ANTONIO MORILLO Age: 32 • Home: Cleveland • Dances: Verb, “Ohio Contemporary Ballet”
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ntonio Morillo found his way to dance later in life than many professional dancers. It was during his first year at Point Park University’s Conservatory of Performing Arts in Pittsburgh, where was he was studying musical theater. Financial complications forced him to leave, but he was determined to continue learning the art of dance, he says. Morillo picked up his studies at Valencia College in Orlando, Fla., where he received a two-year degree. Then, he attended the University of South Florida in Tampa to receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance performance, and he spent his last semester starting his career at Verb, “Ohio Contemporary Ballet” in Shaker Heights in 2016. Morillo already faced hardships due to starting his dance journey at an older age, he explains. But he encountered one of his most difficult obstacles during his first year at Verb Ballet as a company dancer. “I actually broke my leg on stage while performing in Tremont at Lincoln Park,” he recalls. “So, I broke my ankle and my fibula, and I had about eight to 10 months before I was back with the company.” Despite this setback, and the fact that Morillo was stationed to a wheelchair, he choreographed a group piece featured in the Martha Graham Dance Company’s “Next at Graham” show in New York City. “It’s taken me many years to overcome that serious injury, but I’m stronger than ever and I feel like it helped me so much to become a better performer and teacher by watching the company and seeing how other people make this difficult
profession work on a day-to-day basis,” he says. “Really focusing on how the teachers were delivering the material and watching the different processes with each choreographer.” Morillo describes himself as an “eclectic” dancer. He has been trained in modern, jazz and contemporary, along with having Martha Graham modern dance and Limón technique training. He says his knowledge of different styles has led him to identify as a repertory dancer. “I pride myself on my versatility and my artistry as a storyteller, and that’s really what I would focus on as a performer,” Morillo says. “I do enjoy contemporary work I would say more than a classical piece, but I always welcome the challenge to better my classical abilities.” Morillo had difficulty mastering classical abilities due to his late introduction to ballet, he says. He spent the early years of his life moving around different military bases as his father was in the military for 23 years. “There were no dance schools on the bases I was at, so I didn’t even know dance was a career until I was living off military bases in Orlando,” he says. He says he believes his commitment to the art of dance has MORILLO | CONTINUED ON PAGE 33 “Antonio is a versatile dancer, able to move seamlessly from ballet to contemporary dance to musical theater. He is also a fine teacher and choreographer.” Margaret Carlson, producing artistic director, Verb, “Ohio Contemporary Ballet”
Courtesy of Verb
ON VIEW
Info and tickets at verbballets.org • Arts in August, 7 p.m. Aug. 12; Lincoln Park, W. 14th Street and Starkweather Avenue, Cleveland • Pandemonium, Sept. 9; Cleveland Public Theatre, 6415 Detroit Ave., Cleveland
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