Verbiculture Magazine: May 2021 Issue 4

verbiculture May 2021 | Issue 4

CREATING WORLDS

Photo: Kolman Rosenberg (2021) Dancer: Antonio Morillio, Lieneke Matte

Award winning choreographer Stephanie Martinez creates a new work via Zoom

WHAT IS LOVE? Christopher L. Huggins choreographer and former Alvin Aliey dancer sets ballet

A STROKE OF LUCK

Traditional Chinese dance influences ballet in new commission

inside verbiculture 04 17

11 12

03 08

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The Director's Note Creating Worlds Guggenheim Fellow Elastic What is Love?

6Q's with Hunter Hoffman From Dancer to Doctor Community Connection

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Stroke of Luck Ties to Ballet in Ohio Virtual Fieldtrip Finding Dance Later Teaching What you Love Kids in Ballet Ways to Support

For more content and exclusive videos, visit www.verbballets.org

DIRECTOR'S NOTE What a season it has been! In some ways it is hard to imagine how one year ago the country was shut down due to the pandemic. Although it was challenging, this past season has given us the opportunity to reach far beyond Northeast Ohio and welcome in audiences from across the globe. We are thankful for the support of our audience members and patrons.

Our upcoming performance, Contemporary Creations, contains two commissioned works and a company premiere.

I am so honored that we can bring the diverse works of choreographers Stephanie Martinez, Christopher L. Huggins, and Lui Mo to our audience. Award-winning dance maker Stephanie Martinez returned to work with the company via Zoom to create a new ballet, World of Another. We welcomed Christopher L. Huggins to the studio in March, former Alvin Ailey dancer now choreographer. He set a ballet called Love Is... which was originally created on Lula Washington Dance Theatre and has premièred across the world to praises. From Xian, China, choreographer Liu Mo, now living in Cleveland, created a new company work, Luck & Fortune, that melds together his training in Classical Chinese dance and ballet.

As the vaccine rolls out across the State, we are optimistic that live shows will return very soon. I am glad to say that the dancers and staff have received their vaccines! Moving towards the goal of in person performances, we will produce at the Breen Center for the Performing Arts in Cleveland a performance on June 26th with limited, socially distant seating followed by a virtual encore. Then in July, we will be returning for the Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival in Akron. We will continue to observe all recommended state health and COVID guidelines for public performances. Our virtual options will not disappear, rather they will be integrated into the season, as we continue to provide programming.

We look forward to sharing this new program of premieres

Photo: Jackie Sajewski

with you!

Dr. Margaret Carlson Producing Artistic Director Dances for Isadora (2021) Dancer: Noe Iwamastu

verbiculture | May 2021

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Photo: Kolman Rosenberg

FEATURE

World of Another (2021) Dancers: Kelly Korfhage, Benjamin Shepard

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verbiculture | May 2021

Photo: Kolman Rosenberg

World of Another (2021)

FINDING CONNECTION V IRTU ALLY TO DE V E LOP M OV E M E N T

CREATING WORLDS

For over eleven years of award-winning works, Chicago-based choreographer Stephanie Martinez has moved her audiences along a journey guided by kinetic momentum. The company will debut a world premiere, World of Another, marked by a versatility that expands the boundaries of contemporary ballet movement. We sat down with her to talk about the world premiere of her newest ballet created via Zoom.

How did you come up with the concept for this piece

Tell us about the experience of working over Zoom with

conceptually?

the dancers?

I, like everybody else had really been isolated due to

I have had a bit of experience doing it before.

