Verb Ballets performs this Saturday, August 12, 2017 at Arts in August in Tremont’s Lincoln Park at 8:30pm. Lincoln Park is located at W. 14th and Starkweather in the heart of Tremont the perfect venue for this signature outdoor performance series. This free community performance will showcase Verb Ballets as the company celebrates both its 30th anniversary season and marking its 12th year at Tremont. Verb Ballets will debut a new work; Surge.Capacity.Force. by Philadelphia choreographer Tommie-Waheed Evans. Returning to the stage is Anthony Kruztkamp’s, Appropriated Memories. This contemporary ballet is a highly kinetic work then seamlessly weaves one movement into the next. Verb Ballets’ dancers will also perform a series of duets on the program that feature their technical abilities and personalities.

In celebration of Black History Month, the company will remount original works commissioned by Verb Ballets from nationally recognized African American choreographers.  The performance on February 3, 2018 at the Breen Center for the Performing Arts in Cleveland will feature the work of award winning Philadelphia choreographer, Tommie-Waheed Evans and Cleveland native and former Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company dancer, Antonio Brown. Tommie-Waheed Evans’ audience favorite, Dark Matter, returns to the stage. Described by critics as, “sleek encounters that brim with contrasting patterns and connections”, this intensely driven physical work is complemented by stage designer Trad A Burns’ rhythmically controlled and breathtaking visual effects. Returning to the Cleveland stage after a hiatus of several years will be two works by Cleveland native Antonio Brown. A graduate of the Cleveland School of the Arts, he enjoyed a long career with Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company before starting his own company, Antonio Brown Dance. Brown’s most recent work on the company, Passing By, is a lusciously abstract work with captivating lighting by Trad A Burns. The use of shafts of light over white rectangles adds to this intriguing work that was featured at the International Association of Blacks in Dance conference in 2015! Critics hailed the Verb Ballets performance of his work, “nothing can restrain the thrust that the Verb cast lavishes on Brown’s exuberant brainstorm”. Founded in 1987 Verb Ballets has flourished as a leading dance company in Northeast Ohio and Dance International Magazine said, “confident and polished, the Verb’s dancers shone”. 

Ballet UpClose Series
January 26, 2018 l March 2, 2018 l June 22, 2018

Join Verb Ballets for an in-studio performance on Friday, September 22, 2017 at 7:00pm. The Ballet UpClose series provides an intimate experience and brings an educational perspective into the artistry and work that goes into producing dance on the stage. The evening will features a preview of internationally acclaimed choreographer Adam Houghland’s work set on Verb Ballets plus an appearance from young students of the Fairmount Center for the Arts and the Adverb Project, a group comprised of adult student learners. Stay afterwards for a meet and greet reception with the choreographer, Adam Houghland and dancers. Door open at 6:30pm for general seating.

Ballet UpClose Series
September 22, 2017 l January 26, 2018 l March 2, 2018 l June 22, 2018

Verb Ballets returns to Cleveland Public Theatre’s DanceWorks 2018 with vibrant performances that highlight bold artistry through the dancer’s creative lens. Fresh Inventions are built on the creative talent of company members and provide the opportunity to tap into a new realm of artistic development by experiencing the other side of creation. Verb Ballets presents premieres of new works by Verb Ballets’ Associate Director, Richard Dickinson, MFA, company dancers Kate Webb, Michael Escovedo, Lieneke Matte and trainee, Jocelyn Magnons.

For the second year in a row, the Ohio Arts Council has supported this initiative through Arts Next funding category. The works in Fresh Inventions are a result of explorations in the process by integrating new technology, music and virtual reality into the dance art-form. Verb Ballets led field trips to NASA, New Territory Virtual Reality Arcade and Case Western Reserve University to investigate new technology applications with dance. The National Center of Choreography Akron led a community panel on innovation in the field and facilitated audience feedback to works in progress.  Fresh Inventions reflects Verb Ballets’ vision to be recognized as a catalyst to promote learning and encourage dialogue about the dance art-form. Verb Ballets is honored to return to Cleveland Public Theatres’ DanceWorks for its 18th year.

Ohio Regional Music Arts and Cultural Outreach (ORMACO) presents Verb Ballets on February 17, 2018 at 7:00pm at the Patricia Lindley Center for the Performing Arts in Lorain County. The program entitled Made in America: Dances that Transform you through Time and Movement will delight audiences with both classical selections and bold adventures works. Featured is an intense physical contemporary work by award winning Philadelphia choreographer Tommie-Waheed Evans described by critics as, “sleek encounters that brim with contrasting patterns and connections”. Audiences can’t resist when ballet meets ballroom in Eight by Benny Goodman set to the famous orchestral music of the 1940s choreographed by Ohio Ballet Founder, Heinz Poll. Verb Ballets’ dancers will dazzle in display of classical technique full of speed and high spirits in Tarantella staged staged by former Cleveland Ballet dancer, Pamela Pribisco. The epic music of Ravel’s Bolero comes to life in this visual masterpiece by Heinz Poll with a drive, propulsion and intensity that build with the famous crescendo. International dance critics have reviewed Verb Ballets’ performances as, “classical ballet with a dash of American modern dance”.

Tickets are $15 general admission and are available at www.ormaco.org, by calling 330-722-2541 or at the door the evening of the performance (cash or check only).