DIRECTOR'S NOTE

As 2021 begins, we want to take a moment to share our deepest gratitude and say thank you for supporting us throughout this past year. The performing arts industry has been shaken to its core by the pandemic and it has taught us about resilience, perseverance, innovation and having a plan B. For the time being, we will focus on presenting virtually with the hope that the vaccine will be more readily available, and summer outdoor concerts will return.

Many of our followers may not know that each of our dancers has been selected to join the company because of a strength they have that sets them apart. For our next performance, Going Solo, on February 26th, I have curated this performance to showcase the strengths of the individual dancers!

I am very honored that Verb Ballets is presenting José Limón’s Dances for Isadora in commemoration of the Limón Company's 75th anniversary. This work premiered at the Cleveland Museum of Art 50 years ago and we are excited to bring it back to Cleveland. While the women of the company were busy learning the Limón solos, I commissioned Associate Artistic Director, Richard Dickinson, MFA to create a new work on the men. I am moved by how he took to the challenge and created a breath-taking work, Sometimes, Always. I met guest artist Robert Carter in 2001 when I was the company teacher and ballet mistress of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. I asked him to stage the solos from Paquita that he has danced many times. These solos are in sharp contrast to the Limón solos from the same era. My old friend Inna Strabova, formerly of Eifman Ballet, also came in to set traditional character dances on the company. Many of our dancers have not trained in character and I wanted to use this as an opportunity for them to grow!

We can't wait until we can share the stage live in person with you but until then we will continue to bring dance into your lives virtually.