COVID. I took pleasure in taking walks and just

Though not ideal, it is what we need to do to keep

getting outside whenever I could. I wanted a

making things. It has forced me to be really

broader stroke concept so I could work with the

descriptive of what I want. I had to use a language

dancers. I knew I was going to be choreographing

that kept them motivated and moving all the time.

over Zoom, but I really wanted a moving dialogue on

So, it was part choreography, part directing, and a

the things we feel, act upon, regret, and relish in. I

lot of figuring out architecturally where all of these

wanted to take the viewer on a journey through

bodies were going to be in space. This can be

each scene of these different emotions.

challenging when they look like little dots on a computer screen. Without the dancers’ sense of urgency to always be present and available, it wouldn’t have worked. verbiculture | May 2021

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I N S I D E

T H E

W O R K

Photo: Kolman Rosenberg (2021)

How would you describe Verb Ballets as a company?

I think of Verb Ballets as the people's ballet company.

Ballet can be a bit of a museum and it can turn into something that you just watch. They feel very fresh, inclusive, and edgy. They also challenge classical ballet boundaries and sensibility. I enjoyed that they value new voices, different voices, and female voices. I think Verb really tries to be forward thinking and current. Keeping with the classical, but also try other things so all of their audience will feel included.

What's the next project that you have on your horizon?

I founded a dance company PARA.MAR Dance Theatre in Dancers: Emani Drake, Antonio Morillo, Benjamin Shepard

You asked the dancers to answer questions and record themselves prior to working with them. How did that influence your process?

I felt it was really important for me because I was not going to be in the room to really get to know them a bit deeper.

There were also a lot of new dancers that I had not worked

July 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are premiering a work inside a 20,000 square foot warehouse called Thawen, which means to defrost, at the end of May. The evening will feature a re-imagining of my latest work Kiss and world premieres by Jennifer Archibald and Lucas Crandall of Netherlands Dans Theater. I am reimagining and curating the show which is an exciting and timeconsuming endeavor.

with last year. Typically, we go in studio and talk a little bit and then we get to business. I inform them of the idea and what it is I need from them. This process was different because we had to develop a relationship virtually. I wanted insight into who they were or what made them tick.

I was really asking them to take off a veneer and talk about themselves. I don't think I would have done it if I was in the room, but I felt it was crucial to the work. It was eyeopening and touching how honest and open they were to answer the questions and the prompts that I gave them.

When you're choreographing now does video enhance or challenge the way you normally choreograph?

Personally, I have always choreographed pretty cinematically whether it be on stage or film. I try to take the viewer on a journey. When watching dance on screen, I want them to feel they are a part of something. I set clear parameters when choreographing that inform the type of architecture or decision making for myself. I think there's a lot of opportunity for audiences to connect to the work by the way it is filmed.

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Choreographer Stephanie Martinez photo taken pre COVID

A N N O U C E M E N T S

Photo: German Ayala-Vazquez

S P E C I A L

GUGGENHEIM FELLOW 2021 Congratulations to choreographer TommieWaheed Evans on being named 2021 Guggenheim Fellow in choreography. The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation is one of the most prestigious honors in the United States, known for recognizing individuals "who have demonstrated exceptional creative ability within the arts.” Tommie-Waheed Evans and Verb Ballets will join forces again next season to bring about a powerful new work based on the ancient Greek tragedy, Antigone. Evans will synthesize the current political climate and the classical world of Antigone with his driving urban contemporary ballet movement aesthetic.

ELASTIC STRETCHED BEYOND DANCE Dr. Margaret Carlson is always busy in the office and studio producing the season. Outside the office, she trains as a member of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) for the City of Shaker Heights.

At the beginning of the pandemic, the CERT team was busy replacing blue elastic that had dry rotted on masks that were from the FEMA stockpile during the H1-N1 outbreak. Dr. Carlson was responsible for connecting with dancewear suppliers to find elastic.

They replaced thousands of masks using elastic that was intended for pointe shoes and dance wear shoes.

The limited personal protective equipment (PPE) at the time made this a vital safety device for the county's safety employees. Chief Patrick Sweeney of the Shaker Heights Fire Department said he’s grateful for their work. The the CERT Team has also been instrumental with COVID testing and the vaccine rollout for the county.

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Photo: Kolman Rosenberg (2021) Love Is...

