Event Description

Experience the transformative power of dance as Ohio Contemporary Ballet, formerly Verb Ballets, returns to Playhouse Square with an evening of artistry that redefines the boundaries of ballet. The program features Paul Taylor’s Airs (1978), celebrated for its "astounding lyricism and breathtaking beauty" and performed to the timeless music of G.F. Handel, showcasing the dancers' exceptional technique and seamless movement. Nycole Ray’s, Opaque, brings a mysterious and majestic aura, exploring hidden depths through dramatic choreography and flowing black skirts. Her work has been featured at the International Black Dance Festival, in Vienna, Austria and Lincoln Center’s Out of Doors Festival. The evening also includes the premiere of a new company commission by Gordon Peirce Schmidt set to Janáček’s 1.X., a raw and emotionally charged composition. The New York Times hailed him as "a very important new find of a choreographer" with a strong classical foundation. Rounding out the program is a world premiere by Avree Walker, whose dynamic choreography masterfully combines contemporary techniques with captivating lyricism.