Directors' Choice Program

VERB BALLETS

DIRECTORS’ CHOICE

JUNE 26 7:00PM

THE BREEN

CENTER

WITH ENCORE STREAMING

Photo: Kolman Rosenberg

1987

2021

“classical ballet with a dash of American modern dance” - International Dance Critic

For over 30 years Verb Ballets has presented performances that have moved audiences and critics alike. verbballets.org

Dr. Margaret Carlson, Producing Artistic Director Richard Dickinson, MFA, Associate Artistic Director Verb Ballets Dancers Emily Dietz, Kelly Korfhage, Lieneke Matte, Antonio Morillo, Benjamin Shepard, Kate Webb International Cultural Exchange Artist: Sikhumbuzo Hlahleni Apprentices: Hunter Hoffman, Noe Iwamatsu, Julie Russel, Demetrius Lee Trainees: Emani Drake, Ashley Forché, Elizabeth Schaeffer Jr. Trainee: Somiya Schirokauer

Lighting Design Trad A Burns Technical Director & Stage Manager Lindsay Carter Photography Kolman Rosenberg Jackie Sajewski Bill Naiman

Director Director of Marketing & PR Verb Ballets Center for Dance Jennifer Garlando Richard Dickinson, MFA Company Manager Nakiasha Moore-Dunson Coordinator, Dance For Everyone & Youth Programs Finance Christina Lindhout Michelle Gregorczyk Education & Outreach Desmond Davis

Front photo: Bill Naiman

Board of Directors President: Robert M. Shwab, CEBS Vice President: James F. Koehler Secretary: Frederick Lautzenheiser Treasurer: Mary Anne Garvey Dr. Margaret Carlson Laura Cleveland Mario Clopton-Zymler Antwon Duncan-Milczewski David M. Dusek James P. Farley James D. Graham Leslie Kaufman Debra Light Deborah L. Neale Richard Rinehart Jr. Charles Sheehe Hema Steele Anna Soskic

Video John Alexander Past Presidents David M. Dusek James P. Farley Jeri E. Chaikin David Pierce Ann Ennis

Advisory Board David & Carola Bamberger Deborah Coleman Robert Cutler Ann Elder Deborah Glosserman Carol Griffith Linda Thomas Jones Maressa A. Kuszewski Craig Miller David Pierce Alan Miles Ruben Jeanne Shatten Donna Rae Smith Karin Stone

Verb Ballets Directors’ Choice The Breen Center for the Performing Arts June 26, 2021 7:00pm Video interview featuring Richard Dickinson, MFA

Triptych (1988) Company Premiere

Choreography: Heinz Poll Restaged: Richard Dickinson, MFA By permission of: Richard Dickinson, MFA Music: Felix Mendelssohn, piano concerto #2 Original Lighting Design: Thomas R. Skelton Lighting Recreation: Trad A Burns Costumes: A. Christina Giannini Kelly Korfhage and Benjamin Shepard Emily Dietz Lieneke Matte and Sikhumbuzo Hlahleni (International Cultural Exchange Artist) Kate Webb and Hunter Hoffman Noe Iwamatsu and Demetrius Lee Julie Russel and Antonio Morillo ~5 minute pause~ Video interview featuring Stephanie Martinez

World of Another (2021)

Commissioned by Verb Ballets Choreography: Stephanie Martinez Assistant to the Choreographer: Kelsey McFalls Music: Vivaldi, All Skate, Sheep Balls Original Lighting Design: Adam Ditzel Lighting Design: Trad A Burns Costumes: Janet Bolick Emily Dietz, Emani Drake, Ashley Forché, Hunter Hoffman, Noe Iwamatsu, Kelly Korfhage, Demetrius Lee, Lieneke Matte, Antonio Morillo, Julie Russel, Benjamin Shepard, Kate Webb, Sikhumbuzo Hlahleni (International Cultural Exchange Artist), Somiya Schirokauer (Jr. Trainee)

Verb Ballets Directors’ Choice The Breen Center for the Performing Arts June 26, 2021 7:00pm ~5 minute pause~ Video interview featuring Xochitl Tejeda de Cerda

Bolero (1996)

Choreographer: Heinz Poll By permission of: Xochitl Tejeda de Cerda Music: Maurice Ravel Original Costumes: A. Christina Giannini Costume Reconstruction: Janet Bolick Original Lighting: Julie Duro Lighting Recreation: Trad A Burns Antonio Morillo Lieneke Matte, Kate Webb, Kelly Korfhage, Emily Dietz, Sikhumbuzo Hlahleni (International Cultural Exchange Artist), Demetrius Lee, Julie Russel, Emani Drake, Hunter Hoffman, Benjamin Shepard, Ashley Forché, Noe Iwamatsu Thank you for joining us this evening.

