet slippers, but for Beginning and New to Ballet classes socks are just fine! For yoga, please use bare feet.

Where are you located?

In The Dealership at 3558 Lee Road in Shaker Heights.

Do I need to preregister for class?

Yes, everyone must register for class online 24 hours prior to the start of class. Cash and checks will not be accepted at this time.

Is there parking?

Yes! We have a free parking lot on the north side of The Dealership Building, connecting directly to the Verb Ballets studio door.

Will I need a water bottle?

YES! Having water on hand is encouraged during every class you take with us. Feel free to keep your water bottle next to you in the studio for a quick sip whenever you need it!

Looking for children's classes?

Verb Ballets offers dance classes for ages 3 – 14 years old!

Learn More

Daily Adult Ballet Class Schedule

Class are drop-in and just require pre-registration online to secure your spot. Verb is happy to offer both in-studio classes and online Zoom classes see schedule below. All class registrations are online through Mindbody. You will need to set up a create a profile through Mindbody. Normal class rates are $16/ class or $130 for a 10 pack class card.

Still have a question? Shoot us an email and we’ll get back to you!

Nov 01

Love1

A Season of Holiday Magic

By Ohio Contemporary Ballet Performances, News

A Season of Holiday Magic

The Little Nutcracker

Experience the magic of the holiday season with a delightful twist on a classic holiday tale with Ohio Contemporary Ballet formerly Verb Ballets in the production of The Little Nutcracker. The new one hour ballet showcases the elegance of classical ballet through enchanting characters like the graceful Dew Drop Fairy and a lively party scene choreographed by Associate Director, Richard Dickinson. Accompanying the professional dancers on stage are the talented students from community partners along with our dedicated adult community students. This captivating ballet is an ideal holiday tradition for families and a wonderful introduction to the world of classical ballet for young children. This new version is crafted to ignite the holiday spirit in audiences of all ages, kindling the imagination with the enchantment of the season.

The Little Nutcracker
with the Youth Academy

November 11 & 12, 2023
Ohio Contemporary Ballet Center
Shaker Heights, OH 44120

GET TICKETS

The Little Nutcracker
with ArtSparks and the University of Akron Dance Institute

December 2, 2023
Firestone Theatre
Akron, OH 44313

GET TICKETS

The Little Nutcracker
with Wilhelm Dance

December 9 & 10, 2023
Lakewood Civic Auditorium
Lakewood, OH 44107

GET TICKETS

The Little Nutcracker

The storyline follows Clara, a young ballet student, on a magical Christmas Eve journey. After receiving a Nutcracker doll from the mysterious Drosselmeyer at her family’s holiday party, Clara descends into a fantastical world when the clock strikes midnight. Her Nutcracker comes to life to battle an army of giant mice, led by the fearsome Mouse King. When the Nutcracker appears to be near defeat, Clara throws her slipper at the Mouse King, allowing the Nutcracker to vanquish his enemy. Transformed into a handsome prince by Drosselmeyer, the Nutcracker leads Clara through the Land of Snow into the Kingdom of Sweets.

In the Kingdom of Sweets, Clara and the Nutcracker Prince are welcomed by the Dewdrop Fairy and treated to a series of dances from various lands. These include Spanish chocolates, Chinese pretzels, Arabian coffee cordials, Austrian ribbon candies, and Russian cookies. The Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier also perform a graceful Pas de Deux. As a sign of friendship, Clara is invited to join the dancers, culminating in a breath-taking finale. As the Kingdom grows quiet and the dancers disappear, Clara is left sleeping, waking to discover it was all a wonderful Christmas dream.

About Ohio Contemporary Ballet (formerly Verb Ballets)

For over three decades Ohio Contemporary Ballet, formerly Verb Ballets, has connected with the community in Northeast Ohio through dance performances and educational programs. We are inspired by the rich past, present and future of dance in our region and are proud to be your Ohio Contemporary Ballet (OCBallet).

The company vision is currently led by Dr. Margaret Carlson, former principal dancer for the original Cleveland Ballet, and Richard Dickinson, MFA, former Ohio Ballet dancer. As a ballet company, our vision is to bring reliably excellent performances that delight audiences with a variety of choreographic works. We invest in dance as an artform for international cultural exchange. OCBallet seeks to engage top dancers and choreographers that reflect diverse backgrounds across the country and globe.

We see ourselves as not just a dance company, but as a valuable asset that enriches the lives of our community through providing access to dance opportunities, classes and education. Housed at the Ohio Contemporary Ballet Center in the Cleveland suburb of Shaker Heights, we are committed to be a leader of artistic vibrancy in the Great Lakes region.

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Nov 01

Love1

The Little Nutcracker in Shaker Heights

By Ohio Contemporary Ballet Performances, News

The Little Nutcracker

November 11-12, 2023

TICKETS

Experience a delightful twist on a classic holiday tale with Ohio Contemporary Ballet formerly Verb Ballets in the production of The Little Nutcracker. The new one hour ballet showcases the elegance of classical ballet through enchanting characters like the graceful Dew Drop Fairy and a lively party scene. Accompanying the professional dancers on stage are the talented students from the Youth Academy and along with our dedicated adult community students. This captivating ballet is an ideal holiday tradition for families and a wonderful introduction to the world of classical ballet for young children. This new version is crafted to ignite the holiday spirit in audiences of all ages, kindling the imagination with the enchantment of the season.

But the magic doesn’t end with the bows! Opening night join us for a VIP reception following the performance with the dancers. Children 5 and under can sit on a caregivers lap for free. This event has limited seating; we recommend by your tickets early!

These performances are sold out!