First issue of Verbiculture magazine this year! Read about new commission of Romeo & Juliet, news about the dancers, educational projects, and more. Hit to read in fullscreen with the button in lower right corner. The magazine can be download to your device or viewed utilizing the Issuu app.
Verb Ballets will present a working rehearsal with choreographer by Joshua L. Peugh in its new commission, Romeo & Juliet. Joshua L. Peugh, an award-winning choreographer, has been named one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch.” Watch rehearsal and ask questions as this new work comes together on the company. This event will be held virtually to keep everyone safe.
February 11, 2022 12:00pm
Virtually online
Tickets $15
Joshua L. Peugh is the Founder and Artistic Director of Dark Circles Contemporary Dance and Co-founder of Fair Assembly. A graduate of Southern Methodist University, he has created work for festivals in Asia, Europe, and North America, winning awards for his choreography in South Korea, Japan, Canada, and the USA. He was the recipient of the Grand Prize at the McCallum Theatre’s 18th Annual Choreography Festival and was chosen as one of Dance Magazine‘s “25 to Watch.” Joshua served as choreographer for legendary soprano Kathleen Battle’s concert Underground Railroad – A Spiritual Journey and was the 2018 recipient of the Natalie Skelton Award for Artistic Excellence.
This past year was one-of-a-kind. We delivered dance to our audience by transforming our studio into a production space for virtual showings and offered educational opportunities to students by adapting our outreach programming to the virtual platform. Without leaving the Verb studios, the company reached thousands around the globe. We keep on dancing, thanks to the generosity of individuals like YOU!
Need help? For details on how to arrange monthly pledges please contact Spring Healy at 216-397-3757 ext 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.
Verbiculture magazine is back… be the first to know what is in store for the season! Read about new choreographers, news about the dancers, educational projects, and more. Hit to read in fullscreen with the button in lower right corner. The magazine can be download to your device or viewed utilizing the Issuu app.
The Dance Institute at The University of Akron will present the world premiere of The Akron Nutcracker in collaboration with Verb Ballets and the Akron Symphony on December 16 & 17, 2021 at E.J. Thomas Hall. The magic of Akron will once again come to life, with this twist on the traditional Nutcracker featuring all new stunning sets and costumes augmented by video projections. Envision an idyllic walk down Main Street, visiting Polsky’s Department Store, and spending Christmas Eve with the Seiberling family at Stan Hywet. Dancers with The University of Akron’s Dance Institute and Dance Program will join the stage alongside the Verb Ballets company dancers for these holiday performances. This production is one of the few in Ohio that feature live orchestration of Tchaikovsky’s beloved score conducted by Maestro Christopher Wilkins.
The artistic vision for this new production is led by Verb Ballets’ Dr. Margaret Carlson and is produced by the Dance Institute at The University of Akron. A team of local choreographers have been engaged to celebrate diversity that reflects the rich composition of Akron’s community. This major collaboration gives young students the opportunity to perform side by side with professional dancers and musicians. Rounding out the many local collaborators of this production is the Firestone High School Choir and ArtSparks. This holiday tradition will bring families the joy of The Nutcracker and showcase Akron’s many assets.
All guests are required to wear masks in the theatre regardless of vaccination status.
Performance in collaboration with:
December 16 & 17, 2021 7:30PM
E.J. Thomas Hall
198 Hill St
Akron, OH 44325
$20 Adults / $15 Youth
Ticket fees apply
Call the E. J. Box Office at 330-972-7570
10AM – 4PM Monday-Friday
Order online through Ticketmaster
It is hard to fathom how the pandemic has shaken our industry. I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish, shifting to virtual programming and exploring new ways of presenting dance. As the governor has begun to allow theatres to open with limited audiences, we are happy to participate in the experiment of a socially distanced audiences. It is a strange new norm, but I am grateful to continue to bring dance to our audiences.
Thank you for your patience and continued support. The history and strength of this organization has always been in its creativity. This season is experimental in nature as we find new approaches to do what we do best – dance. Although it was challenging, this past season has given us the opportunity to reach far beyond Northeast Ohio and welcome in audiences from across the globe. We are thankful for the support of our audience members and patrons.
Cleveland Dance Movement has partnered with Verb Ballets to bring the community an upbeat teaching artist from Cape Town, South Africa! Sikhumbuzo Hlahleni joined Verb Ballets in 2021 as a part of the International Cultural Exchange Program. The purpose of the program is to elevate different creative voices and exchange dance styles. He will be sharing South Africa’s dance traditions with the community. The weekend will host a meet and greet Friday evening then on Saturday an empowering intergenerational master class with live music! We welcome participants of all ages (10-adult) and skill levels. Together the two organization seek to bring the community a deeper appreciation and understanding of cultures while finding community in dance.
Friday, August 27th 6:30-8:30pm – Free (must register)
Meet and greet with mini-concert and lecture demonstration with light hors d’oeuvres.
