Thanks to the economic havoc wreaked on the local dance scene years ago, the primary dance season in town has become spring — when Cleveland Public Theatre’s Dance Works series debuts — and summer, when Tremont’s Arts in August and other festivals return. But Dance Cleveland’s efforts to bring some of the country’s most prominent companies through town and the entrepreneurial efforts of our many small companies combine to keep dance on the fall calendar.
ANTAEUS DANCE
216.486.2874, antaeusdance.com
Joan Meggitt’s company was busy last weekend, with performances at
PlayhouseSquare’s Dance Showcase, Tremont’s Arts and Cultural Festival
and Cleveland Public Theatre’s Pandemonium. They get a little break
before their next Cleveland performance, a program called Home
Front (Nov. 20-21) at Tremont’s Pilgrim Congregational Church. The
program includes new choreography by Meggitt, Marissa Glorioso and
Jenita McGowan, as well as works from the company’s repertory.
DANCE CLEVELAND
216.991.9000, dancecleveland.org
Cleveland is a frequent stop for top dance companies, thanks to
Dance Cleveland, which begins its season with an American dance icon,
the Paul Taylor Company. Founder Taylor performed with the Martha
Graham, Merce Cunningham and George Balanchine companies before forming
his own troupe to build on their modern tradition. PTDC comes to EJ
Thomas Hall Saturday, October 3. Then it’s Doug Elkins’s dance
treatment of The Sound of Music, “Fraulein Maria.” Elkins
conceived the piece while watching the classic movie musical with his
young son, adding references to movements from major modern
choreographers and producing a winking but still respectful send-up of
the ever-popular musical. It’s November 20-21 at PlayhouseSquare’s
Hanna Theatre.
GROUNDWORKS DANCETHEATER
216.691.3180 ext. 2, notsoobvious.com
David Shimotakahara’s company continues to create new work with
musicians and choreographers from around the country, and this weekend
completes a two-weekend run of another such piece: the world premiere
of “Valence,” with movement by Groundworks artistic associate Amy
Miller and music by Oberlin professor Peter Swendsen. Also on the
program are KT Niehoff’s “Tipping Point“ and Shimotakahara’s
“Open Seating.” They’re at the Akron Ice House at 8 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday.
INLET DANCE THEATRE
216.382.0201, inletdance.org
The season’s first production for the growing company is an
hour-long, family-friendly concert followed by a meet-the-dancers
reception. It’s October 3 at the Church of the Savior in Cleveland
Heights.
MEGLOUISE DANCE
616.502.1019
After performances at Ingenuity in July and as part of Cleveland
Public Theatre’s Pandemonium last weekend, MegLouise Dance sets out
with the musical duo Cloud Nine to produce their own show Friday,
October 2, in the Galleria at Erieview.
VERB BALLETS
216.397.3757, verbballets.org
St. Ignatius High School’s new Breen Center for the Performing Arts
is the venue for Verb Ballets’ first production of the season (Oct.
10). It features works new to the company by major 20th-century
American choreographers Merce Cunningham, Martha Graham and Terence
Greene, plus works from Verb’s repertory by George Balanchine, Ulysses
Dove and Ohio Ballet founder the late Heinz Poll.
This article appears in Sep 16-22, 2009.