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 with you!