(Continuing miamiartzine's season announcements of arts organizations, we bring you Miami City Ballet)
In the Night
Tricia Albertson and Didier Bramaz, Choreography by Jerome Robbins, Photo by Kyle Froman.
How many times have we seen "The Nutcracker." Probably as many times as a young ballerina has dreamt of playing the sugar plum fairy. But, this season, Miami City Ballet’s 32nd season is going to give us a new production of George Balanchine’s "The Nutcracker®" to chew on. Designed by acclaimed Cuban-American designers Isabel and Ruben Toledo, it's just one of the many highlights in the ballet's tribute season.
MCB opens on Oct. 20, 2017 with a 50th Anniversary celebration of George Balanchine’s "Jewels," the first time the company has performed Balanchine’s masterpiece in a decade.
The season will pay tribute to Jerome Robbins, one of America’s most celebrated choreographers, in honor of the 100th Anniversary of his birth. MCB will present six acclaimed works, including the company premieres of "Circus Polka," "The Cage and Other Dances,: and the return of company favorites "The Concert (Or, the Perils of Everybody)", "In the Night" and "West Side Story Suite."
But, the crown jewel of the season will be the new production of "The Nutcracker®" with vibrant, magical sets and costumes, but, of course, retaining Balanchine’s iconic choreography and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's cherished score. Projection designer Wendall K. Harrington and lighting designer James F. Ingalls, who helped create "The Fairy’s Kiss," will round out the artistic team.
The new "Nutcracker®" is a co-commission with The Music Center in Los Angeles, and will have its premiere at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Dec. 7 – 10, 2017. The Miami premiere on Dec. 15 will be preceded by a gala dinner and post-show cast party on stage.
West Side Story Suite
Renan Cerdeiro, Reyneris Reyes and Renato Penteado, Choreography by Jerome Robbins, Photo by Daniel Azoulay.
The New York Times called MCB “an exceptional troupe, by Balanchine standards, anywhere in the world.” Reflecting that excellence, the season features the return of three additional Balanchine works:
The lavish "Theme and Variations," set to the soaring music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky; "La Valse," featuring 34 dancers with gripping music by Maurice Ravel, and "Apollo," one of Balanchine’s earliest international successes and his first collaborations with Igor Stravinsky.
A world premiere by Brian Brooks, inaugural Choreographer in Residence at the Harris Theater in Chicago, will feature a commissioned score by Michael Gordon, American composer and co-founder of "Bang on a Can." Known for his contemporary work in dance and theater, Brooks expands his adventurous collaborations with classically trained dancers, in his first piece for MCB.
West Side Story Suite
Miami City Ballet dancers, Choreography by Jerome Robbins, Photo by Alberto Oviedo.
Alexei Ratmansky’s triumphant "The Fairy’s Kiss" had its world premiere at MCB last season. MCB continues its collaboration with the acclaimed Russian-American choreographer with the company premiere of Concerto DSCH, an amazingly inventive and exciting ballet, set to a seething Dmitri Shostakovich piano concerto. Alastair Macaulay in The New York Times had this to say: “Its dances pour forth in a continuous stream of galvanizing excitement and affectionate intimacy…The most captivating classical ballet I have seen in years.”
The company’s 53-member roster for the 2017-18 season includes several promotions, including Jennifer Lauren to principal, Lauren Fadeley to principal soloist and Ashley Knox to soloist, and the addition of seven new dancers: former longtime MCB dancer Katia Carranza will return as a principal dancer, Alexander Peters as a principal soloist and Eric Beckham, Julia Cinquemani, Aaron Hilton, Harrison Monaco and Alyssa Schroeder as corps de ballet dancer.
Miami City Ballet performs in three locations across South Florida: in Broward, Miami - Dade and Palm Beach counties. Further details on performance schedules, prices and venues is available at miamicityballet.org
Photo (LEFT):Jewels Rubies
Tricia Albertson and Renato Penteado, Choreography by George Balanchine, Photo by Alberto Oviedo. (RIGHT): Jewels Diamonds
Lauren Fadeley and Jovani Furlan, Choreography by George Balanchine, Photo by Alberto Oviedo.