Tonight’s program is approximately one hour and 20 minutes long.

BIOGRAPHIES Heinz Poll

Photo: Ott Gangl

Heinz Poll was born in Oberhausen, Germany, in 1926. Poll was a champion ice skater before he became a dancer.

His experience on the rinks imbued him with a love of speed that he expressed in his athletic baroque ballet, Cascade (1985). After World War II, he studied dance at Joss’s Folkwang School in Essen, began his professional career at the Municipal Theatre in Goettingen and became a principal dancer with the Berlin State Opera Ballet. In 1951, he joined the National Ballet of Chile as a dancer, ballet master, and teacher. The company’s tradition of bringing serious programs to indigenous people in remote mountain villages served as the model for Ohio Ballet’s Summer Festival of free outdoor performances. In 1962, Poll joined Ballet de Jeunesse Musicales de France as ballet master. Two years later, he came to the United States as a guest artist with the Chilean company. He performed in the American Dance Festival the following summer and stayed in New York to teach at Thalia Mara’s National Academy of Ballet. In Akron, he developed Ohio Ballet into one of America’s most polished, respected, and widely traveled chamber dance troupes. Poll was awarded the Association of Ohio Dance Companies Award in 1983, the Cleveland Arts Prize in 1995, and the Ohio Arts Council’s Governor’s Award in 1999. After his retirement, he wrote his memoir and has conferred a number of his ballets to former Ohio Ballet dancers. Poll passed away in 2006.

BIOGRAPHIES Stephanie Martinez With over 30 years professional performing experience, Stephanie Martinez has danced for Amaranth Dance Company, The Lyric Opera of Chicago, Luna Negra Dance Theater, Concert Dance, Inc, Same Planet/Different World Dance Theater and Dance Chicago amongst many others. In 2009, her choreographic debut, AviMar for Luna Negra Dance Theater instantly secured her status as a sought-after dancemaker.

Over eleven years of award-winning choreography, Stephanie moves her audiences along a journey guided by the kinetic momentum of her work. With original creations for Joffrey Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, Luna Negra Dance Theater, Charlotte Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, Eugene Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Ballet Memphis, Kansas City Ballet, and National Choreographers Initiative among others, Martinez’s versatility expands the boundaries of contemporary ballet movement. Martinez has created over 60 ballets on companies and collegiate programs across the country.

Stephanie Martinez is the founder and artistic director of Chicago-based repertory company PARA. MAR Dance Theatre. Founded in July 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. PARA.MAR was created together, with, and for diversity and access to excellence in contemporary dance - created, curated y hecho en Chicago.

Photo: Kolman Rosenberg

In 2015, Martinez was awarded Joffrey Ballet’s “Winning Works: Choreographers of Color” commission and the Chicago 3Arts Award in recognition for her work as a female artist of color.

More recently, Martinez was awarded an NEA grant for her premiere of Bliss! with Joffrey Ballet. Dubbed “a chameleon” of choreography by the Chicago Tribune, Martinez’s psychologically revelatory works challenge the viewer’s notion of what’s possible.

BIOGRAPHIES Dr. Margaret Carlson Producing Artistic Director Dr. Carlson has worked internationally in performing, teaching, choreographing, and in arts administration.

Dr. Carlson was an original member of the Cleveland Ballet, serving as a Principal dancer from 1972-1983.

Also a member of Actors Equity, she performed in numerous musical theatre tours throughout the 1970’s, including Sweet Charity, Ballroom, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Brigadoon, Mame, Hello Dolly! and The Merry Widow.

For many years, she choreographed for the Cleveland Opera. Dr. Carlson served as Director of the School of Dance at the University of Akron from 1985-1993.

In 1993, she became Dean of the School of Dance at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, until she returned to Cleveland in 1999. She then served as the Development and Education Director for the Cleveland San Jose Ballet. She consulted both nationally and locally through her company, Carlson Consulting Group, Inc., with groups that have included The American Dance Guild, Chinese Performing Artists of America, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Ohio Ballet, Dancing Wheels, Ohio Youth Ballet, Ohio Conservatory of Dance, Tom and Susana Evert Dance Theatre, and White Cloud Studios. Dr. Carlson founded the American Alliance of Dance Artists and served as its first President.

