Schubert Melodies

Melodies

Dr. Margaret Carlson, Producing Artistic Director

Richard Dickinson, MFA, Associate Artistic Director

Verb Dancers

Emily Dietz, Sikhumbuzo Hlahleni, Kelly Korfhage, Lieneke Matte, Antonio Morillo, Benjamin Shepard, Kate Webb International Cultural Exchange Artist: Bryan Andres Salinas

Apprentices: Isaac Hileman, Kia Jimmy

Director of Marketing & PR

Jennifer Garlando

Promotional Video

Wasted Talent Media

Videographer

John Alexander

Photography

Kolman Rosenberg

Jackie Sajewski

Bill Naiman

Susan Bestul

Director Verb Center for Dance

Richard Dickinson, MFA

Coordinator, Dance For Everyone & Youth Programs

Christina Lindhout

Education & Outreach

Desmond Davis

Company Teachers

Kay Eichman

Pam Pribisco

DeAnn Sandel

Company Administrative Manager

Spring Healy Grantwriter

Nakiasha Moore-Dunson

Finance Michelle Gregorczyk

Development: Special Projects and Operations Benjamin Shepard

Board of Directors

Hema Steele, President

Antwon Duncan-Milczewski, Vice President

Frederick Lautzenheiser, Secretary Mary Anne Garvey, Treasurer

Dr. Margaret Carlson

Laura Cleveland

Mario Clopton-Zymler

David M. Dusek*

James P. Farley *

James D. Graham Leslie Kaufman

James F. Koehler^

Debra Light

Deborah L. Neale

Joanne Morscher

Richard Rinehart Jr. Charles Sheehe

Robert M. Shwab

Anna Soskic

^Leave of absence

Past Presidents*

Jeri E. Chaikin

David Pierce

Ann Ennis

Advisory Board

David & Carola Bamberger

Deborah Coleman 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

COMPOSER BIOGRAPHY

Franz Peter Schubert

Franz Peter Schubert (d. 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Despite his short lifetime, Schubert left behind a vast oeuvre, including more than 600 secular vocal works (mainly lieder), seven com plete symphonies, sacred music, operas, incidental music, and a large body of piano and chamber music.

Born in the Himmelpfortgrund suburb of Vienna, Schubert showed uncommon gifts for music from an early age. His fa ther gave him his first violin lessons and his elder brother gave him piano lessons, but Schubert soon exceeded their abilities. In 1808, at the age of eleven, he became a pupil at the Stadtkonvikt school, where he became acquainted with the orchestral music of Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven. He left the Stadtkonvikt at the end of 1813, and re turned home to live with his father, where he began studying to become a schoolteacher. Despite this, he continued his studies in composition with Antonio Salieri and still composed prolifically. In 1821, Schubert was admit ted to the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde as a performing member, which helped establish his name among the Viennese citizenry. He gave a concert of his own works to critical acclaim in March 1828, the only time he did so in his career. He died eight months later at the age of 31, the cause officially attributed to typhoid fever, but believed by some historians to be syphilis.

Appreciation of Schubert’s music while he was alive was limited to a relative ly small circle of admirers in Vienna, but interest in his work increased greatly in the decades following his death. Felix Mendelssohn, Robert Schumann, Franz Liszt, Johannes Brahms and other 19th-century composers discov ered and championed his works. Today, Schubert is ranked among the greatest composers in the history of Western music and his work continues to be admired.

DIRECTOR’S NOTE

Welcome back to The Breen Center for the Performing Arts!

A year ago, Marian and Eric Klieber emailed me to say that they would like to meet about an idea for a project. As we talked, they shared their love of Schubert’s Octet in F Major and thought that it could lend itself to the creation of a new ballet. I explained that our season was already set for 21-22 but that 22-23 would be ideal. Before leaving they told me that they would like to commission a ballet to the Octet and that they wanted it to be played to live music. Although it was a year away, they handed me a check which we promptly put into the bank for safe keeping.

As I thought about the shape the new ballet could take, I began to wonder about what ballet looked like in the 1820’s which was just the nascence of the Romantic Era. The more famous ballets of that era, Giselle and Pas De Quatre although still well known today were created after Schubert’s death. During Schubert’s lifetime, ballet was drawn from folk forms and court dances. With input from the Kliebers, I invited Richard Dickinson and Kay Eichman to co-choreograph the one-hour long work. Both of them come from the classical ballet world and have had years of experience with its many styles and choreographers. I provided them with sources and books about the period and knew that they would both honor the period and bring a contemporary view to the interpretation. Kay choreographed movements 1, 3, and 5, while Richard choreographed movements 2, 4, and 6. And together, they have made for a great team, building off each other in shaping the work.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Kliebers, on behalf of the entire organization for trusting in us with their generosity and idea

Dr. Margaret Carlson Producing Artistic Director

Verb exemplifies this ideal, preserving the tradition of classical ballet while exploring new avenues of expression within the art form.

