On a recent Saturday evening, Miami City Ballet’s performance began pre-curtain with the music of The Firebird filling the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. It was pleasing to sit back and let all your thoughts fall away as the live music rose from the orchestra pit. Looking up at the stage, there was a glorious, gigantic tapestry that reached to the full height of the … [Read more...]
New MCB principal approaches art with authenticity
By Hannah Deadman From the time she was 8 years old, Dawn Atkins knew she wanted to dance ballet. Now at age 29, she’s one of Miami City Ballet’s newest principal dancers — the highest rank a dancer can earn in a professional company. Atkins grew up in small-town Vermont. Although her early childhood in Middletown Springs wasn’t filled with the arts, her parents … [Read more...]
New dancers help reinvigorate MCB’s Balanchine, Tharp in ‘Fall Mix’
I caught the Fall Mix performances by Miami City Ballet at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts on Nov. 5 and it was a satisfying starter for what is being offering up for the 2023-24 season. On display was the most beautiful of “plotless” ballets, the most dynamic of “crossover” ballets, as well as a brand-new work by a most promising choreographer. There was a … [Read more...]
2023-24 Season in Dance: A rich and varied lineup on tap
The lineup for the upcoming season of dance in Palm Beach County is looking full and varied. Sprinkled throughout our regular favorite dance events, there will be some not-to-be-missed repeats of last season’s highlights as well as some exciting performances that are here for only one night. Miami City Ballet Miami City Ballet begins the season early, performing the first … [Read more...]
‘Square Dance’ falls flat, but ‘Symphony’ soars in MCB’s season closer
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...]