Media Contact: Mallory Evans Zakarin Martinez Public Relations [email protected] 305.372.2502
MIAMI CITY BALLET’S 2015-2016 SEASON OPENS OCTOBER 23 IN MIAMI, NOVEMBER 7 IN FORT LAUDERDALE AND NOVEMBER 13 IN WEST PALM BEACH
30th ANNIVERSARY SEASON HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE NEW PRODUCTION OF GEORGE BALANCHINE’S A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, PLUS THREE MORE COMPANY PREMIERES
NATIONAL TOUR ANNOUNCED WITH STOPS IN NEW YORK, CHICAGO AND MINNEAPOLIS
MIAMI BEACH, FL – (March 9, 2015) – Miami City Ballet’s 30th anniversary season opens this October with performances in its home theaters in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Naples and West Palm Beach, and a national tour with stops in New York, Chicago and Minneapolis.
The performance schedule is MCB’s most ambitious yet, with masterworks from the company’s strong George Balanchine foundation side-by-side with such leading modern choreographic voices as Twyla Tharp, Paul Taylor, Justin Peck and Liam Scarlett, all performed to live music provided by the distinguished Opus One Orchestra.
The season adds four major works to the company repertory, including an unprecedented new production of George Balanchine’s enchanting full-evening A Midsummer Night’s Dream, re-imagined as a reflection of the South Florida region by two international artists with ties to Miami.
Says Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez, “The ability to sustain high-quality art over thirty years while becoming an integral part of one’s home communities is a huge accomplishment, and one that we’re very proud of. While we revere our past, and our programming reflects this, we are also determined to take risks in order to share an abundance of exciting new works with excited new audiences.”
In this 30th anniversary season, interest in MCB across the nation has never been higher, with invitations to perform in New York, Chicago and Minneapolis. MCB Executive Director Michael Scolamiero says, “We look forward to presenting many of our signature works in some of the nation’s most prestigious venues, giving audiences in these cities the opportunity to see, first-hand, the excitement we are creating throughout North America this season.” MCB’s full tour schedule will be announced in detail this spring.
Program One opens the season with Swan Lake, George Balanchine’s one-act version of the most famous of all ballets, set to Tchaikovsky’s most dramatic and evocative score. This program also features the return of the audience favorite Viscera, a rhythmic and intensely physical work created on MCB by Liam Scarlett, widely considered to be England’s most promising new choreographer; and Fancy Free, Jerome Robbins’ and Leonard Bernstein’s breakthrough World War II ballet – the story of three sailors making the most of their 24-hour shore leave in New York City, and the basis for the hit musical On The Town.
Program Two showcases three choreographic masters: George Balanchine, Peter Martins and Twyla Tharp. Balanchine’s La Source, set to Léo Delibes’ exquisite musical score, enchants audiences with its re-creation of 19th-century French ballet elegance. Barber Violin Concerto is the company’s first work by long-time Artistic Director of New York City Ballet, Peter Martins. This thrilling company premiere is set to Samuel Barber’s romantic Violin Concerto, one of the most alluring and widely performed concertos of the 20th century. And MCB is happy to celebrate Twyla Tharp’s 50th anniversary as a choreographer by reprising her signature work In The Upper Room - a study of modern dance’s power and energy juxtaposed with the finesse of the classical tradition, set to Philip Glass’ driving postmodern score.
Program Three further broadens the horizons of MCB’s dancers with two additional company premieres including Justin Peck’s breakout ballet Year of the Rabbit, choreographed to music from Sufjan Stevens’ 2002 electronica-influenced album Enjoy Your Rabbit. The second premiere is one of Paul Taylor’s masterpieces, Sunset, performed to the haunting music of Edward Elgar and illustrating the complexities of love, camaraderie and separation experienced by six soldiers and the young women they leave behind. Closing this spirited program is Bourrée Fantasque, acclaimed as one of Balanchine’s most charming works. This big, vibrant, joyful ballet is set to the sparkling music of Emmanuel Chabrier – C’est Magnifique!