Saturday, August 28th 1:00-2:30pm – $16 (must register)
Masterclass taught by Sikhumbuzo Hlahleni (SK)
An empowering intergenerational master class with live music! We welcome participants of all ages (10-adult) and skill levels! Join us as SK shares his experience in the styles of Pantsula, moving through Traditional African to Contemporary African. This promises to be an exhilarating time!
Cleveland Dance Movement (CDM) is an arts coalition comprised of dancers, choreographers, educators, and community stakeholders, committed to the support and preservation of various dance forms through access, and integration of diverse world cultures! As an essential part of its commitment to dance, CDM brings to the region a series of professional development and masterclasses, beginning with hosting the International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD) in January of 2015! It is time we continue the legacy with “Back to school Back to Dance” Masterclass and lecture series.
Sikhumbuzo Hlahleni is from South Africa and began his training at Cape Academy of Performing Arts and then later participated in an intensive at South Africa International Ballet. He studied in the United States, training in California at Dance for All and went to Kaatsbaan International Dance Center under the guidance of Stella Abrera. Professionally, he has danced with the Joburg Ballet and Mzansi Ballet. Sikhumbuzo joined Verb Ballets in 2021 as a part of Verb’s International Cultural Exchange Program. He will be sharing South Africa’s dance traditions with Verb Ballets.
Cuban dance legend Laura Alonso returns to Cleveland for the week of August 23, 2021 to reunite with Verb Ballets’ dancers. The daughter of world-famous ballerina Alicia Alonso, Laura is an award-winning teacher and coach. Ms. Alonso performed for 25 years with Ballet Nacional de Cuba, and now travels the world teaching and staging the classics. She is also the director of ProDanza in Havana, Cuba, which is part of the Cleveland Havana Ballet Project, an international partnership with Verb Ballets.
The Cleveland Havana Ballet Project is made possible through past support of the Cleveland Foundation. This unique collaboration was highlighted by Pointe Magazine. Verb Ballets is honored to work on this project with Alonso bringing the best of Cuban dance and American repertory to new audiences.
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 extraordinaire.”
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 ProDanza, 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’s 13 dancers - shone in up-tempo and lilting movement and exuded grace, beauty, and power.
Arts AirSteve Sucato
Photo: Kolman Rosenberg
Choreographer and Associate Artistic Director
A former dancer with Ohio Ballet Dickinson’s association with that company began in 1988. He later became ballet master and director of company touring. Dickinson was also a soloist with Boston Ballet for eight years. At age fifteen, he joined the Pasadena Dance Theatre and was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Emerging Choreographer Award for a work premiered by the same company. He performed in the PBS television production of “Frankie and Johnny” with the Chicago Ballet. and danced principal roles in Asian, European and American tours with Rudolf Nureyev and the Boston Ballet. In addition to his professional work, Dickinson had an extensive dance career including principal and soloist roles at Chicago Ballet, Honolulu City Ballet and various regional companies. Previously, he served as Artistic Associate for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and the Artistic Director of Ballet Western Reserve, Great Lakes Festival Ballet, Chamber Dance Theatre. He has also directed Boston Ballet II and has a Master of Fine Arts degree in Contemporary Dance from Case Western Reserve University.
The Verb Ballets Center for Dance hosts Alexis Britford for a very special community Modern Dance masterclass series.
Alexis has been a professional modern dancer for over 12 years, and is an inspiring educator. She has danced with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, GroundWorks DanceTheater, Lula Washington Dance Theater and Neos Dance Theatre. Students will learn to move with grounded grace and basic modern dance technique, as well as fun choreography!
All ages and ability levels welcome, 14 years and older. This is an IN STUDIO masterclass. Drop-in class rates or ten-class passes can be used to attend. Socks, bare feet, or ballet slippers are recommended. Masks required for unvaccinated individuals.
July 17, 2021 at 1:00pm AND/or July 31, 2021 at 1:00pm
Photo: Kevin Inthavong
Alexis Britford, originally from Columbus, Ohio, is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts’ high school Classical Ballet program and has a BFA, summa cum laude, in Dance Performance from Wright State University. During her undergraduate studies, she was a member of Dayton Contemporary Dance Second Company (DCDC2) and upon graduation was promoted to the professional company, where she enjoyed seven seasons touring both domestically and internationally. Ms. Britford was also a company member of GroundWorks DanceTheater for two seasons. As an independent artist, Ms. Britford performed with Lula Washington Dance Theater, Neos Dance Theatre and returned to her alma mater, Wright State University, as an adjunct in the dance department. She has been performing and teaching professionally for over 13 years.
3558 Lee Rd.
Shaker Heights, OH 44120
216-397-3757
Monday 10:00am-4:00pm
Tuesday 10:00am-4:00pm
Wednesday 10:00am-4:00pm
Thursday 10:00am-4:00pm
Friday 10:00am-4:00pm
Sat/Sunday Closed
Monday 4:00pm-8:00pm
Tuesday 4:00pm-8:00pm
Wednesday 4:00pm-8:00pm
Thursday 4:00pm-8:00pm
Sat/Sunday 10:00am-12:00pm