-Eric Klieber

Schubert Melodies

The Breen Center for the Performing Arts

2022 7:30pm

Schubert Waltzes (1974)

Choreography: Heinz Poll Music: Franz Schubert, selections from Waltzes Op. 9

Pianist: Adam Whiting

Restaged by: Richard Dickinson

Original Lighting: Thomas R. Skelton

Original Lighting Adaptation: Trad A Burns

Lighting Design: Adam Ditzel

Original Costume Design: A. Christina Giannini Costume Reconstruction: Janet Bolick

Red Couple Kate Webb Sikhumbuzo Hlahleni

Green Couple Kelly Korfhage Antonio Morillo

Brown Couple

Lieneke Matte Benjamin Shepard

Schubert at the piano, with his inexhaustible wealth of dance melodies, gathered his friends around him, dancing and playing jokes. The term Schubertiade, invented for this kind of get-together, is now solidly established. Musically, these waltzes remain extremely rewarding, and in a teaching situation, offer a solid rhythm, a variety of moods and key-signatures, and a joy of musicmaking which are hard to match. This work was last played for Ohio Ballet by Music Director, David Fischer who was the only person to play the work since the ballet was created in 1974. He passed away in 2020.

Octet in F Major (2022 World Premiere)

Choreography: **Richard Dickinson and ***Kay Eichman

Music: Franz Schubert, Octet in F major, D. 803

Musicians: Members of the BlueWater Chamber Orchestra

Lighting Design: Adam Ditzel

Costume Concept: Dr. Margaret Carlson Costume Construction: Janet Bolick

Emily Cornelius, violin Diana Pepelea, violin Laura Shuster, viola Linda Atherton, cello Henry Samuels, bass Amitai Vardi, clarinet Phillip Austin, bassoon Kent Larmee, horn

Emily Dietz, Sikhumbuzo Hlahleni, Kelly Korfhage, Lieneke Matte, Antonio Morillo, Benjamin Shepard, Kate Webb Bryan Andres Salinas, Isaac Hileman, Kia Jimmy

**Richard Dickinson: 2nd, 4th and 6th movements ***Kay Eichman: 1st, 3rd and 5th movements

Commissioned by Marian and Eric Klieber

The Octet in F major, D. 803 was composed by Franz Schubert in 1824. It was commissioned by the renowned clarinetist Ferdinand Troyer and came from the same period as two of Schubert’s other major chamber works, the ‘Rosamunde’ and ‘Death and the Maiden’ string quartets. In response to a reported request by Troyer for a work similar to Beethoven’s Septet, Op. 20, Schubert composed the Octet. The work was first performed at the home of Troyer’s employer, the Archduke Rudolf (to whom Beethoven’s Archduke Trio is dedicated) and included many of the musicians who premiered the Septet. The Octet boasts the largest scale for any chamber work by Schubert. It is scored for a clarinet, a bassoon, a horn, two violins, a viola, a cello, and a double bass. This instrumentation is similar to that of the Beethoven Septet, differing only by the addition of a second violin.

Thank you for joining us this evening.

The program is one hour and forty five minutes.

CHOREOGRAPHER BIOGRAPHIES

Richard Dickinson, MFA, Associate Artistic Director

Please see director biographies.

Kay Eichman

Kay Eichman received her early ballet training from Pat Leclercq in New Orleans. She later studied on full scholarships at: The National Ballet, Washington DC; The National Ballet of Canada; The Conservatoire de Nice, France; and Joffrey’s American Ballet Center in New York.

Kay left the Joffrey II company to join Cleveland Ballet under the directorship of Dennis Nahat and Ian Horvath, in its inaugural season. A distinguished 15-year career ensued, including principal and soloist roles in numerous traditional and contemporary works. Among these were Theme and Variations, The Four Temperaments, Agon, Concerto Barocco, Serenade, Rodeo, Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet and The Nutcracker. She also had the opportunity to perform at the prestigious Edinburg Fringe Festival in Scotland. Kay spent one season in Germany as Principal Guest Artist with the Geissen Ballet.