She has served as a Board member and officer for Fairmont Center for the Arts, Kids on Broadway, DANCECleveland, the Cleveland Ballet Council, the American Dance Guild, the Council of Dance Administrators, the Hong Kong Ballet, the Hong Kong Dance Company and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund. She served as the secretary of the International Organization for Transition for Professional Dancers, a sub-committee of UNESCO, based in Switzerland from 1998-2006, and was a Board member of the American Dance Guild in NYC for 20 years and served as its Treasurer and vicepresident for 10 years. Dr. Carlson currently serves on the board of trustees of Cleveland Dance Movement and the Cleveland Chamber Symphony. She is known for her work as the regisseur for the works of Ian (Ernie) Horvath and has been working with Nel Shelby Productions on the documentary film, No Dominion, about his life. She received her doctorate from Durham University in the United Kingdom.

BIOGRAPHIES Richard Dickinson, MFA Associate Artistic Director A former dancer with Ohio Ballet in Akron, OH, Dickinson’s association with that company began in 1988. He later became ballet master and director of company touring. He currently is Associate Artistic Director of Verb Ballets. Richard has served as Artistic Associate for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.

He was most recently the Artistic Director of Ballet Western Reserve (Youngstown, OH) and the Artistic Director of Great Lakes Festival Ballet (Warren, OH). Dickinson has also directed Boston Ballet II and was a soloist with Boston Ballet for eight years. At age fifteen, he joined the Pasadena Dance Theatre and was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Emerging Choreographer Award for a work premiered by the same company. He performed in the PBS television production of Frankie and Johnny with the Chicago Ballet and danced principal roles in Asian, European and American tours with Rudolf Nureyev and the Boston Ballet. In addition to an extensive dance career, including principal and soloist roles with Ohio Ballet, Boston Ballet, Honolulu City Ballet, various regional companies and Chamber Dance Theatre in Milwaukee, where he was also Artistic Director. Dickinson has adjudicated four Regional Dance America festivals held throughout the United States. He received his Master of Fine Arts degree in Contemporary Dance from Case Western Reserve University in 2005.

BIOGRAPHIES Emily Dietz, Company Emily Dietz grew up in Mountain View, California, receiving most of her training at Western Ballet under Alexi Zubiria. She attended summer programs with ABT, Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet, Colorado Ballet, and American Repertory Ballet. She continued her dance education at Butler University, graduating with a BS in Dance Arts Administration in 2016. During her time at Butler, she performed in ballets such as Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake and toured with Butler Ballet to Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Following graduation, she has danced professionally with City Ballet of San Diego and American Contemporary Ballet, where she danced in repertoire such as Betsey Wistrich’s Raymonda, Balanchine’s La Source, and Geoff Gonzalez’s Four Seasons. Emily joined Verb Ballets in 2018.

Kelly Korfhage, Company Kelly Korfhage, a native of Cleveland, began her training at age 10 under Joanne H. Morscher and Ana Lobe. She attended summer intensives at ABT Detroit, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, BalletMet, Cincinnati Ballet, and North Carolina Dance Theatre. She furthered her dance education at the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music as a Corbett Award scholarship recipient, and graduated cum laude with a BFA in ballet performance. Following graduation, Kelly became a member of Kansas City Ballet’s second company, KCB2, for two seasons where she had the opportunity to perform with the company in repertoire such as Septime Webre’s Alice (In Wonderland) and Adam Hougland’s Rite of Spring. Kelly joined Verb Ballets in 2016 and has been featured in works such as Andante Sostenuto and Schubert Waltzes.

Lieneke Matte, Company Lieneke Matte grew up in the Bronx and received her early training at Ballet Tech and the School of American Ballet. She then attended Fiorello H. La Guardia High School for the Performing Arts in New York.

Lieneke studied for a semester at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and graduated summa cum laude with a B.F.A in dance from SUNY Purchase College in May of 2013. There she also received the President’s Award for the dance conservatory. She has performed in works by George Balanchine, Paul Taylor, Lar Lubovitch, Merce Cunningham, Martha Graham, Nicolo Fonte, Nicholas Villeneuve and Xiao-Xiong Zhang. Lieneke also was a dancer in the documentary No Dominion: The Ian Horvath Story which included re-stagings featuring dancers from Verb Ballets, Pacific Northwest Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, Boston Ballet and Ballet Tucson. Lieneke joined Verb Ballets in 2013 and has been featured in works such as Duet and Laura’s Women.