The acquisition of Year of the Rabbit is made possible by a generous contribution from the Ansin Foundation in honor of the 75th birthday of Miami City Ballet Founder Toby Lerner Ansin and in celebration of Miami City Ballet’s 30th anniversary season.
Program Four brings MCB’s landmark 30th anniversary season to a crescendo with an unprecedented new production of Balanchine’s magical full-evening ballet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Shakespeare’s timeless tale of love, magic and illusion, set to ravishing music by Felix Mendelssohn – including the famous Wedding March - is re-imagined as a reflection of the South Florida region by two international artists with ties to Miami: Michele Oka Doner for original costumes and sets, and playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney for dramatic direction.
With a fairytale cast that includes 24 children and six vocalists, magical new sets and costumes, and the breathtaking Miami City Ballet dancers, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a dazzling spectacle for families and audiences of all ages.
Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez says, “I am overjoyed to bring Mr. Balanchine’s 1962 magical masterpiece, A Midsummer Night’s Dream to dancers and audiences. It is perhaps the most brilliant narrative ballet of the 20th century and an additional gratification for us: the central role of Oberon was created on our Founding Artistic Director, Edward Villella. To present a reframing of this work is a perfect example of Miami City Ballet, a company steeped in tradition, with our eyes on the future.”
The title sponsors of A Midsummer Night’s Dream are Claudia and Steven Perles.
George Balanchine’s The NutcrackerTM returns in December to all four of MCB’s home venues. Miami City Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker has become a beloved tradition throughout South Florida, and is the perfect holiday treat for the entire family, featuring a winter wonderland of dancing snowflakes, sugar plum fairies and epic battles between heroic toy soldiers and mischievous mice. This lavish production includes magnificent scenery, elaborate costumes and a blizzard of snow – all performed to the magical music of Tchaikovsky.
And ring in the holiday season with Nutcracker Magic, a fun-filled children’s gala for the entire family taking place December 19th at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami, and December 28th at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. For information and sponsorship opportunities, contact [email protected] or call 305.929.7000 x1506.
Subscriptions for the 30th anniversary season are available now, starting at just $36. Single tickets go on sale in July, starting at just $20. Programs may be subject to change.
Premier Subscribers receive advance access to the best seats for all 4 repertory productions, enjoy VIP invitations and save up to 15% off the regular ticket price. Renew today or get on the waitlist for the ultimate ballet experience – call 305.929.7010, toll-free 877.929.7010 or visit miamicityballet.org.
Create Your Own Series and pick the schedule that works for you! Select 2 or 3 shows and save up to 15% off the regular ticket price. Renew today or get on the waitlist to see more ballet, your way – call 305.929.7010, toll-free 877.929.7010 or visit miamicityballet.org.
About Miami City Ballet: Hailed by The New York Times as “one of America’s most beloved dance companies,” Miami City Ballet is led by Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez. The Company has 50 dancers and a repertoire of nearly 100 ballets. The Company performs for 120,000 patrons annually during its South Florida home season in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Naples, and tours to top theaters domestically and internationally. Among the Company’s notable achievements have been critically acclaimed seasons in Paris and New York City and the nationally televised PBS THIRTEEN special: Great Performances - Dance In America: Miami City Ballet Dances Balanchine and Tharp.
Miami City Ballet is headquartered in Miami Beach, Florida at the Ophelia & Juan Js. Roca Center, a facility designed by renowned architectural firm Arquitectonica, and home to Miami City Ballet School serving 1,500 students annually through its community division and elite pre-professional ballet training academy.
MEDIA CONTACT: Mallory Evans / [email protected] Zakarin Martinez Public Relations / 305.372.2502
Major funding for Miami City Ballet is provided by a New Works Grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and by the Ford Foundation. MCB performances, outreach and education activities are made possible by the generous support of The Rockefeller Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts: Artworks, The Shubert Foundation, Louis B. Mayer Foundation, B Carlin Foundation, and The Miami Foundation.
The Company is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. Miami-Dade County support is provided by Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners with additional support provided by the City of Miami Beach, Cultural Affairs program, and the Cultural Arts Council. Palm Beach County support is provided in part by the Board of County Commissioners, the Tourist Development Council and the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County. Broward County funding is provided in part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council and Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. Miami City Ballet is a registered trademark of Miami City Ballet, Inc.
