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...]
‘I’m Old Fashioned’ leads off MCB’s Program II with exceptional elegance
Who was dancing with brilliant ease with Miami City Ballet at Kravis Center for the Performing Arts a couple weekends ago? Why, it was Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth gliding across the stage in a sweeping waltz. Projected larger-than-life on a huge screen, they introduced I’m Old-Fashioned, Jerome Robbins’ tribute to the silver screen and the glamorous, bygone golden age … [Read more...]
MCB in fine form for evening of Balanchine, Taylor
Miami City Ballet adroitly launched its new season with the first of four diverse programs at the Kravis Center earlier this month. With a plethora of new dancers on the roster and some well-deserved promotions within the company ranks, MCB was in excellent form. Fully energized and technically strong, the company members took on the challenges of the different dance … [Read more...]
Season Preview 2019-20: ‘Firebird,’ new local works among dance season highlights
From dancing gauchos to stately ballerinas and innovative tap dancers to body-bending modern movement-makers, South Florida’s 2019-2020 dance season takes off in full swing by early October. With holiday staples such as The Nutcracker, venerated classics such as The Firebird and new programming including Puremovement American Street Dance Theatre in venues from Miami to West … [Read more...]
Beautiful, visually lavish ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ ends MCB season
The visually lavish production of George Balanchine’s evening-length ballet A Midsummer Night’s Dream closed out Miami City Ballet’s 2018-19 season in the Palm Beaches last week. This revisit of the $2.1 million reimagining of the original work was something to behold. The spectacular set and costumes were by artist Michele Oka Doner, who looked to the Miami waterways for … [Read more...]