Antonio Morillo, Company

BIOGRAPHIES

Antonio is a first-generation Cuban American born in Orlando, Florida.

He received his Associate of Arts in Dance Performance from Valencia College and his BFA in Dance Performance from the University of South Florida. Antonio has performed with the Patel Conservatory’s Next Generation Ballet as well as Tampa City Ballet. He has performed works by Jon Lehrer, José Limón, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Robert Moses’ Kin, and Maurice Causey. Antonio joined Verb Ballets in 2016 and has been featured in works such as Aposiopesis.

Benjamin Shepard, Company

Benjamin Shepard began dancing in Annapolis, Maryland and trained 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 then continued his training and education on a full tuition scholarship at Butler University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Arts Administration and Dance. He had the privilege of performing as a guest artist during his time at Butler with Ballet Theater of Indiana; he performed the role of Gurn in La Sylphide as well as Dr. Seward in Dracula. While performing with Butler Ballet, his favorite roles were Rothbart in Swan Lake, The Flower Cavalier in the Nutcracker, a soloist in Viva Vivaldi by Gerald Arpino, and the Second Movement Soloist in George Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments. Benjamin joined Verb Ballets in 2018 and has been featured in works such as Rococo Variations and Paganini Rhapsody.

Kate Webb, Company Kate Webb grew up in Richmond, Virginia where she danced both as a student and as a trainee with Richmond Ballet. She trained around the country at numerous intensive programs such as Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Boston Ballet, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Upon graduating from Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for the Arts, she attended Butler University on both dance and academic scholarships. While dancing with Butler Ballet, she performed in Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. After fulfilling her degree in three years, she graduated cum laude in May of 2015 with a BS in Dance-Arts Administration and high departmental honors. Kate joined Verb Ballets in 2015 and has been featured in works such as Peter Pan and Aposiopesis.

BIOGRAPHIES Sikhumbuzo Hlahleni, International Cultural Exchange Artist

Sikhumbuzo Hlahleni is from South Africa and began his training at Cape Academy of Performing Arts and then later participated in an intensive at South Africa International Ballet. He studied in the United States, training at Dance for All and went to Kaatsbaan International Dance Center under the guidance of Stella Abrera. Professionally, he has danced with the Joburg Ballet and Mzansi Ballet. Sikhumbuzo joins Verb Ballets in 2021 as a part of Verb’s International Cultural Exchange Program. He will be sharing South Africa’s dance traditions with Verb Ballets.

Hunter Hoffman, Apprentice

Hunter Hoffman is a first generation American raised by his Cuban family and born in Miami, Florida where he trained at the Mencia Pikeiris School of Dance and the Miami Youth Ballet. While studying on scholarship to receive his BFA in Dance Performance from Mercyhurst University, Hunter had the opportunity to work with The Mercyhurst Dancers, Lake Erie Ballet, New World Connection, and Ballet Concerto performing roles such as The Cavalier and Spanish in Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. He also spent a summer in Texas studying under Margo Dean, founding member of Texas Ballet Theatre. He has trained under other prominent dancers and choreographers such as Nilas Martins of New York City Ballet, Maria Caruso of Bodiography, and Tauna Hunter of Ballet West. He joined Verb Ballets as an apprentice in 2019.

Noe Iwamatsu, Apprentice

Noe Iwamatsu was born in Japan and began her ballet training at Prendre Ballet Studio in Japan. In 2014, she was chosen to attend the summer intensive of Central School of Ballet in London. She moved to London after acceptance to the Central School of Ballet where she graduated with honors with a BA in professional dance and performance. She performed with Ballet Central, the junior company of Central School of Ballet, and toured the United Kingdom. Most recently, Noe was a trainee with American Repertory Ballet in New Jersey. She performed with the American Repertory Ballet Company directed by Douglas Martin in various roles in the Nutcracker and Coppelia. Noe joined Verb Ballets as an apprentice in 2019.

BIOGRAPHIES Demetrius Lee, Summer Apprentice

Demetrius Lee was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio where he began his dance training at Cleveland Inner-City Ballet under the direction of Chandra Ford-White. Later, he studied at the Cleveland School of the Arts then went on to the Tri- C Creative Arts Dance Academy from 2015-2020 while being a full-time high school student.

He has also studied at various summer intensives on scholarship including San Francisco Ballet, Houston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, and American Dance Festival. Lee graduated from Cleveland School of the Arts, in the top 10 of his class. Last year, Demetrius was a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship Award for the dance division at Boston Conservatory at Berklee where he will be receiving his BFA in dance in 2024. Furthermore, he has performed works by Christopher Huggins, Darrell Moultrie, Troy Powell, Kay Eichman, Deshona PepperRobinson, and so many more. Demetrius is so excited and blessed to be able hold a place as an summer apprentice again at Verb Ballets for the 2021 summer season.

