PERFORMANCES
Ballet Excel Ohio graces the Akron Civic Theatre stage each spring with original storybook ballets for audiences of all ages. These performances fulfill BXO's mission of hosting pre-professional ballet productions danced for children, by children.
In March 2023, the company performed Snow White, choreographed by Laszlo Berdo, and Miss Spider's Tea Party, choreographed by James Sewell for captivated audiences.
COMING MARCH 2025
BXO will present Peter Pan, choreographed by Laszlo Berdo, March 15 & 16 at the Akron Civic Theatre. Stay tuned for more information!
BXO ON TOUR
Each season, since 1976, Ballet Excel Ohio travels throughout the region, performing annually for more than 9,000 audience members. It is the company's opportunity to make art accessible by bringing it directly to schools, libraries, and local venues. When performing in schools for young audiences Ballet Excel provides a curriculum guide which addresses the themes, story and arts objectives suitable for Common Core Curriculum standards.
Upcoming Performances
For more performance announcements and up-to-date information about community performances, join our newsletter and follow us on social media @balletexcelohio.
August 2-3, 2024 - Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival
Performing Do-Be-Do choreographed by James Sewell. Music by The Swingle Singers.
August 8, 2024 - Performance collaboration with the Mustill Store, W. North St. & Howard St.
Performing an original jazz piece choreographed by Mary Sherman. (Rain Date: August 15, 2024)
HAPPY
Choreographed by Tom Gold
Music by Vitamin String Quartet
I LOVE SHAPES
Choreographed by Tom Evert
Music by Sebastian Anthony Birch
This virtual performance was made possible by a collaboration between Ballet Excel Ohio and the wonderful people at the City of Cuyahoga Falls Parks & Recreation Department. Both the City of Cuyahoga Falls and Ballet Excel Ohio are striving to find ways to safely bring art and entertainment to the community in these uncertain times. Please enjoy the show!
Choreographed by Ohio native and world renowned choreographer Tom Evert, “I LOVE SHAPES” celebrates the elementary forms of lines, circles, triangles, and squares in a dynamic modern dance. This imaginative and innovative ballet brings basic shapes to life through a visually stunning performance. It was conceived as a means of introducing young audiences and classically trained young dancers to the concepts of modern dance which tend to be more abstract, through the use of basic shapes familiar to them. Rather than tell a story as a traditional ballet might, it paints a visual picture using the shapes which the dancer’s movements create. Through interweaving and juxtaposing the basic shapes, a multilayered, three-dimensional texture emerges. The dancers create levels of energy from tranquility to frenzy through their movements as set to the mood ranges of the music.
“I LOVE SHAPES” was the first modern work to be added to the repertoire of Ballet Excel Ohio, formerly the Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet, and the first commissioned for a youth ballet.
Choreographed by Tom Evert
An Original Modern Ballet
World Premiere: March 10-11, 1989
(Akron Civic Theatre, Akron, Ohio)
Reprise: August, 18 2020
( Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio)
Original Score by Sebastian Anthony Birch