With great joy in their steps, Cleveland School of Dance students performed their annual Spring Performance, Simply Artistic, on May 23, celebrating the school's ninth season at Playhouse Square Center. Under the direction of the school's director, Gladisa Guadalupe, and music director, Lawrence Minadeo, the students, ages four to 18, demonstrated a variety of techniques: Pointe, Character, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary and Spanish Dance. 

Simply Artistic transported the audience into a journey of enchantment via the 10 beautiful and creative acts choreographed by Guadalupe, Libby Lubinger, Alba Topulli, Kyle Primous, Michael Medcalf and Markian Komichak. This year's Spring Concert was dedicated to two of the school's most dedicated and committed dance students, Alexandra De Leon and Alexis Spooner, both of whom are seniors and who departed the Allen Theatre stage with beautiful bouquets of flowers. 

Cleveland School of Dance was founded after the departure of Cleveland San Jose Ballet and the closing of the School of Cleveland San Jose Ballet in November 2000. The school, operated by former faculty, accompanists and staff, aims to educate its students by offering them quality dance training and intensive instruction in the highly structured and disciplined techniques of dance and its related arts. The training creates a refined sensitivity and developed appreciation for the unique art of classical ballet among the students of both the Community and Professional divisions of the School.

For students in the Community division, basic motor skills, elementary ballet vocabulary, creative movement, as well as musical concepts are skillfully developed while instilling discipline and enhancing attention span. Students in the Professional division are offered comprehensive dance training comprised of vital principles important to the development of today’s dance students. The techniques learned at the professional division are fundamental elements necessary for the development of a multitalented student. 

The Cleveland School of Dance offers its Summer Intensive Program June 22 through July 18, with an In-studio Workshop Presentation on July 17.  Contact www.clevelandschoolofdance.org or 216-320-9000.

Julie Comber-Martin