Julie Russel, Apprentice

Julie Russel was born in China and raised in Cedar, Michigan, trained at Dance Arts Academy under the direction of Betsy Carr. Julie spent summers training at the Washington School of Ballet, BalletMet Columbus, and Cecchetti Council of America. Julie graduated from the University of Oklahoma in May of 2019 with a BFA in Dance Performance and BA in Environmental Sustainability. While at the University of Oklahoma, Julie had the pleasure to perform works by Merce Cunningham, Ilya Kozadayev, Sonia Dawkins, David Hochoy, Trey McIntyre, Jean Guillaume Weis, Kevin Iega Jeff, Nilas Martins, Amy Hall Garner, and Raimondo Rebeck. She has also performed with Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre. Julie joined Verb Ballets as an apprentice in 2019.

BIOGRAPHIES Emani Drake, Trainee

Emani Drake is from Cleveland, Ohio where she began her dance training at Revolutions Dance Academy under the direction of Lisa and Tricia Bires. Simultaneously she trained at the Cleveland School of the Arts as well as Tri-C Creative Arts Academy under the leadership of Jessica Spurlock, Antonio Brown, and Kay Eichman. She has also studied at various summer intensives including The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and Deeply Rooted as a scholarship recipient. Emani graduated with a BFA in Dance from The University of the Arts. While being a full-time student at UArts, she was a member of Eleone Dance Theatre from 2017-2019. Additionally, Emani has performed in the work of Amy Hall Garner, Christopher Huggins, Juel D. Lane, Tommie-Waheed Evans, and Kevin Iega Jeff. Emani is very excited and honored to be joining Verb Ballets as a trainee for the 2020-2021 season.

Ashley Forché, Trainee

Originally from Pickerington, Ohio, Ashley received her dance training from BalletMet in Columbus, Ohio. She has trained with several other companies including Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Oklahoma City Ballet, Festival Ballet Providence, Orlando Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and BalletMet. In December 2019, Ashley graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in business from Belmont University.

Professional experience includes traineeships with Nashville Ballet and Oklahoma City Ballet. Works she has performed include The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake. Ashley joined Verb Ballets as a trainee in 2019.

Elizabeth “Betsie” Schaeffer, Trainee

Elizabeth “Betsie” Schaeffer was born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan before returning home to New Hampshire at the age of 11. She began her dance career with Northeastern Ballet Theatre. Schaeffer graduated from Belhaven University in 2018 with a BFA in Dance where she received artistic and scholastic awards. Schaeffer has attended the Bates Dance Festival, guested in local theaters as Sugar Plum and Princess Florine, and performed for adjudicators at the Alabama Dance Festival and the National American College Dance Association Festival at the Kennedy Center. Schaeffer danced professionally with Ballet Hartford in Connecticut.

Betsie joined Verb Ballets as a trainee in 2019.

Somiya Schirokauer, Junior Trainee

Somiya Schirokauer is 16 years old and attends Shaker Heights High School. She has studied at the Verb Ballets Dance For Everyone program for 3 years. She has been a Junior Trainee with the company since 2020.

FREE SUMMER PERFORMANCES Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival July 30-31, 2021 Tremont Arts in August August 13, 2021

Photo: Kolman Rosenberg

Ballet Under the Stars August 20, 2021 Cain Park September 3, 2021 verbballets.org/performances

Proud to be the official Physical Therapy provider for the dancers of Verb Ballets.

VERB BALLETS GENEROUS SUPPORT

The Carlson Trust Laub Foundation

James P Farley

This project was supported in part by the Ohio Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Ohio and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Verb Ballets is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.

