It's A Mad, Mad Verb! Performance on Friday, July 20, 2007 At 8pm
Return of Heinz Poll's "Bolero" & Cortez' "Planet Soup"
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio, June 27, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Verb Ballets returns to Evans Amphitheater at Cain Park on Friday, July 20, 2007 at 8 pm. The opening program of its sixth anniversary season features a world premiere of Artistic Director Hernando Cortez' ballet, "Polka Madness." Also on this family-friendly program: "Bolero," by Heinz Poll, the late artistic director (1926-2006) of the former Ohio Ballet, and Cortez' "Planet Soup."
Polka Madness, the world premiere of Hernando Cortez' new ballet set to the popular accordion master Frankie Yankovic's tunes, is alive with the frenetic energy of polka music. "New Kid" Johnny Koenig performs Yankovic's songs and some of his own, with his own polka band live at Cain Park. Costumes by Suzy Campbell. Made possible through the generous support of The Cleveland Foundation.
Bolero, a major revival of Heinz Poll's dramatically sensual ballet, is set to the legendary Maurice Ravel score. The ballet blends Indian and modern dance styles while its drive, propulsion and intensity build with the score. This Verb Ballets company premiere was staged by former Ohio Ballet dancer, Amy Miller, with the permission of Xochitl Tejeda de Cerda. Costumes by Christina Giannini. Made possible through the generous support of The AHS Foundation.
Planet Soup, the Company's signature piece by Hernando Cortez, unifies folk and vernacular dances from around the world in an athletic hybrid of movement styles, including Indian traditional, Irish reels, African rituals and "Tinikling," the authentic Filipino folk dance in which dancers step between clapping poles. Cortez choreographed the original production of Planet Soup in 1999; Edward Sylvia designed the costumes. With funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, it premiered in New York City the same year.
About Verb Ballets: Verb Ballets begins its sixth season under the leadership of Artistic Director Hernando Cortez and Executive Director Dr. Margaret Carlson, supported by its energetic staff and board of trustees, who have established it as Cleveland's premiere contemporary dance repertory company. Verb has been named as one of "25 to Watch in 2004" by Dance Magazine, the country's leading news magazine covering dance. Verb Ballets discovers, collects, interprets and stages choreography that matters to the region and to the world of dance. As a curator of expressive movement that is globally connected and nationally respected, Verb Ballets has a mandate to support and foster emerging talent, present excellence in contemporary choreographers, and revive and honor modern dance classics. Additional information may be found at www.verbballets.org.
FREE PARKING & FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE by Hopkins Transportation; Shuttle runs 1 hour before show time and up to 1 hour after end of show. Made possible by Severance Town Center and the A.M. McGregor Home.
Tickets: In advance $20 center/front sides, $18 back sides, $16 lawn; Day of show $25/ $23/ $21; on sale at Ticketmaster and Cain Park Ticket Office: 216-371-3000
The Company: Danielle Brickman, Ashley Cohen, Erin Conway, Katie Gnagy, Jason Ignacio, Sydney Ignacio, Catherine Meredith, Brian Murphy, Anna Roberts, Mark Tomasic and Faith McNea and Gretchen Ziolek (summer interns)
Sponsors for Verb Ballets' Cain Park 2007: Major Support: AHS Foundation, The Bascom Little Fund, Millie L. Carlson, RSIS: a NASA Glenn contractor, The Cleveland Foundation, The George Gund Foundation, Kulas Foundation, The Laub Foundation, The McGregor Foundation, John P. Murphy Foundation and Ohio Arts Council. Other sponsors include: Baumgarten & Company, LLP, Cedar Hill Communications, Hotcards.com, The Plain Dealer, PrimeNewswire, WCLV 104.9FM and WVIZ/WCPN Ideastream. Individual sponsors: Charles & Sandy Abookire, Millie Carlson, Chuck & Ann Ennis, Norma & Jeffrey Glazer and Aldona Titus. DANSKIN IS THE OFFICIAL 2007-2008 SPONSOR OF VERB BALLETS