CLEVELAND, OH (June 18, 2018) – Verb Ballets, based out of Cleveland, Ohio, welcomes new dancers to the company and announces company promotions. Founded in 1987, Verb Ballets is a professional contemporary ballet company under the direction of Producing Artistic Director, Dr. Margaret Carlson and Associate Artistic Director, Richard Dickinson, MFA. The group of four new dancers hail from all over the country. Meet them below.
Benjamin Shepard, a recent graduate of Butler University joins Verb Ballets as a company member for the season. He began studying with Ballet Theater of Maryland, as well as attending summer programs at The Washington School of Ballet, The Kirov Academy and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. He had the privilege of performing as a guest artist with Ballet Theater of Indiana.
Emily Dietz has joined Verb Ballets as a company member for the season. Originally from California she trained at Western Ballet and attended summer programs with American Ballet Theatre, Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet, Colorado Ballet, and American Repertory Ballet. A graduate of Butler University, she went on to dance with City Ballet of San Diego and American Contemporary Ballet.
From San Francisco Verb Ballets welcomes Daniel Cho. He is a graduate of Alonzo King LINES Ballet Training Program and Swarthmore College. He received his training from Point Park Conservatory, the Laban Conservatoire in London, the Ballet X Summer Intensive, the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance and the Coastal City Ballet. Cho has joined Verb Ballets as an apprentice for the 2018-19 season.
Verb Ballets is pleased to announce the promotion of trainee Lexy Lattimore to apprentice for the season. Lexy Lattimore is from Massachusetts and began training at the Academy of Ballet Arts. Lattimore attended Duke University and has danced with SundanceX in Boston. This is Lattimore’s second season with Verb Ballets.
Verb Ballet welcomes Natalie Ilona Hollopeter to the Trainee Program. She is from Akron and is a recent graduate of the Ohio Conservatory of Ballet under the artistic direction of Inna Stabrova. Hollopeter won first place in the regional The National Society of Arts and Letters for Classical Ballet: En Pointe and was a national finalist. She is finishing her senior year of high school as a post-secondary University of Akron student.
Jennifer Garlando, Director of Marketing & PR at [email protected].
About Verb Ballets
Verb Ballets, a contemporary ballet company, presents dynamic programming through bold artistry, unique styles and technical excellence that captivates a broad audience. Under the direction of Dr. Margaret Carlson, Producing Artistic Director and Richard Dickinson, MFA, Associate Director, the company will present a season that ignites passion in the energy, beauty and athleticism of dance. Critics have hailed Verb Ballets as, “Dashes preconceptions …with keen dramatic power.” -The Plain Dealer, “(Verb) is dance magnifique.” – The Examiner, “confident and polished, Verb’s dancers shone” – Dance International Magazine. Verb Ballets cultivates dance appreciation and nurtures wellness through movement in community dance classes, school residencies, senior outreach, library programs, master classes and college course partnerships. Verb Ballets has also been named one of Five Great Tiny Troupes in America by Dance Magazine and was one of the 25 dance companies in America to watch. In 2017 Verb Ballets begins a year long celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the company. As one of the oldest dance organizations in Cleveland we are proud to produce high caliber work and continue to connect with communities across a four county reach.
Verb Ballets 3445 Warrensville Center Rd. Shaker Heights, OH 44122 • 216-397-3757 • www.verbballets.org
Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • YouTube @verbballets