CORPORATE SPONSORS

VERB BALLETS Generous Supporters Impresarios $45,000+ The Cleveland Foundation Presidents Club $20,000-$44,499 Cuyahoga Arts & Culture The George Gund Foundation The Akron Community Foundation The Carlson Trust The Director’s Circle $10,000-$19,999 Cleveland Cliffs Inc, The Char & Chuck Fowler Foundation Peg’s Foundation James D. Graham & David M. Dusek Ken Milder John P Murphy Foundation National Endowment for the Arts Underwriters $5,000-$9,999 The Ohio Arts Council James P Farley Robert & Tuya Shwab Footsteps Benefactor’s $1,000-$4,999 Dr. Bradford & Margaret Richmond Laura Cleveland The Cleveland Clinic Deborah & Mac Donley Excess Reinsurance Clive Hamlin & Jane Sembric Eric & Marian Klieber JP Farley Corporation The Laub Foundation The Lubrizol Corporation The Lubrizol Foundation Mary Anne Garvey & A.J. Cianflocco Deborah Glosserman Anonymous Koehler-Fitzgerald LLC Frederick Lautzenheiser Marianne Lax & Charles Sheehe Debra Light & Bruce Sherman Leslie Kaufman & Scott Cowen Troy McCarty & Raudel Napoles Deborah Neale

Charlene & Marv Nevans Anonymous Robert Perry Rich Rinehart Richard Family Fund Christine Skalko Hema & Shaylor Steele Anna Soskic Anonymous Shah Capital Management VBA Vocon Design Judith Wolf & Robin Richmond Charitable Fund Janice Young Margaret Wong Brian Wynne & Pat Cozzens Dr. John Bergfeld Sponsors $500-$999 Karen Carcione Debra & Phil Canuto Scott & Jean Frank Bob & Susan Webb Jeri Chaikin & Joel Newman Rejeanne Desrosiers Forrester Neilsen Charitable Fund GlaxoSmithKline Ann & David Lavelle William Li Karen Litterer Hannah, Joanna & Robert Matte Mary Mozer Anonymous Richard & Alita Rogers Family Foundation Louis & Sylvia Rosenblum Memorial Philanthropic Fund Herbert Schilling Barbara & John Schubert Louise Skalko Oliver Shirokauer Cheryl & Mickey Weinstein Carrie & Patrick Wilson

As of June 1, 2020 - June 14, 2021

VERB BALLETS Generous Supporters Madison Clark William & Susan Kirchner Patrons $250-$499 Dolores Bastaich Marie & Gary Korfhage Mario Clopton-Zymler & Alex Berk Wendy & Jason Kouvaras Ryan Zymler Eleanor & Charles Blackman Martin Kohn & Marcia Silver Lynda Bender Diana Borcz & Fred Haek Diana Kunze Denver Brooker & Richard Mindy Carter & Sally Clem Courtney Laves-Mearini Dickinson, MFA Chung Fu Chang Fran & Herb Jacobs Pauline Chen Madison Clark Lois Jeavons Anndria Ciabattoni Leslie & Bernard Davidson George Leggiero Deborah Coleman & Dan Audrey DeClement Gary Levine Polster Iraj and Martha Dehnow Helen Ligget David M. Douglass Lynn Deering Lan Lin Anonymous Anonymous Lillian Johnston Roy Lamberton Kristin French Carrie & James Mayer James R & Marilyn Furry George Graham & Joan Machovina Halle Graham Michael Fleenor Terry & Marcia Madden Carol JP Griffith Michael Ellis Deborah Monaco James & Kathleen Hammett Joan Englund Mariam Manoukian Mary Heeney & Lou Dietz Michael Fabian Dolores Martinez Yolanda Maddox David Foos Lori Martinez Lieneke Matte Stephen Fellman Krista Mcfadden Adam Munson Robb Forward Dianne McIntyre Network for Good James & Susan Freeman Martin & Barbara Milder Elissa & Gary Okin Judith Ryder Frumaker Mary Milidonis Nils Reuter Louis B. & M. Jayne Geneva Eberhard & Denise Molesch G L Robinson Jeannie Fleming-Gifford Kathy Moses Salem Jennifer Rudolph Anna Greenfield Charitable Frances, Derek, & Aiden Michael J. Seider Foundation O’Brien Paul Secunde Nick Giori Stephanie Palomo Sarah & Frank Shepard John Scott Gordon Laura & Marc Pesetsky Linda & Arnold Shepard Lonnie Gronek William B. Petersen Lorraine Szabo Nancy Hartman Joanne Poderis Tredegar Coporation Christine Havice George Pope Mary Warren Rachel Hayward John & Norine Prim William Watterson & Melissa Erin Hopkins Catherine Puckett Richmond Ann Gaskin Albert Reid Katie & John Winter Nick Giori David Reithoffer Claudia & David Woods Tauna Hunter & Marilyn Roberson Michael Gleason Brian Robinson Friends $100-249 Rosy Hong and Jeff Weil Kolman Rosenberg Nozar Alaolmoki & Andrean Horton Charles & Sheila Royer Kathleen Ross-Alaolmoki Leigh A. Hudacek James Russel Christine Anthony Kikue Iwamatsu Thomas Sabella Pamela Barron Nancy Jacobson Wilma Salisbury Barbara Conforti Stacy Jones Beverly Saylor Cassandra Crowley Ruth Kabat Margaret Saxon Diane Collier Kathryn Karipides Jackie Sajewski As of June 1, 2020 - June 14, 2021

VERB BALLETS Generous Supporters Friends cont.

