Miami City Ballet Blog

Between photo shoots, basketball practice and  beating the L.A. Lakers last Sunday, Miami HEAT superstar Dywane Wade was able to catch up with us to discuss his experience working with MCB principal dancers Patricia Delgado and Jeanette Delgado.  Here is what he had to say!

Dwyane Wade and Patricia Delgado

Q:  Professional ballet dancers consider themselves artists first and athletes second. As top professional athlete at the top of your game, do you consider yourself an artist?

No. I don’t, but I could see where athletes can be artistic.  We both have to be very creative and we share something especially with our moves. The motion of us jumping in the air is of the same nature, so I can see why that comparison can be made.

Dwyane Wade and Jeanette Delgado

Q:  Professional ballet dancers must be strong, fast, possess great stamina, have great balance, be flexible, have quick reflexes, sometimes perform while injured, have the ability to jump high – all within a thin body type – and do this before huge live audiences. How do you relate to what ballet dancers go through?

We share a lot of the same traits. Obviously for us, it’s the same thing. We have to be strong and very flexible to prevent injury. There are a lot of similar things when it comes to the motion of how we are in the air. I’m not sure if it’s true, but I remember hearing about Dr. J. possibly doing ballet in the off-season, because it helps with the things that he did on the court.  I wish I had asked him about it.

Q: Describe how it was doing a photo shoot with Miami City Ballet principal dancers Jeanette Delgado and Patricia Delgado?

I don’t know how they do some of the things they do. It’s amazing! I respect everyone’s talents, because we all have different talents. I respect it. It was different, but definitely not a bad different for us.

Q:  Have you ever studied dance – or enjoy going out dancing?

No. Unfortunately I didn’t get that gene.

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Principal dancer Patricia Delgado takes over our Instagram feed this week! The Company does not perform this weekend, but there is no rest for the weary. Alexei Ratmansky is back in town working on Symphonic Dances! Patricia will give us the inside scoop through the magic of images!

© Gio Alma

Fun fact about Patricia: she loves to bake! It’s not uncommon to see treats in the dancers’ lounge with a sweet note from Patricia.

Kiwi coconut muffins made by Patricia on her day off.

The Company is back from a well deserved free day after a spectacular opening weekend at Adrienne Arsht Center!
This week, company manager Anne-Camille Hersh takes over our Instagram feed!  Her images will be from a perspective we rarely get to see — we’re excited for what’s to come!

Anne-Camille on her wedding day!

Fun fact about Anne-Camille: she comes from a circus family! Anne-Camille’s great-uncle founded a circus school in the 80’s. Her cousin became a juggler in that school and started his own circus! Anne-Camille worked with her cousin and his siblings, who are the set designer and manager, while she lived in France (where she grew up)! That was her start in arts management – lucky for us, she ran away with the ballet instead of the circus!

Principal dancer Jennifer Carlynn Kronenberg has certainly kept busy during her pregnancy.  Not only is she a soon-to-be-mom, but she is also staying active, taking ballet classes and raising money for Miami City Ballet’s Toe Shoe Fund.  With the help of Haute Couture fashion designer Ozcar G. and friends, she created the fashionable cause and opening night event Project Pointe.  The chic affair will raise money through a silent auction, which features exclusive, one-of-a-kind items including an original Ozcar G. Couture evening gown, hand decorated and embellished pointe shoes by Ozcar G., himself, original art work and photography, and jewelry.

All proceeds will support the Toe Shoe Fund and help Jennifer achieve her goal.

© YOBE Photography

“Pointe shoes are singularly the most significant tool that dancers rely on to perform at our best.  They are deceivingly fragile and no two pairs are exactly the same.  Miami City Ballet’s Toe Shoe Fund initiative raises critical funds to ensure that our dancers are equipped with a shoe supply abundant enough to match the ever increasing demands of our rehearsal and performance schedules.  Since we each wear our pointe shoes out differently, pointe shoes inevitably become a part of a dancer’s unique “footprint.” Every “dead” pair has served a ballerina in its own special way, and has helped to create countless inspiring moments.  There is no better way to make a ballerina smile than to give her a brand new pair of shoes — crafted to her own specifications, helping to keep her feet protected, supported and injury free. Please help to keep us smiling and on our toes!  Your support of MCB’s Toe Shoe Fund is personally appreciated by each and every one of us.”

Jennifer Carlynn Kronenberg
Principal Dancer

Project Pointe takes place at Adrienne Arsht Center’s Peacock Rehearsal Studio on Friday, October 19, 2012 — opening night of the 2012-2013 Season.  Those who place bids will be invited back to the Peacock Rehearsal Studio for a VIP cocktail and dessert reception after the performance, to make their final bids and claim their prizes. Click here to see the auction items.

The dancers are taking over MCB’s Instagram account for our guest photographer series! They will be posting lots of dancer activity,
so follow us and don’t miss a beat!

First up is corps dancer Leigh-Ann Esty!
Leigh will be controlling our Instagram account starting Monday, August 13th for one week
(which also happens to be choreographer Liam Scarlett’s first day back with the Company)!

Leigh-Ann Esty © Gio Alma

Fun fact about Leigh: she loves photography and often takes photos of the Company (such as these gorgeous shots).
Plus, she was published in National Geographic Traveler, when she won their 2008 World In Focus contest with this image of the Eiffel Tower.

Congratulations to principal dancers Jennifer Kronenberg and Carlos Guerra!
The two love birds (and dance partners) are expecting their first child in November!

Jennifer and Carlos met and fell in love at Miami City Ballet. Two years ago we sat down with the couple for our Valentine’s Day love series and asked them when we would hear the pitter-patter of little ballet shoes — their answer was one to two years. And here they are in 2012 with a baby on the way! Click here to see their charming Valentine’s Day interview.

As Program IV begins, we can’t help but look ahead to all the exciting things the 2012-2013 season will bring. We are especially excited to announce the dancers who have been promoted for the new season!

Please join us in congratulations the following dancers!

Promoted to Principal Soloist:

Promoted to Corps de Ballet:
Chloe Freytag
Kara White
Lexie Overholt

Please join us in welcoming Cristal Segura to MCB!

Cristal is from Albuquerque, New Mexico and has trained with DTSW, New Mexico Ballet and Interlochen Arts Academy. She joins MCB’s corps de ballet.

Look for Cristal onstage!

Click here to see the entire Company.

Click here to see our newly promoted dancers and those who have recently joined the Company.

Please join us in welcoming Maya Collins to MCB!

Maya, a San Francisco native who has trained at City Ballet School and School of American Ballet, has joined the corps de ballet. She has most recently danced with New York City Ballet.

Look for Maya onstage!

Click here to see the entire Company.

Click here to see our newly promoted dancers and those who have recently joined the Company.

Liam Scarlett’s new ballet is about two months away from its world premiere on the Adrienne Arsht Center stage! Before he went home to The Royal Ballet, Liam chatted with us about naming the plotless ballet and finally voiced the name of the piece!

Liam Scarlett’s new ballet premieres in January 2012 at Adrienne Arsht Center, followed by performances at Broward Center and Kravis Center. Click here for more information.