Ms. Eichman has served on the faculties of The Minnesota Ballet, The University of Akron (UA) Dance Program, Cleveland School of the Arts (CSA), and University of Akron (Dance Institute). She is currently Ballet Mistress at Tri-C Creative Arts Dance Academy and an adjunct faculty member at Cuyahoga Community College. Ms. Eichman is the recipient of 2016-2017 School of American Ballet National Visiting Fellow. Kay was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for her personal commitment, consistent dedication, and teaching excellence from Tri-C. She was named Outstanding Teacher by Dance Institute and received an Appreciation Award from CSA for commitment dedication and outstanding works. In addition to teaching and choreographing, Kay teaches company class for Verb Ballets where she had the pleasure of setting her choreography. Kay has served on the faculty of IABD conference and has taught at Joffrey Ballet Summer Session. Eichman has participated as a talent judge throughout the United States with “Dance Caravan, Dance Explosion”, “Dynamite”, and others.

Heinz Poll

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.

ARTISTIC BIOGRAPHIES

Adam Ditzel, Lighting Designer

Adam is returning to the world of performing arts after working full-time with a corporate audio/visual company for the past few years; and is happy to be creating with Verb Ballets again. Past Verb Ballets design credits include: Contemporary Creations, Akron Legends of Jazz and Dance, Danceworks 2019, and Dance Legacy. This fall and winter, Adam’s work can be seen at Magical Theatre Company, Near West Theatre, and Akron University school of Dance. Adam holds a degree in Lighting Design & Technology from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). He is currently based in Cleveland where he just bought a house with his loving girlfriend, Corinne.

Sarah Bailey, Stage Manager

Sarah Lynne Bailey (Stage Manager) has a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Arts Management from Baldwin-Wallace College. She has worked as a theatre artist across Northeast Ohio, having previously served as Resident Stage Manager for Dobama Theatre and Cleveland Public Theatre. Recently, Sarah Lynne has been bringing a long-time dream to life; she and her partner/husband Doug have co-founded Theatre Agápe, an inclusive community devoted to putting our service where our art is.

MUSICIAN BIOGRAPHIES

Adam Whiting

Adam Whiting is a coach/accompanist at the Cleveland School of the Arts. Until recently, he was a staff accompanist at the Cleveland Institute of music; he was hired for this position upon graduation from CIM in the spring of 2005 with a double-masters degree in piano performance and accompanying. After 20 years and purchasing 5 properties in Cleveland, he considers himself a transplant, but still spends summertime in the Pacific Northwest to see family and friends and accompany the Oregon and the Japan-Seattle Suzuki Institutes.

Emily Corneliu

Violinist Emily Cornelius is an active freelance performer. Currently Principal Second Violin of the BlueWater Chamber Orchestra and Concertmaster of the Heights Chamber Orchestra, she is also a member of the Canton Symphony, the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, and the Lancaster Festival Orchestra. Emily has appeared frequently as guest concertmaster for the Erie Philharmonic, and as acting concertmaster of both the Canton Symphony and the BlueWater Chamber Orchestra. She is also a dedicated violin teacher, maintaining a large private studio from her home in Cleveland.

Diana Pepelea

Diana Pepelea, violin, is a member of the Cleveland Ensemble, Canton Symphony, CityMusic Cleveland, and the BlueWater Chamber orchestra. She often serves as concertmaster at Playhouse Square for traveling Broadway shows and performs with the Akron Symphony and Alabama Symphony. She has won many competitions in her native Romania and attended the Interlochen Arts Academy. Ms. Pepelea earned a Bachelor of Music degree from CIMand a Master of Music degree from Carnegie Mellon University. Her summer engagements include the National Repertory Orchestra, Spoleto USA, Blossom Festival Orchestra, Festival Mozaic, and Artosphere Festival.

BIOGRAPHIES

Laura Shuster

Laura Shuster, viola, is Principal Viola for BlueWater Chamber Orchestra, as well as other groups in NE Ohio. She is Instructor of Viola at Cleveland State University and also maintains a full-time private violin and viola studio. An active freelancer in NE Ohio, she holds degrees in music from CIM and the Peabody Institute and a degree in religion from CWRU.

Linda Atherton

Linda Atherton, cello, is a graduate of Boston University, where she studied with Leslie Parnas. She has been soloist with Trinity Chamber Orchestra, Cleveland Chamber Symphony, Euclid Symphony and BlueWater Chamber Orchestra. Linda is an active Cleveland freelancer and plays in many groups including BlueWater Chamber Orchestra, The Cleveland Pops, and for many of the Broadway shows at Playhouse Square.