Don & Claire Schuele Toni & Don Scherzer Catherine Sheehe John Shelley Mike & Sarah Shepard David & Peggy Shepard Janus Small Associates Gail R. Smith Ron & Marilyn Snyder Karin Stone Steve Szilagyi & Jodi Kanter Maria Tosheva-Nikolova Linda Udell Nathan Udell Carole Walters Nicole Ward Ellen & Andy Webb Kate Webb Margaret Wendlandt Jorene Whitney Taylor Wesley Mary Zoller Supporters Up to $100 Anonymous Medhavi Ahuja Jodi Allen Shannon Allen Astrid Andreescu Melissa Argilan Jonathan Arnstine Hannah Arnson Jonathan Arnstine Sarah Arth Rhen Avner David & Carola Bamberger John Beckman Kristy Belohlavek Ann Marie and Terry Berk Joan Bendix Mariam Bennet Daniel Bergman Ted Bergman Milind & Theresa Bhanoo Cullen Bickle Martha Bifano

Olivia Bigazzi Ana Blanco Marian Bleeke Rita Book Jefrey & Antje Bogart Katheryn Bogue Harris Nicole Billington Mira Bojanic David Bongomo Regina Borsch Alex Britford Lesa Broadhead Sarah Brody Matthew Brooks Maria Brooks Eva Brosnan E. John Brusser Steve Brusso Carol Bruml Jay Bryson Marni Task Bucchieri Jill Buchanan Kaylee Buckley Jerry Burnett Richard & Marilyn Busch Annie Campbell Susanna Campbell Sarah Carey Lisa Caruso Chi-Son Chen Kerry & Steve Clawson Richard & Judy Cohen Christine Coolick Isla Cook Patricia Cangelosi-Williams Marjory & Carolyn Craft Richard Cohen Petra Costabile Madeline Costanzo Katie and Scott Crosby Nellie Coughlin Robert Cutler Tammy L Currier Colleen Damerell Eda Daniel Paila Darte Carol David

Evan Davis Kaye Davis Mimi Davisson Joyce Daughterty Micheal Dean Sarah DeCarlo Kristen DeMoulpied Donna Dengler Catherine Desalvo Jan & Michael Devereaux Emily Dietz Alexander DiLallo Amelia & Libby Dolan Ashley Dobay Samantha Dominic Patty Dowd Gayle & Stephen Doucette Laureen Drapp Stephanie Dziemianzuk Hillary Easom John Ebert & Joan O’Connor Kay Eichman Elizabeth Ekey Helen Elkanich Mary Kim Elkins P Elzinga Kate Emerick En Pointe Danse Rebecca Esterie Lad Etzol Lisa Evert Chloe Fargo Carrie Felder Savannah Ferguson & Aiel Phames Linda Ferrato Robert Fischer Julie Firestone Derek Flanagan Sallay Fofanah Karen Friedland-Brown Rob & Alison Forché Sandy Forché Natalie Gainer Robert Gardner Joan Grace Tricia Grdnia

As of June 1, 2020 - June 14, 2021

VERB BALLETS Generous Supporters Hannah Jackson Haruno Marata Supporters cont.