PROGRAM ONE
Swan Lake (Balanchine/Tchaikovsky) Viscera (Scarlett/Liebermann) Fancy Free (Robbins/Bernstein)
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts Broward Center for the Performing Arts Ziff Ballet Opera House Au-Rene Theater Miami, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL
October 2015 November 2015 Friday, October 23 at 8 pm Saturday, November 7 at 8 pm Saturday, October 24 at 8 pm Sunday, November 8 at 2 pm Sunday, October 25 at 2 pm
Artis-Naples Kravis Center for the Performing Arts Frances Pew Hayes Hall Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall Naples, FL West Palm Beach, FL
November 2015 November 2015 Tuesday, November 10 at 8 pm Friday, November 13 at 8 pm Saturday, November 14 at 2 pm & 8 pm Sunday, November 15 at 1 pm
PROGRAM TWO
La Source (Balanchine/Delibes) Barber Violin Concerto* (Martins/Barber) In The Upper Room (Tharp/Glass)
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts Broward Center for the Performing Arts Ziff Ballet Opera House Au-Rene Theater Miami, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL
January 2016 January 2016 Friday, January 8 at 8 pm Saturday, January 16 at 8 pm Saturday, January 9 at 8 pm Sunday, January 17 at 2 pm Sunday, January 10 at 2 pm
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall West Palm Beach, FL
January 2016 Friday, January 29 at 8 pm Saturday, January 30 at 2 pm & 8 pm Sunday, January 31 at 1 pm
* Company Premiere
PROGRAM THREE
Year of the Rabbit* (Peck/Stevens) Sunset* (Taylor/Elgar) Bourrée Fantasque (Balanchine/Chabrier)
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts Artis-Naples Ziff Ballet Opera House Frances Pew Hayes Hall Miami, FL Naples, FL
February 2016 February 2016 Friday, February 12 at 8 pm Tuesday, February 16 at 8 pm Saturday, February 13 at 8 pm Sunday, February 14 at 2 pm
Broward Center for the Performing Arts Kravis Center for the Performing Arts Au-Rene Theater Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall Fort Lauderdale, FL West Palm Beach, FL
February 2016 February 2016 Saturday, February 20 at 8 pm Friday, February 26 at 8 pm Sunday, February 21 at 2 pm Saturday, February 27 at 2 pm & 8 pm Sunday, February 28 at 1 pm
* Company Premiere
PROGRAM FOUR
A Midsummer Night’s Dream** (Balanchine/Mendelssohn)
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts Kravis Center for the Performing Arts Ziff Ballet Opera House Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall Miami, FL West Palm Beach, FL
March 2016 April 2016 Friday, March 18 at 8 pm Friday, April 1 at 8 pm Saturday, March 19 at 8 pm Saturday, April 2 at 2 pm & 8 pm Sunday, March 20 at 2 pm Sunday, April 3 at 1 pm
Broward Center for the Performing Arts Au-Rene Theater Fort Lauderdale, FL
April 2016 Saturday, April 9 at 8 pm Sunday, April 10 at 2 pm
** Company Premiere / New Production
GEORGE BALANCHINE’S THE NUTCRACKERTM
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts Broward Center for the Performing Arts Ziff Ballet Opera House Au-Rene Theater Miami, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL
December, 2015 December, 2015 December 17-24 December 11-13
Artis-Naples Kravis Center for the Performing Arts Frances Pew Hayes Hall Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall Naples, FL West Palm Beach, FL
December, 2015 December, 2015 December 5-6 December 27-29
Miami City Ballet - Home Theater Addresses:
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County Ziff Ballet Opera House 1300 Biscayne Blvd. Miami, FL 33132
Broward Center for the Performing Arts Au-Rene Theater 201 S.W. Fifth Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall 701 Okeechobee Boulevard West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Artis-Naples Frances Pew Hayes Hall 5833 Pelican Bay Boulevard Naples, FL 34108