Sabatino Verlezza
Artistic Director, Verlezza Dance. Kent State University, Guest Instructor (2007) He holds an M.F.A. (Dance) from the University of Michigan (1979), a B.A. (Dance) from the State University of New York at Brockport (1977) and an A.A. degree from Orange County Community College, NY, (1975). He danced professionally with the May O’Donnell Dance Company in New York City from 1979-1988 1988 and with the Joyce Trisler Danscompany, Glenn-Lund Dance, Sophie Maslow, Norman Walker and Janet Soares/Dances among others. In 1988, he established his own company comprised of former O’Donnell, Maslow and Trisler dancers entitled, Verlezza Dance. He has choreographed, directed and taught for many companies, including the Joyce Trisler Danscompany (NYC) and Joffrey II (NYC). Sabatino taught at Marymount Manhattan College, NYC (1992-1994) and Dowling College, New York (1988-1994) and has been guest artist/faculty at numerous universities. In 1994, he became Artistic Director/Choreographer for Dancing Wheels, where he also served as principal dancer and faculty member until 2003. Sabatino with Barbara were the 2003 recipients of the CCBMR/DD Inclusion Award and the Northern Ohio Live Achievement Award in Dance. As Artistic Director and choreographer of Verlezza Dance, he continues present lecture/performances and main stage concerts as well as teaching classes, workshops/residencies. With Barbara, he co-directs/instructs the Creative Movement/Dance program at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation and the Euclid Adult Training Center for senior adults with developmental, physical and sensory disabilities. In 2005, Sabatino established a partnership with the City of Shaker Heights and the First Unitarian Church of Cleveland where he opened a studio, School of Verlezza Dance, offering classes with a full range of curriculum, age and ability levels for students with and without disabilities. A certified Pilates instructor, he extends his teaching approach to broaden his philosophy of arts and wellness.
Barbara Allegra Verlezza
Associate Artistic Director, Verlezza Dance and Assistant Professor, Kent State University (2005-present: Kent Artist in Residence (2004-05: Kent Visiting Assistant Professor (2003-04): Kent Guest Instructor (2002 . Following the completion of her education at the University of Michigan with a B.S. in Education of Dance (1975) and her M.F.A. degree in Dance (1978), Barbara danced professionally in New York City with the May O’Donnell Dance Company from 1979-1988. In NYC, she also danced with the Joyce Trisler Danscompany, Sophie Maslow, Norman Walker and Verlezza Dance. From 1981-1994, she taught in the Dance Department of Adelphi University, New York, under the direction of Norman Walker. In 1994, she relocated to Cleveland, Ohio to work with Dancing Wheels, o a professional company of dancers with and without disabilities; for nine years, she served as Associate Artistic Director, Education Director, principal dancer, faculty member and from 1994-1999 Since 2003, Sabatino and Barbara, as Directors of Verlezza Dance, have continued unique partnerships teaching and directing the Creative Movement/Dance Classes at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation (through Masterpiece Kids) as well as with the Euclid Adult Training Center for senior adults with developmental, physical and sensory disabilities through the Cuyahoga County Board of Mental Retardation/Developmental Disability where they were honored with the 2003 Inclusion Award (under the auspices of Dancing Wheels). In 2003, they were also the recipients of the Northern Ohio Live Achievement Award in Dance and, most recently, Barbara was honored with the 2005 Dance Teacher Magazine Award for Outstanding Teacher in Higher Education. She continues to co-teach summer programs with Sabatino in New York and in their own studio, School of Verlezza Dance, In Ohio. Barbara returned to Cyprus for a second time, to teach a Summer Intensive in July 2007.
Tracy L. Pattison
Assistant Artistic Director, Verlezza Dance. Originally from New York State, she holds a Bachelor of Science, cum laude, in Dance and Exercise Physiology from State University of New York at Brockport where she was awarded the Friars’ Foundation Scholarship for Performing Artists. Her professional credits include dancing, in both the US and Canada. Her choreography has been presented in New York, Toronto and Cleveland. She is one of the co-founders (with Malgorzata Nowacka) of the critically acclaimed Chimera Project in Toronto, Ontario. Ms Pattison relocated to Cleveland in 1999 to join Dancing Wheels (a professional integrated Dance Company) under the direction of Sabatino Verlezza. She served as Principal Dancer, Tour Manager and Faculty. She was part of the creation process and danced many original rolls for Sabatino until 2003. Since that time Ms. Pattison has taught, preformed and administrated for Verlezza Dance, and is currently Assistant Artistic Director. Tracy has enjoyed her return to chorography with work for Summer Dance Workshops 2005 and 2007, Snow Tails 2005, 2006, 2007. Tracy has enjoyed her return to choreography for Verlezza Dance with work for Summer Dance Workshop 2005, Snow Tails 2005 and 2006 and collaborating with Sabatino on various works for Opera Circle. A Certified Pilates Instructor and Licensed Massage Therapist, she runs her own company, The Inspired Body LLC.
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