Denise & Erick Jensen Sally Maruca Kate Gillooly Melanie Jensen Fay Mark Amy Gore Manoj Jhvari Joel Marx Koichi Goto Carol Jones Pat Melaragno Julia Galletta Stephanie Jacobson Callie McAdams Robin Gau Avis Johnson Alex Michaels Monica Gerrek Susan Elizabeth Johnson Mary Kay Miller Mitch Glass Janice Jones Moe & Luna Kim Marie Goedecker Annie & Sean Jones Angela Morgand Cindy Goldberg Melissa Jones Marla Mulkey Richard & Angela Gonzalez Akari Kaji Margaret Mullin Dani Gonzalaz Kathleen Cole-Kelly Josh Murdoch Joan Grace Louis Kelsch Bill Naiman Laura Gracon Raynor Kennedy Benjamin Needham Amanda Grassi Shirley Klein Lori Nelson Debra Gressel Pamela Klundt Jerry Nurenberg Mary Greenlee Wendy Kohn Ayaka Noguchi Kathleen Good Bath Kelly Korfhage Bill Noble & Lynda Hannah Goodman Donna Knight Sackett Amy & Jeff Gore Ruth and Ed Krise Srob Oberman-Breindel Colleen & Naomi Grant Dr. Stephanie Krise & Ben Sayer Isabella Overstreet Leigh & Al Gruber Denise Kohn Catherine Pace Elizabeth Gruber Ann Koster Suwan Park Emilie Gruchow Hannah Kulawiak Amy, Lacy & Lloyd Park Hope Hagan Diana Kunze Vai Pathak Diane & Peter Hauk Dawn Kurderna & Lewis Zipkin Noriko Paukert Ellen Halfon Jaimie Leader-Goodale Myritta Paul Janet Hayashi Frances Lee Kelley Pelini Aaron Hayes John Leontovich Sheila Pearson Kristen Harzeeski Pavia Lewis Anne-Marie Peters Nancy Hartman Ann Levin & Henry Mankowski Christine Peters Colette Heeney Elena Li & Christopher Kitto Lili Pigott Nicole Hennington Emily Koritz Laura Pletcher Thomas Hermsen Tony Li Kathleen Poole Monica Herron Julie Libman Pamela Pribisco Robert Hickson Diane & Charles Link Gail Raabe Shelly Hillyer Maria Livers Linda Rademaker Yukimo Hiroshmia Julia Lobosco Kim & Kaia Rako Hollopeter Family Katie Long Kathleen Rak Hunter Vidal Hoffman Maria Lopez Noor Ramahi Audrey Hudak Yevdokiya Lopukhina Amara Ramano Sandi Lu Hurley Anne Lukas Chris Rander Yumi Ijiri Madeleine Lucchetti Victoria Ratliff Megumi Iwamatsu Quisha Ma Malina Rauschenfels Michiro Iwamatsu Elize Manoukian Elliot Rigsby Yumiko Iwamatsu Michelle Mannino Maria Rivers Hana Jackson As of June 1, 2020 - June 14, 2021

VERB BALLETS Generous Supporters Supporters cont.

Kelsey Rohr Butch Robbins Barbara Robinson Carly Rogers Sally-Christine Rodgers Marc Ruckel Molly Rumble Kathryn Russel Kazuyo Saito Julie Sabroff Stephanie Saccone Flavia & Carlos Santos Laurie Saunder Felicity Sanchez Nancy Schachtek Betty Jo Scurei Shellie Sedlak Peter Selover Sharon Sellers Sharon Shapiro Sherry Skalko Jessamyn Slon Jane Stewart Smith Valerie Smith Celine Spinka Allison Schlosser Tim Shaw Ben Shepard Elizabeth Shepard Leigh Shepard Marie Shepard Rochelle Straffon Katharyne Starinksy Jane Startzman Carol Stevens Cheryl Stump Moe Tanaka Patty Terstenyak Ginger Thatcher Ellen & Harold Ticktin Bethany Tinlin Wendy Turrell Donna Tuturici Linda Tobin Karin Tooley Amy Tunno

Robert Volkmer Daniel Wagner Maki Wantanabe Michael Weaver Steven Welch Heather Wells Laura Whalen Nan Wiggins Ellen Ulinkski Patty Vicek Vivian Victor Jason Veloso Janet Voss Fiona Watson Jene Wilson Benjamin Winters Judith Wiseman Julia White Anonymous Natsuki Yamaki LaWanda York Sakura Yoshioka Tatiana Ybarra Nanami Yoshida Alexandra Zaslav Lisa Zuppert

As of June 1, 2020 - June 14, 2021

Verb Ballets Endowment Fund $10,000+ Ken Milder Below $10,000 Dr. Margaret Carlson Robert & Tuya Shwab Mary Anne Garvey & A.J. Cianflocco Leslie Kaufman Scott Cowen Koehler-Fitzgerald LLC

Photo: Jackie Sajewski

Dreams can come true

Cleveland Public Theatre’s STEP Education Program Photo by Steve Wagner

... WITH INVESTMENT BY CUYAHOGA ARTS & CULTURE Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) uses public dollars approved by you to bring arts and culture to every corner of our County. From grade schools to senior centers to large public events and investments to small neighborhood art projects and educational outreach, we are leveraging your investment for everyone to experience.

Your Investment: Strengthening Community Visit cacgrants.org/impact to learn more.