Dancers: Sikhumbuzo Hlahleni, Kate Webb, Hunter Hoffman

Photo: Kolman Rosenberg (2021)

Love Is...

Dancers: Julie Russel, Emily Dietz, Bestie Schaffer, Ashley Forche

Christopher L. Huggins is originally from

recipient of the 2021 Guggenheim Fellow

there was a ballet in the music. I just

Boston, Massachusetts. He began dancing

in choreography. We sat down with him

thought of "love is" and then each

because he needed to fulfill an athletic

to talk about the ballet he set on Verb

section has its own title though I don't

credit for gym at a private boarding high

Ballets.

like to put the titles in the program,

school. As he states “I would have had to

necessarily. Love is going to be

take a sport and that wasn't happening, so

When was Love is… originally created?

different for everyone, but I have

I opted to take dance classes which would

The work was originally done for Lula

specific words in mind when I’m looking

fulfill my athletic credit that was needed

Washington Dance Theatre of Los

at the choreographic sections. Each

to graduate. And that is where I

Angeles in honor of their 30th

section explores the many different

blossomed from there from the age of 15.”

Anniversary season in 2010. Although

sides of love. Love can be complicated,

the piece was originally created for

love can be spontaneous, love can be

He then went on to have a long career as a

Lula, this piece has had many

silly, love can be hard. So, there is no

dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance

manifestations with different

real story but connecting to the many

Theatre. He has become an

companies since then. Sections have

facets that love can be.

Internationally renowned choreographer.

been deleted, added, or rearranged as

Mr. Huggins has created ballets for

I’m doing with Verb. The piece is ever

Tell us about your experience working

Philadanco!, Alvin Ailey American Dance

evolving because love is.

with the dancers this week?

Theatre, and Dance Theatre of Harlem

I didn't know what to expect because I

just to name a few. Award winning

Is there a story behind the work?

didn't know the company, but I was

choreographer has received the Alvin

The inspiration came from a movie

pleasantly surprised! The company has

Ailey Award for Best Choreography, The

soundtrack. I was in Italy taking class

such lovely dancers. I didn’t expect

Black Alliance Award, and Service to IABD

from one of my dear friends and he

dancers to be so good in a place like

in the Field of Dance Award from the

played the song during class. I was so

Cleveland. I think of New York City, San

International Association of Blacks in

struck by the music, I bought the

Francisco or Houston. Theses dancers

Dance. It was just announced that he is a

soundtrack and after listening knew

are just lovely. verbiculture | May 2021

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Everyone tells me I had my wings, but Mr. Ailey taught me how to use those wings

How did your dancing with Alvin Ailey

Ailey, the plié was really emphasized

How would you describe Verb Ballets to

influence you?

and stressed in in our movement when

someone?

I always say Mr. Ailey gave me my

we were dancing.

Ferocious. There are some really great

chance to fly. Everyone tells me I had

dancers who go for it. The dancers’

my wings, but Mr. Ailey taught me how

Technicality. I love technique. I trained

technique is exquisite; I’d put them on

to use those wings. Mr. Ailey was

for many years to obtain that

the scale of any other company that

extremely musical; he had an

technique so it's something that is very

exists right now. The caliber of dancer

impeccable ear. I learned so much from

important to me. It brings clarity to the

that is in that room matches any other

his musicality and the earthiness of his

movement and cleanliness to the style

the company that I’ve ever worked

movement quality. It influenced the

of movement.

with.

way I like to move as well as my choreographic process.

Humanistic. I feel like a lot of dance these days is more external and not

Three words would you use to describe

internal. It doesn’t evoke a lot of

your choreographic style?

emotion for me. I love the human

Organic. I love movement that is close

quality of dance because we are people

to the earth. In my background with

first.

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Don't miss Love Is...

May 14th at 7:00pm ET Virtual Performance Get tickets now!

Photo: Kolman Rosenberg Dancers: Kelly Korfhage, Benjamin Shepard

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QUESTIONS WITH HUNTER HOFFMAN Company Apprentice is a first generation Cuban American that started ballet at age of six What drove you to a dance career?

