CLEVELAND, Aug. 1, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Verb Ballets makes its debut at Lincoln Park in Tremont with three family favorites: a major revival of choreographer Heinz Poll's Bolero; Speed Racer, a modern version of the Icarus tale; and Planet Soup, the company's signature ethnic fusion ballet. Lincoln Park is located between West 14th and West 11th Streets; and between Kenilworth and Starkweather Streets in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio.
The program:
-- Bolero (Major Revival) (Heinz Poll -- Maurice Ravel -- Christina
Giannini) 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.
-- Speed Racer (Repertory) (Cortez -- DJOkee -- Gino Ventura) is a
family favorite of the Verb Ballet repertory. Speed and his
intrepid girlfriend, Trixie, take on another challenge as they pit
their courage and skill against the villains of the universe.
Set to music by DJOkee.
-- Planet Soup (Repertory) (Cortez -- Edward Sylvi) Set to
contemporary world music artists, the company's signature piece
unifies folk and vernacular dances from around the world in an
athletic hybrid of movement styles, including Indian
traditional, Irish reels and African rituals. The cross-cultural
fusion also incorporates "Tinikling," the authentic Filipino
folk dance in which dancers step between clapping poles. The
original production of Planet Soup was created with funds from
the National Endowment for the Arts, Pennsylvania Council on
the Arts, Nee Dance Company and Purchase College Conservatory of
Dance.
About Verb Ballets. Verb Ballets begins its fifth 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.
The Company:
Marcela Alvarez, Danielle Brickman, Kallie Marie Bokal, Ashley Cohen
(Intern), Erin Conway, Richard Dickinson (Guest), Katie Gnagy, Jason
Ignacio, Catherine Meredith, Brian Murphy, Anna Roberts,
Mark Tomasic
Verb Ballets' Lincoln Park, Tremont 2006 Sponsors are:
DANSKIN(tm), Silver Screen Media, Clear Channel Communications,
PrimeZone Media Network, Levy Media Group, JAKPRINTS.COM
Major Support: AHS Foundation, Abington Foundation, The National
Endowment for the Arts, The George Gund Foundation, The Cleveland
Foundation, The Kulas Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, The Laub
Foundation, Lubrizol Foundation, Eva L. and Joseph M. Bruening
Foundation, Kulas Foundation, The John P. Murphy Foundation, Charles
and Sandy Abookire, Millie L. Carlson, Chuck and Ann Ennis, Norma
and Jeffrey Glazer, Aldona Titus