Saturday evening highlights the company with the premiere of Sabatino Verlezza’s Winged. This new work supported by The O’Donnell-Green Music and Dance Foundation and set to original music by long-time collaborator Elliot Sokolov (NYC) Winged explores the individual’s courage and commitment to defy gravity, the odds of success, and the question “flying or falling?”

Joining the company are special guests and friends. Claire Porter (NYC) and Sabatino Verlezza combine their comedic talents in the dance theatre piece See You Around (2008) On Saturday, Porter also presents one of her critically-acclaimed signature solo works. Soprano Marla Berg performs the music of Strauss to accompany Verlezza’s premiere of the third section of his dance, Lasting Songs. Associate Artistic Director, Barbara Allegra Verlezza offers a restaging of her trio, Triptych (2005), with “nothing short of amazing” (The Plain Dealer) guest Allie Friedrich (MO).  Additionally, Allegra Verlezza will present her ensemble work, Broken Voices (2008), following the recent honor of being chosen to represent Kent State University at the Gala Performance of the 2009 North Central Regional American College Dance Festival Association.  Company member Sabatino A. Verlezza premieres Maercs (2009) based on Einstein’s thought, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” 

On Sunday afternoon, The School of Verlezza Dance and its outreach programs, supported by the professional company and guests, will perform explorations of world rhythms and voices in new works by the faculty, Artistic Director Sabatino Verlezza, Assistant Artistic Director, Tracy Pattison, Jill Forster and Sabatino A. Verlezza. The combination of the company, guest artists and students represent the many Voices of Verlezza Dance, reflecting the company’s rich history, its ongoing work with people of all abilities and its deep roots in the classical modern dance tradition.