Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, who is a versatile and much sought-after choreographer, excels in creating full-length narrative ballets. Last spring, she created a reimagined version of Carmen for the talented dancers of Miami City Ballet that was set to a new arrangement of Georges Bizet’s score in addition to new music with a distinct Latin flavor by Juan Pablo … [Read more...]
Miami City Ballet looks energized in Kravis program as new director takes over
Into The Magic City was the first of the two programs that Miami City Ballet scheduled to be presented at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts — a big cut back from previous seasons. The show Feb. 28 was a solid program that included two George Balanchine works — the iconic and timeless masterpiece Serenade and the lively pas de deux Tarantella, as well as the world … [Read more...]
The season in dance, 2025-26: MCB remains infrequent visitor, but Palm Beach County’s dance season remains robust
The Palm Beach County performance season is just around the corner even though the oppressive heat and humidity of summer is still with us. When the weather is cool, Palm Beach comes alive with things to do and places to go and the season recommences with the joy of the performing arts, which are such an important part of the culture here. However, things have changed. … [Read more...]
MCB ends season in superb style at Kravis with ‘Spring Mix’
Miami City Ballet presented an outstanding lineup for its Spring Mix program earlier this month as the company wrapped up its much abbreviated season at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. The program was nicely balanced, offering artistic variety with a diverse range of choreographers and composers as well as beautifully showcasing the company dancers. The … [Read more...]
MCB’s Palm Beach presence smaller, but Balanchine was beautiful
Two weekends ago, the Miami City Ballet appeared for the first time in their now-abbreviated season at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts presenting just three performances of its second program, Winter Mix. The company’s offerings in Palm Beach have been dramatically clipped. Its previous seasons were composed of four different programs ranging from repertory shows … [Read more...]
Season Preview 2024-25: A reduced, but still-vibrant season of dance
Is this the fallout year for the performing arts? It is alarming to see the sparse offerings for the 2024-25 dance season, especially after the enormous struggle it was for the arts to survive the hardships imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope that this decline in performances is not a trend that will persist. A supreme effort must be made by all to get up off that … [Read more...]
MCB’s ‘Spring Mix’ boasts brilliant King premiere, Balanchine classic
The dancers of Miami City Ballet did themselves proud performing an exciting and strikingly different choreographic work in the company’s Spring Mix program at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts on March 23. Nestled between two more traditional-style works for the company to perform was the company premiere of visionary choreographer Alonzo King’s Following the Subtle … [Read more...]
MCB’s Winter Mix dazzles with ‘Firebird,’ ‘Concerto DSCH’
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...]