My family has always been supportive, but my mom has been my greatest advocate. After high school, I wanted to quit dance, but my Mom pushed me to send an application to Mercyhurst University Dance Department and I got accepted! I initially decided that I’d do it for a year and maybe change majors, but I just fell in love with it all over again. There is no person in my life who has had a greater impact on me than her.

What teacher influence you the most and why?

I’ve been so inspired by all of my teachers, but especially the then director of the dance department at Mercyhurst, Ms. Tauna Hunter. She believed in what I was capable of well before I even knew. She was really tough on me in a way that made me want to be better, and she always taught my favorite class. I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am now without her.

How do you stay motivated?

Staying motivated can be very challenging sometimes, and being a professional dancer is a very taxing career that constantly demands a lot from yourself. I’ve always found it helpful to think about how far I’ve come and what I have the potential to be if I stay focused on my goals. The greatest gift and curse of being a dancer is that there is always room for improvement.

How has the pandemic changed the way you value live performance?

The pandemic has reminded me of how much energy I get from the audience as a dancer. It has been quite the challenge to keep the same energy on stage without the audience, but it will make it that much better when we finally get to perform live again. With that said, for the first time, my entire family could tune in from all around the country to see me in a live performance.

If you weren’t a dancer you’d be?

If I weren’t a dancer, I’d love to teach politics or history. I geek out pretty hard on election data and public policy. Since I was young, my family and I have always bonded through a deep interest in world history and how it affects the world we live in today.

Majisimo (2019) Photo: Kolman Rosenberg Dancer: Hunter Hoffman

An interesting fact about me is that, I am a first generation Cuban-American. My mom’s entire family fled to Miami from Cuba after the Castro Revolution and were forced to renounce their citizenship. No one in our family had returned to Cuba until I joined Verb on the cultural exchange with Laura Alonso’s ProDanza last season. I even got to spread my grandmother’s ashes in Cuba, returning her to her home country. She passed away thinking she would never return to Cuba.

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FROM DANCER TO DOCTOR being airheads or ditzy and it's a shame.

We have to be able to take corrections and criticism and utilize it to make ourselves better. Dancers are the hardest working people I know. We learn early that no one will do the work for you. Your teachers are there to help and guide you, but you are responsible for how hard you work and ultimately how successful you are. Definitely the discipline and work ethic is due to my dance training!

What skills do dancers and doctors share?

Dancers and doctors-especially

Dancers: Stephanie Krise, Brian Murphy Photo: Melissa Mendise (2013)

surgeons, are very detail oriented. Like dance, surgery is also a total mix of

Dr. Stephanie Krise danced for four seasons with Verb Ballets. Prior to joining the company she danced with with BalletMet and Richmond Ballet.

Earning her BFA in Dance at the University of Akron, she took pre-med courses and applied to med school while dancing with the company. She retired from dance in 2014 to pursue a career in medicine.

She was accepted to Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic medicine in 2017. In addition to her schooling, she volunteers at homeless shelters providing healthcare access and works on medical research studies.

She has now been published in three medical journal and has presented at the Academic Surgical Congress conference in Houston on women in medicine. In April, she was matched with a general surgery residency at St. Vincent Mary Hospital in Toledo. We sat down with her to ask her how her dancing training helps her in surgery.

When did you know you wanted to go

rush to make it to company class on

into medicine?

time, but I loved it. The human body

I discovered I wanted to pursue

is amazing! I remember calling my

medicine while I was dancing for

sister on the drive to Verb one day

Verb. I loved college and especially

after anatomy class and telling her

my dance and science classes. After

this was it, I wanted to go to medical

graduation, I continued taking 1-2

school.

classes each semester out of curiosity. I took a 7:30am Gross

How did your dance background

Anatomy class with dissection in

contribute to your success in medical

Rootstown. The dancers all thought

school? Dancers have to be smart. I

I was crazy to drive that far and

think we're often stereotyped as

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verbiculture | May 2021

critical thinking and skill. In the operating room (OR), I am guided on how to use my hands and my body to perform a move for a given procedure.