Program One
Jewels(1967)
- October 20 – 22 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Miami.
- October 28 - 29 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Fort Lauderdale.
- November 17 – 19 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, West Palm Beach.
Emeralds
- Music by Gabriel Fauré.
- Choreography by George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust.
Rubies
- Music by Igor Stravinsky.
- Choreography by George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust.
Jewels Emeralds
Jeanette Delgado and Reyneris Reyes, Choreography by George Balanchin, Photo by Alberto Oviedo.
Diamonds
- Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
- Choreography by George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust.
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker
- December 7 – 10 at The Music Center, Los Angeles.
- December 15 – 24 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Miami.
- December 28 – 30 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, West Palm Beach.
West Side Story Suite
Miami City Ballet dancers, Choreography by Jerome Robbins, Photo by Alberto Oviedo.
- Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
- Choreography: George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust.
- Scenic & Costume Design: Isabel and Ruben Toledo.
- Lighting Design: James F. Ingalls.
- Projection Design: Wendall K. Harrington.
Program Two
Jerome Robbins Celebration
- January 12 – 14 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Miami.
- January 27 – 28 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Fort Lauderdale.
- February 2 – 4 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, West Palm Beach.
West Side Story Suite
Miami City Ballet dancers, Choreography by Jerome Robbins, Photo by Alberto Oviedo.
Circus Polka(1972)
- Music by Igor Stravinsky.
- Choreography by Jerome Robbins.
The Cage(1951)
- Music by Igor Stravinsky.
- Choreography by Jerome Robbins.
Other Dances(1976)
- Music by Frédéric Chopin.
- Choreography: Jerome Robbins.
In the Night(1970)
- Music by Frédéric Chopin.
- Choreography by Jerome Robbins.
West Side Story Suite(1995)
- Music by Leonard Bernstein.
- Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
- Choreography by Jerome Robbins.
- Co-choreographed by Peter Gennnaro.
Program Three
- February 9 – 11 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Miami.
- March 2 – 4 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, West Palm Beach.
- March 17 – 18 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Fort Lauderdale.
Theme and Variations(1947)
- Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
- Choreography by George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust.
The Concert (or, the Perils of Everybody)(1956)
- Music by Frédéric Chopin.
- Choreography by Jerome Robbins.
Brian Brooks World Premiere(2018)
- Music by Michael Gordon.
- Choreography by Brian Brooks.
Program Four
- April 6 – 8 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, West Palm Beach.
- April 13 – 15 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Miami.
- April 28 – 29 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Fort Lauderdale.
The Cage Nathalia Arja and Kleber Rebello, Choreography by Jerome Robbins, Photo by Alberto Oviedo.
Concerto DSCH(2008)
- Music by Dmitri Shostakovich.
- Choreography by Alexei Ratmansky.
Apollo(1928)
- Music by Igor Stravinsky.
- Choreography George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust.
- Music by Maurice Ravel.
- Choreography George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust.
La Valse(1951)
Miami City Ballet, now in its 32nd season, has been led by Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez since 2012. Lopez was recently named one of “The Most Influential People in Dance Today” by Dance Magazine.
MCB was founded in 1985 by Miami philanthropist Toby Lerner Ansin and Founding Artistic Director Edward Villella. The Company has 51dancers and a repertoire of more than 100 ballets.
Premier Subscribers receive advance access to the best seats for all four repertory productions, save up to 15 percent off the regular ticket price, get free ticket exchanges and more. Subscriptions are available by calling 305-929-7010 or toll-free 877-929-7010, or online at miamicityballet.org/subscribeSingle tickets for the season, including George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®are available at the box office, by calling 305-929-7010 or 877-929-7010 (Monday – Friday, 10 am – 5 pm) or online at miamicityballet.org. For more information, miamicityballet.org
