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Verb Ballets Performs Two Free Shows in Tremont

Three Family Favorites to be Performed at Lincoln Park in Tremont, Friday, August 11 and Saturday, August 12; Performances Begin at 8pm; Rain date: Sunday, August 13

CLEVELAND, Aug. 1, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Verb Ballets makes its debut at Lincoln Park in Tremont with three family favorites: a major revival of choreographer Heinz Poll's Bolero; Speed Racer, a modern version of the Icarus tale; and Planet Soup, the company's signature ethnic fusion ballet. Lincoln Park is located between West 14th and West 11th Streets; and between Kenilworth and Starkweather Streets in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio.

The program:

 -- Bolero (Major Revival) (Heinz Poll -- Maurice Ravel -- Christina
    Giannini) is set to the legendary Maurice Ravel score. The ballet
    blends Indian and modern dance styles while its drive, propulsion
    and intensity build with the score.

 -- Speed Racer (Repertory) (Cortez -- DJOkee -- Gino Ventura) is a
    family favorite of the Verb Ballet repertory. Speed and his 
    intrepid girlfriend, Trixie, take on another challenge as they pit
    their courage and skill against the villains of the universe. 
    Set to music by DJOkee.

 -- Planet Soup (Repertory) (Cortez -- Edward Sylvi) Set to
    contemporary world music artists, the company's signature piece
    unifies folk and vernacular dances from around the world in an
    athletic hybrid of movement styles, including Indian
    traditional, Irish reels and African rituals. The cross-cultural
    fusion also incorporates "Tinikling," the authentic Filipino
    folk dance in which dancers step between clapping poles. The
    original production of Planet Soup was created with funds from
    the National Endowment for the Arts, Pennsylvania Council on
    the Arts, Nee Dance Company and Purchase College Conservatory of
    Dance.

About Verb Ballets. Verb Ballets begins its fifth season under the leadership of Artistic Director Hernando Cortez and Executive Director Dr. Margaret Carlson, supported by its energetic staff and board of trustees, who have established it as Cleveland's premiere contemporary dance repertory company. Verb has been named as one of "25 to Watch in 2004" by Dance Magazine, the country's leading news magazine covering dance. Verb Ballets discovers, collects, interprets and stages choreography that matters to the region and to the world of dance. As a curator of expressive movement that is globally connected and nationally respected, Verb Ballets has a mandate to support and foster emerging talent, present excellence in contemporary choreographers, and revive and honor modern dance classics. Additional information may be found at www.verbballets.org.

                           The Company:
  Marcela Alvarez, Danielle Brickman, Kallie Marie Bokal, Ashley Cohen
  (Intern), Erin Conway, Richard Dickinson (Guest), Katie Gnagy, Jason
      Ignacio, Catherine Meredith, Brian Murphy, Anna Roberts,
                           Mark Tomasic

        Verb Ballets' Lincoln Park, Tremont 2006 Sponsors are:
      DANSKIN(tm), Silver Screen Media, Clear Channel Communications,
       PrimeZone Media Network, Levy Media Group, JAKPRINTS.COM

    Major Support: AHS Foundation, Abington Foundation, The National
   Endowment for the Arts, The George Gund Foundation, The Cleveland
     Foundation, The Kulas Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, The Laub
     Foundation, Lubrizol Foundation, Eva L. and Joseph M. Bruening
   Foundation, Kulas Foundation, The John P. Murphy Foundation, Charles
    and Sandy Abookire, Millie L. Carlson, Chuck and Ann Ennis, Norma
                   and Jeffrey Glazer, Aldona Titus

CONTACT:  Verb Ballets
          Margaret Carlson
          216-397-3757
          mcarlson@verbballets.org