What could be more apropos for Miami City Ballet than to finish off their performance season with a program that highlighted George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins? The strong performance on May 13 at the Kravis Center gave pause for reflection on the different styles of the two iconic choreographers. As usual, the company’s dancing was in top form in this last program, … [Read more...]
Balanchine’s ‘Divertimento No. 15’ comes off freshest in MCB’s third program
With the catchy title of Fresh & Fierce, Miami City Ballet opened its third program of the season at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami on April 14-16 (The program was also performed at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach from April 21-23 and the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale from April 29-30). Adhering to the present artistic mission of the … [Read more...]
MCB gives resplendent survey of master choreographers
Miami City Ballet gave a sparkling performance Feb. 18 at the Kravis Center in presenting its "Modern Masters" program. One might have expected to see a work by master choreographer George Balanchine, especially as the company itself is an offshoot of his New York City Ballet and most MCB repertory programs include at least one of his works. But this program was the … [Read more...]
Season Preview 2022-23: The season in dance
This past summer was particularly hot and grueling everywhere, but the gradually arriving change in the weather will also usher in a very cool South Florida season of dance. Here are the details: Miami City Ballet: The ballet company has big plans for its 2022/23 season of dance. Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez, who has been leading the organization for the past 10 seasons, … [Read more...]
In MCB’s season-ender, couples, soloist Peters stand out
Miami City Ballet hedged its bets for the last program of season by presenting the world premiere of an elaborately ambitious collaborative work together with the company premieres of two acclaimed contemporary pas de deux and a dated repertory warhorse --- George Balanchine’s The Prodigal Son. It was an evening of strong performances by all the company dancers, but the … [Read more...]
Glittering ‘Jewels’ was true treasure at Miami City Ballet
Miami City Ballet shared a glittering jewelry box with us March 18 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts by presenting a treasure: Jewels. This iconic ballet, which is performed by numerous ballet companies around the world, was choreographed for New York City Ballet in 1967 by George Balanchine who always claimed that, despite the title, his evening-length ballet … [Read more...]
MCB’s ‘Swan Lake’: A monumental feather shakeup
Today, it’s hard to imagine that Swan Lake, the most iconic evening-length ballet, was not a success when it was first created in 1877. It is now -- without a doubt -- the most respected of classical ballets and it is the pinnacle of achievement for a ballet company to have a successful version in the repertory. Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez makes no bones sharing what an … [Read more...]
Season Preview 2021-22: The season in dance
By Dale King South Florida dancers of every ilk — sidelined for more than a year by a show-stopping coronavirus pandemic — have been polishing their skills, dance shoes and ballet slippers, anticipating a mass return of live performances to stages from Miami to Jupiter in the very near future. Miami City Ballet (MCB) has confidently announced its 2021-22 “Sunshine in … [Read more...]
Season Preview 2020-21: COVID stifles dance, but live shows set for 2021
By Dale King Performance stages throughout South Florida that would normally host all sorts of dance programs this time of year are silent, dark and vacant. Producers have dismissed dancers, sent staff home and barred patrons from entry as COVID-19 has rudely slammed the door on art forms of all genres. While most dance companies have replaced live shows with online … [Read more...]
Sumptuous ‘Firebird’ a treat at MCB
The central focus of Miami City Ballet’s Program Three, performed Feb. 21-23 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, was concentrated on the brand-new staging for the newly acquired ballet Firebird. The production itself was visually resplendent with its translucent and mystical 3D special effects and its vibrant and rich costumes, sets and lights. It was a sumptuously … [Read more...]