Henry Samuels

Henry Samuels, double bass, has performed across the US, China, Europe, and Japan with orchestras, including the Akron Symphony, The Cleveland Orchestra, The Sapporo Symphony, and the BlueWater Chamber Orchestra. He enjoys playing chamber music with M.U.S.i.C. Stars in the Classics, Opus 216, and Classical Revolution. In addition he performs folk music specifically specializing in Jewish folk music and is the new director of the klezmer ensemble at The Music Settlement. Henry received a Bachelor of Music from Boston University and a Professional Studies Certificate from CIM, studying with TCO principal bassist Max Dimoff.

Amitai Vardi

Clarinetist Amitai Vardi serves as Associate Professor of Clarinet at Kent State University. He holds the position of principal clarinet with the Blue Water Chamber Orchestra, the Erie Philharmonic, and the Lake Placid Sinfonietta. Vardi has performed as a substitute with many orchestras, including the American Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, The Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, and The Cleveland Orchestra, with which he has performed well over 150 concerts including many tours.

Phillip Austin

Phillip Austin was a member of The Cleveland Orchestra for 30 years following 9 years with the Detroit Symphony. He has taught bassoon at the Cleveland Music School Settlement and Cleveland State University. He enjoys collecting clothing buttons and belongs to several button clubs societies. He has two grown sons, Sam and Ben, and has been married to Emily since 2011, a member of the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus

Kent Larmee

Kent Larmee, horn, is an associate professor at Kent State University where, in addition to teaching graduate and undergraduate horn, he performs with the Kent Brass and Wind Quintets. He has also served on the faculties of The University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, Hiram College and Denison University. As an active performer, he has played with Columbus Symphony, The Cleveland Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony, Akron Symphony, Burning River Brass, and many others. Mr. Larmee holds degrees in Music Education and Horn Performance and Pedagogy from OSU.

DIRECTOR 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 19851993. 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 Fairmount 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 vice-president 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. She received her doctorate from Durham University in the United Kingdom.

Richard Dickinson, MFA, Associate Artistic Director

Richard Dickinson, Verb’s Associate Artistic Director, has been with the company in various capacities for over ten years.He is a former dancer with Ohio Ballet. After being director of the touring company he was promoted to Associate Artistic Director. Dickinson’s extensive dance career includes principal and soloist roles at Ohio Ballet, Boston Ballet, Chicago Ballet, Honolulu City Ballet, and various regional companies. At age fifteen, Richard joined the Pasadena Dance Theatre and was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Emerging Choreographer Award for a work performed 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 tour with Rudolf Nureyev. He has served as Artistic Associate for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and as Artistic Director of Ballet Western Reserve in Youngstown, OH, Chamber Dance Theatre in Milwaukee, WI, and Great Lakes Festival Ballet in Warren, OH. He has also directed Ballet Boston II. Dickinson has adjudicated several regional Dance America festivals held through the country. He received his MFA in Contemporary Dance from Case Western Reserve University in 2005.

DANCER BIOGRAPHIES

Emily Dietz, Company Dancer

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 and has been featured in works such as Rococo Variations and Triptych.

Sikhumbuzo Hlahleni, Company Dancer

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 in California 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 joined 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.

Kelly Korfhage, Company Dancer

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.

Lieneke Matte, Company Dancer

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 was also a dancer in the documentary No Dominion: The Ian

DANCER BIOGRAPHIES

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 Dancer

Antonio is a first-generation Cuban American born in Corral Springs, 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 and Hudson Conservatory of 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 Andante Sostenuto, Aposiopesis, World of Another, and Bolero.

Bryan Andres Salinas, International Cultural Exchange Program Dancer

Bryan Andres Salinas began his dance studies at the age of 10 at the Colombian Institute of Classical Ballet (Incolballet). In addition to studying ballet at Incolballet, he studied Colombian dances, contemporary dance, jazz, and salsa. After graduating high school, he participated in programs at Earl Mosley’s Diversity of Dance, Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, and Manhattan Youth Ballet. In 2015, he joined the Incolballet classical ballet company under the directorship of Jose Manuel Ghiso, where he danced in regional festivals and toured both nationally and internationally. During his time with the company, he worked with choreographers Anabelle Lopez Ochoa, Tatiana Martinez, Ruben Bañol, Viviana Hurtado, and Marcos Rodriguez. He was also a founding member of the Fundación Ballet Capital company under the direction of Julian Garay. Bryan joined Verb Ballets in 2022 as a part of Verb’s International Cultural Exchange Program. He will be sharing South America’s dance traditions with Verb Ballets.