Just changing how you rotate your wrist while suturing changes the angle of your instrument and how effective you are. We also both have to think on our feet. Sometimes things don't go as planned in the OR and you have to be able to make quick decisions. The same is true when you're dancing on stage during a live performance.

What are you looking forward to in your second career as a doctor?

I look forward to sharing my knowledge and skill with my patients. As a dancer, I had the opportunity to share myself and build a relationship with my audience, and now I get to continue to build a relationship with my patients. It will be a hard five years of training but I'm looking forward to putting in the work.

Photo: Norlys Pérez Padrón, Havana, Cuba Romeo and Juliet (2019) Dancers: Benjamin Shepard, Lieneke Matte

COMMUNITY CONNECTION Childhood performing Bharatanatyam led her to get involved in our community through dance Hema Steele

I appreciate Verb's dedication to rooting itself in our community and making dance accessible to everyone.

Verb Ballets has been honored to have Hema Steele on the board of directors for the past two seasons. She is lawyer and brings a wealth of problem-solving skills and creativity to help strengthen Verb Ballets as a preeminent civic and arts organization in Northeast Ohio.

She has had a lifelong love of dance which was fostered by learning Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance style (beginning at the age of seven). She continued practicing and performing Bharatanatyam dancing through college. When she came to Cleveland to attend law school, she lost her connections to dance. Her friend Mary Anne Garvey introduced her to the company, and she was eager to jump at the opportunity to get more involved in our community through dance. Outside the office, she enjoys all things food including cooking, baking, reading new cookbooks, checking out Cleveland's best new restaurants, and shopping at the North Union Farmers' Market at Shaker Square. She enjoys connecting to Verb through its performances, especially in the company's own performance space. She likes how the dancers are nearly at the same level as the audience, creating the unique opportunity for them to bond with the dancers. Hema and her family are looking ahead to a post-pandemic world, where they can return to hosting friends for dinner parties and travel around the world again.

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Photo: Kolman Rosenberg (2021)

How a series of misfortunes led to unexpected opportunities for choreographer Lui Mo

Liu Mo graduated from the renowned Beijing Dance Academy with a degree in Classical Chinese. He then served as an instructor in the foundations of Classical Chinese dance at the Beijing Dance Academy. He came to the US and danced for seven seasons with Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers in Philadelphia. Now in Cleveland with his wife and new baby, we sat down with him to talk about his new commission.

How does your background in classical Chinese dance

How did you come up with the concept for this piece?

influence your choreography?

I found myself inspired by the last two years of my

My training in Chinese dance was very intense

life. My wife and I have had some crazy luck, so I

growing up. While my major was classical Chinese

tried to draw on all of those feelings. For a while

dance, which is known for its tricks and difficult

there was this crazy pattern of amazing

technique, we were also required to learn all the

opportunities falling through at the last minute. It

folk dances from each region throughout China. Folk

was laughable. We would get three job offers in a

dance is all about texture of movement and

week and all of them would fall through because of

musicality. My choreography is very contemporary

either COVID or travel restrictions. We ended up

but this exploration in texture remains a key part of

messing up our green card application because of

my creative process. In addition, I want to bring in

poor legal advice and spent a year in China only to

the athleticism that classical training gives dancers,

have the country shut down indefinitely due to

whether that training is in Chinese Classical Dance

COVID two days before our final interview. Six

or Ballet. It is particularly important to me to

months later we passed the interview only to miss

combine high caliber technique and complex

our flight to the U.S. because my pregnant wife was

texture.

bitten by a wild cat and we had to spend six days in the hospital. It seemed no matter what we did, we hit this pattern of being unlucky.

