Miami City Ballet Blog

Miami City Ballet School runs year round – we never stop! Friday will mark the end of the two-week summer program (a program for dancers who are still too young for our five-week intensive program). A presentation will take place on that day to showcase what these little bright stars have learned over the past couple weeks. Rafi Maldonado, the head of our jazz department, recently chatted with us about the program and the kids.

Post by Toby Lerner Ansin, Founder of Miami City Ballet

Since the age of 6, when I put my hand on the ballet barre and did my first plié, I have had a passion for the art form.  I studied seriously until the age of 12, when I realized I had neither the talent nor technique for a professional dance career and decided I had better start thinking about going to college!

But even after I earned my bachelor’s degree, dance remained in my heart and I continued to study ballet and take class for my own enjoyment until the age of 40.  Although I no longer don pointe shoes, I still feel a special connection to all students who work hard every day to express themselves–and touch the hearts of others–through the medium of dance.  Ballet was, and always will be, one of the greatest loves of my life.  In my soul, I am a ballerina.

It gives me such pleasure to provide an opportunity for young people who share my passion for dance, and possess both talent and a good work ethic, to train with a world-class ballet school like Miami City Ballet School.

My greatest joy is watching the dancers with the School become members of the Company, like Jeannette and Patricia Delgado. I remember when they started at the school I said to myself, “keep an eye on those two, they are going to be special!”

Now, they are principals with the Company. Jeannette’s performance at City Center was named by The New Yorker as one of the top ten cultural events of 2009 and they have been photographed by Bruce Weber for W Magazine.  I want to be a part of making sure that others with talent like theirs have the means to reach their goals and make their dreams come true. My inner ballerina will continue to dance through the students.

My family knows me very well, and they gave me the most wonderful gift by creating this scholarship to honor me.  Nothing could have made me happier! The entire Ansin family is especially proud to follow the rising careers of Miami City Ballet School’s talented dancers.

I also want to give a special shout out to Andrei Chagas, the first Toby Lerner Ansin Scholarship recipient. Congratulations and keep up the great work!  I look forward to watching you on stage.  Bravo!

“A wealth of fresh talent is emerging… Numerous dancers who made impressions in solo roles included several who have graduated (from the company’s school and then its apprentice ranks) into the corps de ballet.” The New York Times, 2010

It’s that time of the year again when parents and friends from all over the world visit our studio theater to watch their favorite students in the Miami City Ballet School Student Showcase. With a program that includes George Balanchine’s Serenade and The Four Temperaments, the School is buzzing with excitement about the performances!

Dancers, who are now members of the Company, remember feeling the same rush as they prepared to dance in the Showcase.  Here are some faces you may recognize from our stage  — check them out in their MCB School days!

Rebecca King, Corps de Ballet

Ashley Knox, Corps de Ballet

Sara and Leigh-Ann Esty, Corps de Ballet

Elizabeth Smedley, Corps de Ballet, with MCBS faculty member Geta Constantinescu

Nicole Stalker, Corps de Ballet

Patricia Delgado, Principal Dancer

Jeanette Delgado, Principal Dancer

Bradley Dunlap, Corps de Ballet, with Sara Esty

Zoe Zien, Corps de Ballet

Christina is one of the students at MCB School who has been performing with the Company this Season. She moved to Miami just to attend the School and was presented with the opportunity to take the stage with our super human dancers!

Christina chatted with us about what is was like to relocate and how it feels to dance with Miami City Ballet.

The first-floor dancer lounge was buzzing with excitement as young ballerinas waited for their Freed of London pointe shoe fitting. “She was counting down the days,” said one of the ballet mothers. This is such an important time in a dancer’s life. After so many years in ballet slippers, students finally get into pointe shoes! Although the fitting itself may take extra time and effort with Freed’s careful attention to detail, it’s all worth it in the end. Soon these young dancers will be experts on pointe!

Post by Crista Villella, Ballet Mistress

The Nutcracker Intensive rehearsal week has come and gone, and I am happy to report that the kids know all of the choreography and proper rehearsal behavior. Every year they get better and better! My angels are close to perfect and my soldiers can count the music, which is really difficult to do. I couldn’t be more impressed! Diana, one of the Marie’s, just came from Cuba and doesn’t understand English. I don’t speak Spanish, but amazingly we communicate quite well despite the language barrier and she is doing great work. Mariana, the other Marie, knows every part in The Nutcracker. She may just have to take over my job one day! The two Fritz’s are best friends and they are so funny. As sweet as they are, they are always testing to see how much I will let them get away with. They certainly have the gift of charm. The best part of my day is when I see the little ones in the hallway and they light up and say, “Miss Crista!” as they run to give me a hug. What could be sweeter? I have a pretty cool job.

Miami City Ballet School offers an exciting new way for children ages 3 and 4 and their parents to have fun together while introducing the child to the very beginning steps in dance! A new Mommy and Me Music and Movement Class will be held on Thursdays from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., beginning tomorrow (September 10). To enroll or for more information call (305) 929-7007 or email school@miamicityballet.org.

Mommy and Me instructor Jeanne Elser Smith knows both dance and small children — she’s a former dancer at the Kansas City Ballet and Pennsylvania Ballet, has taught dance at the Massachusetts Youth Ballet, has a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education and has taught first grade for several years. We caught up with Jeanne and her adorable daughter Abby for a taste of Mommy and Me Music and Movement.

The time has come to bid farewell to the Summer Intensive Program students. The stage of MCB’s Lynn and Louis Wolfson, II Theatre was graced with the dancing of these young students yesterday as they showcased what they learned. The entire MCB building was buzzing with excitement. Five weeks of hard work was evident as the serious dance students, ages 12 years and older, displayed their abilities and strengths. Friends and family came from all over the world to watch their favorite dancer.

We are sad to see them go. During the past weeks, the studios and hallways were flowing with vibrancy and positive energy. It was something else to watch students who didn’t even speak the same language come together and form friendships. We’ve been chronicling the Summer Intensive through videos and pictures on MCB School’s Facebook page.

We look forward to having these bright dancers return next summer. Watch out for them! There are big things ahead for our students. Lucky for us, some of them will be training at MCB School during the Winter Program.

But we don’t have to wait until the Winter Program begins in September to have students in the studios! On Monday, the 2-week Summer Program (for 11 & 12-year-olds who are just starting on pointe) begins.