Benjamin Shepard, Company Dancer

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 Paganini Rhapsody.

DANCER BIOGRAPHIES

Kate Webb, Company Dancer

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 magna 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 Aposiopesis and Eight by Benny Goodman.

Isaac Hileman, Apprentice

Isaac Hileman was born and raised in Dallas, Texas where he began his dance training with the Dallas Ballet Center. Attending summer intensives such as Ballet Chicago, Miami City Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet allowed him to deepen love for performative dance and envision a professional dance career. He continued his dance training at the University of Oklahoma, where he graduated in the Spring of 2021 with a BFA in Ballet Performance. While at OU, he loved getting to explore a wider variety of dance styles and techniques and was privileged to perform repertoire by Alejandro Cerrudo, Nilas Martins, Willam Christensen, Marianna Oliviera, and Gerald Arpino, as well as classical pas de deux and original choreography set by the faculty. Isaac ioined Verb Ballets in 2021 this is his second season..

Kia Jimmy, Apprentice Kia Jimmy is of the Canadian Thunderchild First Nation which is of the Plains Cree Tribe and is equally proud of her Japanese heritage. She began her dance training at the age of seven and has done many summer intensives including Royal Winnipeg Ballet. At age 16 she was accepted to Alberta Ballet School’s Professional Division and continued her training in their Post-Graduate Program under the direction of Murray Kilgour, Janet Tait and Edmund Stripe. Following (Kia Jimmy Cont.) graduation in 2019, Kia joined US International Ballet as a trainee for two seasons where she had the opportunity to perform Giselle and Alice in Wonderland. Kia joined Verb Ballets 2021 this is her second season.

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ARTISTRY IN ACTION

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. salutes Verb Ballets and its continuing mission to ignite audience passion and foster a vibrant center for contemporary dance in the Northeast Ohio community.

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VERB BALLETS GENEROUS SUPPORT

The Carlson Trust Eric & Marian Klieber Kenneth Milder

The Laub Foundation Leslie Kaufman & Scott Cowen

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 GENEROUS SUPPORTERS

Impresarios $45,000+

The Cleveland Foundation

Presidents Club $20,000-$44,499

Cuyahoga Arts & Culture

The George Gund Foundation

Eric & Marian Klieber

The Carlson Trust Akron Community Foundation Ohio Arts Council

The Director’s Circle $10,000-$19,999

The Char & Chuck Fowler Family Foundation

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.

The Figgie Foundation

James D. Graham & David M. Dusek

J.P. Farley Corporation

The Donald M. and Mary E. Jenkins Family Trust

John P. Murphy Foundation

Peg’s Foundation

Shah Capital and Marius Pharmaceuticals

Underwriters $5,000-$9,999

GAR Foundation

Jones Day

Koehler Fitzgerald LLC Robert & Tuya Shwab Leslie Kaufman and Scott Cowen

Benefactor’s $ 1,000-$4,999

Susan Beck

Denver Brooker and Richard Dickinson Laura Cleveland and Eric Stimpert

Antwon and Jason Duncan-Milczewski

Kristine Elliot

Ann & Charles Ennis Judy and Richard Fox

Mary Anne Garvey & Dr. A.J. Cianflocco Jane Sembric

Lubrizol Corporation

David and Katie Koch Frederick Lautzenheiser Karen Lewis Anonymous

Troy McCarty & Raudel Napoles Ken Milder

Joanne Morscher Deborah Neale Anonymous

Judith Wolfe & Robin Richmond Charitable Fund Richard Rinehart Robert S. Perry

Marianne Lax & Charles Sheehe

Hema & Shaylor Steele

Anonymous

Stephen & Rita Todd Vocon Design

The Laub Foundation Margaret W. Wong

Sponsors $500-$999

Robert Faxon

Michael Fleenor & George Graham in honor of James D. Graham & David M. Dusek Jean Frank Jim & Marilyn Furry Carol J.P. Griffith

Louis & Sylvia Rosenblum Memorial Philanthropic Fund

The Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation

Cleveland-Cliffs Legal Dept. in honor of James Graham Robert and Johanna Matte Adam Munson and Maureen Frey Kristin and Pete Morrison Charlene & Marv Nevans Jennifer Pavlish