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verbiculture | May 2021

Photos: Kolman Rosenberg (2021)

But I also know that if I had more

to good or bad luck. We alternate

What do you hope the audience will take

luck, for example, if I were 4 inches

ecstatic or heartbroken but no matter

away when viewing your work?

taller, I probably never would have

what, time marches on. No matter

Keep going, keep creating and valuing

made it to the U.S. and met my wife.

what luck you face, you have this

the relationships and the people who

If COVID didn’t hit, we wouldn’t have

responsibility to keep going, to keep

support you.

gotten pregnant, and I wouldn’t have

working hard. Sometimes you are

my wonderful son. I may never have

lucky enough to have a partner by

Finish this sentence- Verb Ballets is...

had the chance to choreograph on

your side, other times not. And no

Inspiration!

Verb. We keep going and keep being

matter what your luck is, it’s always

grateful, but these feelings really

fleeting. I don’t mean that in a dark,

inspired the piece.

morose way but rather there is this through line, a zoom out you could

What is the piece about?

say, of how we adjust to our

It's about luck, but I think more than

circumstances and what ultimately

that; it became about our reactions

matters at the end of the day.

Don't miss the premiere of Luck and Fortune May 14th at 7:00pm ET Get tickets now!

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Variety refreshes audiences and dancers alike It may well also contribute to the choreographic glory of the century to come -New York Times, April 26, 1998

Ohio Ballet Photo: Ott Gangl (1992) Dancers: Luc Vanier, Linda O’ Brien

E X P L O R E

B A L L E T

TIES TO BALLET IN OHIO He has set all five on Verb Ballets, helping to keep the legacy of Heinz Poll alive. This spring, he has staged Triptych to debut this summer. The ballet has not been seen in over thirty years.

The ballet set to Mendelsohn's Piano Concerto #2 starts off fiercely. The dance embodies the glowing romanticism of the music. In contrast, the second movement features a very difficult and luxurious adagio pas de deux. The second movement of Triptych was excerpted and performed with new

Photo: Ott Gangl

costumes at the Joyce Theater as, In 1968, Heinz Poll, along with his partner and lighting designer, Thomas Skelton, founded The Chamber Ballet, later to become Ohio Ballet. Under Heinz Poll’s leadership, the Ohio Ballet presented its subscription series in Akron and Cleveland, offering free outdoor summer performances throughout northeastern Ohio and toured to more than forty states as well as internationally. Heinz Poll was a major contributor to the arts in Northeast Ohio until he passed and the company folded in 2006.

Heinz Poll originally trained in the

There is always a sense of restraint

Kurt Jooss, German Expressionism,

in his ballets, leaving some part of

style of modern dance. In his

the dance up to the imagination of

biography, he tells the story of how

the viewer.

Andante Sostenuto. The third movement brings everyone together for the energy of the bravura finale mirroring a classical ballet.

Don't miss the premiere of Heinz Poll's Triptych June 26th at 7:00pm ET Get tickets now!

he went to Folkwang Conservatory to study acting, but the classes were

Ohio Ballet premiered Triptych on

full, so he decided to take up dancing.

April 8, 1988, at EJ Thomas Hall in

The rest is history. Later in his life, he

Akron. Ohio Ballet was the only

studied the very strict Vaganova

company to perform this work and it

Technique of ballet in Paris, and

was a staple in its repertory for

danced, most notably in Chile.

years. Verb Ballets Associate Artistic Director, Richard Dickinson,

He drew upon this eclectic training in

MFA is former Ohio Ballet dancer

his ballets, easily going from modern

and owns the licensing rights to five

to ballet, always being careful not to

of Poll's ballets.

cross the line into as he put it, "too much".

Ohio Ballet (1989) Dancers: Debra Force, Richard Dickinson Photo: Jocelyn Williams

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VIRTUAL FIELDTRIP Verb Ballets partnered with Firestone's KSU Academy of Performing Arts, Dance Pathway in February to provide a virtual industry field experience. The students zoomed into the studio to watch rehearsal for the show, Going Solo. Associate Artistic Director, Richard Dickinson, MFA explained about the works and how the dancers go about rehearsing. After the showing, the students got to ask the dancers questions.

