This Week at MCB—YoungArts Salon Series & Justin Peck in Studio

It’s been an exciting week at Miami City Ballet. Our dancers are wrapping up an intense few weeks in the studio rehearsing with choreographer Justin Peck, where they’ve been learning a brand-new ballet that will premiere during the final program of the 2014-2015 Season in March.

After getting a sneak peek into yesterday’s rehearsal, our team headed over to watch Justin speak at the YoungArts Salon Series in downtown Miami. During the discussion, titled, “The Art of Collaboration,” Justin, along with singer-songwriter and musician Sufjan Stevens, talked about their most recent partnership on the ballet, Everywhere We Go, which premiered earlier this year at New York City Ballet and featured a nine-movement orchestral score.

The discussion was an insightful look into what inspires Justin as an artist. He credits everyday life as one of his biggest muses; his love for experimenting with and mixing different art forms; and locally by the street art throughout Miami’s Wynwood and downtown neighborhoods.

In fact, the new work he’s choreographing on our dancers—Justin’s second with the Company—will showcase art design by the popular street artist Shepard Fairey – best known for his work on the Obama Hope poster and his large murals adorning local streets and establishments such as the Wynwood Walls and Wynwood Kitchen & Bar.

In a recent post on the MCB blog, dancer Michael Breedan notes, The company has developed a passion for new choreography in the past years, with choreographers like Alexei Ratmansky and Liam Scarlett making works on us. Justin’s new work promises to fulfill its dancers and audiences in the same way those great choreographers did. His ballets abound with fresh, exciting and innovative use of the corps and so many visually striking dance images that repeated viewings are practically a must. He has a musical response that actually enhances the score, rather than uses it for effect. Each step in his works unfolds naturally, with fluidity, grace and style.”

Our dancers wrap up rehearsal with Justin today, and we must say, we can’t wait for the finished product! 

Learn more about choreographer Justin Peck here.

And make sure to follow us on Instagram for exclusive looks into rehearsal with our dancers!

Justin and Sufjan on stage at the YoungArts Salon Series. Photo via @miamicityballet on Instagram.

Justin and Sufjan on stage at the YoungArts Salon Series. Photo via @miamicityballet on Instagram.