Dr. Bradford & Margaret Richmond Richard & Alita Rogers Family Foundation Kathy Moses Salem Barbara & John Schubert Lorraine and Joseph Szabo Kim Marie White in memory of Nan Klinger Carrie Wilson Brian Wynne & Pat Cozzens

Patrons $250-$499

The Alexander Family Phil & Debra Canuto Karen Carcione

Anndria Ciabattoni Christine Cooper Mac and Libby Dang Audrey DeClement Tim Downing and Ken Press

Jim Edwards En Pointe Danse

Jeannie Fleming-Gifford Kathy Bogue Harris Craig Hoffman Elissa & Gary Okin Debra Light & Bruce Sherman

Tredegar Corporation

Karen Peereboom

VERB GENEROUS SUPPORTERS

Paul Secunde

Peter Selover

Bob and Susan Webb

Friends $100-249

Christine Anthony

Victoria Baldwin-Bauer

Lynda Bender

Jeffrey & Antje Bogart

Diana Borcz

Mindy Carter and Sally Clem

Jeri Chaikin

Chung-Fu Chang in honor of Ming-Fe Chang

Pauline Chen in honor of Richard Dickinson & Antonio Morillo

Tammy Currier

Barbara Danforth Michael and Jan Devereaux

Mimi Davisson in honor of Ben Shepard

David M. Douglass Stephen & Kathryn Fellman

David V. Foos

Robb Forward

Jen & Jenee Garlando Deborah Glosserman William Graham Jen Herman and Brett Bell Nancy Hartman Ruth Kabat Stephen Kadish Kathryn Karipides

Emily Koritz

George Leggiero

Sandi and Mike Hurley Fran Jacobs

Lois Jeavons

Mamie Johnson

Martin Kohn & Marcia Silver Kelly Korfhage Marie & Gary Korfhage Marcia & Terry Madden

Yolanda Maddox

Tricia and Mark Mallett Mary Beth Manning

John & Norine Prim Albert Reid in honor of Jeannette Leentvaar David Reithoffer

William B. Watterson and Melissa Richmond Butch Robbins

Kolman Rosenberg

Jackie Sajewski

Peggy and Mike Saxon Toni & Donald Scherzer Anonymous Denise Seyranian Cathy Sheehe and Mark Butler in honor of Chuck Sheehe and Marianne Lax John F. Shelley Sarah and Frank Shepard Christine Skalko

Anna Soskic Carol Spackey Karin Stone

Jeffrey and Rebecca Talbert DoraRae Vactor Carole Walters Mary Warren Jorene Whitney Paulette Ziegfeld Mary Zoller

Supporters Up to $99

David & Carola Bamberger Emma Petrie Barcelona Patricia Cangelosi-Williams Mary & Martin Chang Barbara Conforti in honor of Richard and Denver Carolyn and Marj Craft Robert Cutler Joyce Daugherty Kimara & Robert DiSalvo Julius and Jinida Dorsey Richard and Guliz Elliot David Gannon Joan Grace Debra Gressel Elizabeth Gruber Beth and Keith Hileman Erin Hopkins Melissa Jones Janice B. Jones Cindy Kennedy in honor of Pam Pribisco Pavia Lewis Helen Liggett Diane Link MaryLou Marek and Ray Miller in memory of Robert Anthony Donna McCafferty Dianne McIntyre

Eberhard & Denise Molesch

Deborah Monaco

Marla Mulkey in honor of Emily Dietz

Frances & Derek O’Brien

Roger A Olsen

Anonymous

Allen and Lynn Pfenninger

Joanne Poderis

Catherine Puckett

Annemiek Rademaker-Matte

Chris Rander

Barbara Robinson Brian Robinson

Arlene Rosenberg

Thomas Sabella

Wilma Salisbury

Fran & Louis Schaul Luke Secosky Michael J. Seider

Dale Shirer

Janus Small & Associates LLC Krista Smith Pamela Strang in memory of Robert Anthony Cheryl Stump Steve Szilagyi & Jodi Kanter Janice Terradotter Peggy Thompson Karin Tooley

Kate Webb Berk & Alex Berk Ellen & Andy Webb Laura Whalen

Verb Endowment Fund

$10,000+ Ken Milder

Below $10,000

Dr. Margaret Carlson

Robert & Tuya Shwab James Koehler Mary Anne Garvey & Dr. A.J. Cianflocco Leslie Kaufman & Scott Cowen Frederick Lautzenheiser

Verb engages people through bold performances rooted in contemporary ballet and strives to be a vital community asset by providing access to dance opportunities and education in the Great Lakes region and beyond.

Photo: Jackie Sajewski