Verb Ballets has partnered with Firestone over the last two years to give students a first-hand look at the industry and serve as a guest speaker about careers in dance and arts administration. Verb Ballets recently joined as an official proud business partner with the Akron Public School College and Career Academy. We look forward to continuing to help provide college and career readiness opportunities for students in the dance pathway.

VERB ON THE JUMBOTRON Verb Ballets completed a virtual residency with Avon Early Learning Center. For the month of March, students learned Wigglewords virtually. Wigglewords is Verb's literacy program for preK-2 that serves as an aid to learning the alphabet and working on spelling and phonetics. The residency culminated with the opportunity for students to spread out and wiggle it out on the football field while following along to the Wigglewords video on the jumbotron. At the beginning of the pandemic the company filmed outreach programs to ensure that we could continue to provide access to programming without going into schools.

Verb Ballets also collaborated with Children's Concert Society and ArtSparks to bring the joy of movement and performance to students virtually.

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S T U D E N T

H I G H L I G H T

FINDING DANCE LATER Sal Citro has been dancing for over 25 years. He is a professional lab technician in the HVAC industry. He spends his evenings and weekends at Verb Ballets Center for Dance taking ballet classes. He has taken over 175 classes in the last two years.

Photo: Parkerfotos Photography

When did you begin dancing and where?

I started dancing in 1995. I was taking ballroom lessons at a Fred Astaire Dance Studio and also taking beginners adult ballet lessons at Willoughby School of the Arts. I took ballroom lessons for about a year and half, but continue to take ballet classes to the present day.

How did you find Verb’s classes?

I used to take ballet classes with Troy McCarty at Masonic Temple in Cleveland. When the building was sold and Troy had to find a new place to have his classes, he found Verb Ballets' studio. I have been at Verb ever since and try to attend three classes a week.

What is your day job?

I am a lab technician for a company that designs and builds air conditioning systems for severe environments. I run an environmentally controlled lab where I test A/C units. I'm also a field service technician where I do installs, start-up and repair.

What does ballet bring to your life?

Ballet has given me some great opportunities! I have had the chance to be a supernumerary, an extra on stage, for the Cleveland San Jose Ballet, The Cleveland Opera, and Verb Ballets. I have even done so with The Bolshoi Ballet and American Ballet Theater when they made tour stops in Cleveland. I also enjoy learning choreography and performing with The Adverb Project.

Verb Ballets welcomes adults wishing to study dance with its Dance For Everyone Community program.

We offer all levels of ballet from New to Ballet to Advanced on an ongoing drop in basis. Whether you always wanted to start or want to reconnect with a childhood hobby, your first class is free!

View class schedule at verbballets.org/classes.

Photo: Bill Naiman

Photo: Jackie Sajewski Sal Citro in class photos taken pre-COVID

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T E A C H E R

S P O T L I G H T

TEACHING WHAT YOU LOVE Kenya Woods, a native of Cleveland, has more than 20 years of experience in dance performance, choreography, teaching, and leadership. She has worked nationally and internationally at regional dance companies, universities, and school systems as an educator, performer, and choreographer. She comes from a family of musicians, visual artists, and creatives so it’s no surprise that she understood movement at early age! Kenya began lessons in a small neighborhood dance studio from the age of eight. After graduating from Tennessee State University with a degree in Dance, she went on to teach for many dance companies, schools and outreach programs including Pilobolus, Eifman Ballet/City Center, Broadway Dance Center and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Her passion and energy shine through in the classroom. We sat down with her to see how she approaches teaching students.

What skills does ballet teach you in addition to moving?

In addition to the physical body becoming stronger and more flexible, there are a whole host of skills a student can gain from ballet training. Class also trains us to be selfconfident. By moving at the barre or across the floor they learning to create an environment where respect is shared.

These are tools that students need whether in or outside of dance class. Amusingly, the dancers are having so much fun, they have no idea of the multitude of life skills they are learning.

What do you hope your students take away from your class?

As a teacher, I’m always encouraging students to become dancers! Whether a student comes to class for recreational fun or to become a professional, my hope is that they receive good training and experiences so they might have the freedom to choose their path. If a student wants to be a

Verb Ballets creates

dancer, then ballet classes are essential. Period! If they

an accessible

interests, dance is most likely going to offer wonderful

safe for students regardless of shape, race or gender

support! Either way, they will have a choice. It’s completely set up for success!

What is unique about the Dance for Youth program ?

Stereo-typically, ballet studios and teachers are seen as elite and exclusive. At Verb Ballets, we create a safe environment where every student has the potential to be great and succeed on their own merits while having fun.

We still work very hard, but we have a stress-free

Photo: Bill Naiman

environment that’s

decide they want to take class in addition to other

environment. The Dance for Youth program is in its third year and growing.

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verbiculture | May 2021

Ira Lefkowitz is 10 years old and going into sixth grade next year. He began dancing in the Dance for Youth program three years ago and has grown and enjoyed classes over the years. His parents enrolled him in dance because he is very physical and athletic. His parents wanted him to learn flexibility, agility and the discipline from dance. We asked Ira how he feels about ballet.

What is the most fun thing about dance?

Anything your parents want to add?

I like the motion in dance, it’s awesome and unique.

Ira studies many things and plays sports but of all of these different interests he is incredibly focused

How do you feel or what do you imagine when you

in dance class. I think all kids should take dance, and

take class?

frankly all adults too! Especially when there are

I feel confident and I just imagine I’m on a big stage

such supportive and kind teachers like everyone at

with everyone cheering for me.

Verb!

What do you want to do when you get older?

Dance teacher Ms. Kate described his studio work as...

I haven’t decided yet because there are 1 million

Ira is the epitome for a true DFYer- he is energized

things I want to be and I’m good at.

to learn and works hard every class. Both his maturity and technique have grown drastically since I've had him... I can't wait to see what this creative and talented young man's future holds!

Verb Ballets Center for Dance Youth Division provides dance classes for children ages 3-14. Classes will help them build a strong foundation for dance by improving coordination, strength, flexibility, musicality and good teamwork!

View classes for children at verbballets.org/youthclasses verbiculture | May 2021

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Photo: Jackie Sejewski (2021) Dancer: Emily Dietz

WAYS TO SUPPORT Please consider a tax deductible contribution to support Verb Ballets operations and dancers. Your contribution will help us move into this new year and a new reality with confidence. Together we can make an impact through dance.

To make a donation online by credit card visit verbballets.org/donate or call 216-397-3757 ext 2.

To make a donation by check please mail to Verb Ballets 3558 Lee Rd. Shaker Heights, OH 44120.

For details on how to contribute gifts of stock or securities contact Dr. Margaret Carlson at 216-3973757 ext 3.

For details on how to contribute to the Verb Ballets Endowment Fund at the Cleveland Foundation contact Dr. Margaret Carlson at 216-397-3757 ext 3.

Vintage'n'Things ONLINE AUCTION OF FABULOUS FINDS

Bid on auction items, exclusive experiences and donation to fund needs. https://tinyurl.com/3nzhse3c

AUCTION EXTENDED THROUGH MAY 9TH verbiculture | May 2021

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3558 Lee Rd. Shaker Heights, OH 44120 216-397-3757 l verbballets.org

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Contemporary Creations May 14, 2021 7:00pm ET Virtual Performance Director's Choice June 26, 2021 7:00pm ET The Breen Center for the Performing Arts Live Performance with socially distant seating Virtual Encore Sometimes, Always (2021) Photo: Jackie Sawjewski Dancers: Hunter Hoffman, Benjamin Shepard, Antonio Morillo, Sikhumbuzo Hlahleni