This week, Corps dancer Chloe Freytag takes over our Instagram feed as we count down the days to our opening of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™ at The Broward Center. You might have seen Chloe gracing the pages of SEVENTEEN Magazine earlier this year as one of five “Pretty Amazing” real-girls. We will see how Chloe fares behind the lens as she captures all of the backstage secrets that make MCB’s production of The Nutcracker so magical. Follow us this week to get into the holiday spirit!
(c) Gio alma
Fun fact about Chloe: She is the youngest dancer in the company!
Here is a picture of Chloe being featured in SEVENTEEN Magazine.
We are PRETTY impressed!
Mother Commedia has big shoes to fill! With a skirt weighing 50 POUNDS that houses 8 polichinelles underneath, creating this character is quite a production. Find out some of the backstage secrets about becoming Mother Commedia in this video. Or, watch Mother Commedia perform LIVE during Miami City Ballet’ s classic production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™.
Corps dancer Neil Marshall takes over our Instagram feed this week as the company works with the young, talented Liam Scarlett on his second world premiere for MCB. Neil first joined the company in 2007 and returns to MCB this season after one year dancing with Oregon Ballet Theatre. We are so happy to have him back!
(c) Gio Alma
Fun fact about Neil: According to the dancers, Neil has quite the affinity for baking…especially cakes, cookies and ice cream. Yummy!
Aldeir Monteiro is extremely busy as a Miami City Ballet School Scholarship Apprentice. Yet, between daily ballet classes, rehearsals and performances with BOTH the company and school, he is finding some time to snap shots for our Instagram feed this week. Aldeir will document his busy balancing-act between the company and school as MCB prepares for performances of Program I: Fire and Ice at the Kravis Center this weekend (Nov. 30-Dec.2).
Aldeir taking company class
Fun fact about Aldeir: Before he started to dance, he did artistic gymnastics.
Alexei Ratmansky, has arrived to revitalize ballet.”
—The New York Times
It was a rigorous but rewarding week at Miami City Ballet’s studios. The renowned choreographer from Russia Alexei Ratmansky visited the company to prepare his work Symphonic Dances for its return to the stage in Program III: The Masters. During his first visit to Miami last season, Ratmansky set out to create a new ballet — using the dancers as instruments that through various movements, formations, musical cues, and emotions would bring his artistic vision to life. After a three whirlwind weeks of artistic creation, Ratmansky gave us Symphonic Dances, which enjoyed a one-night only gala premiere at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami.
When Ratmansky returned this past week, his mission was entirely different. He was here to fine-tune and perfect his creation, shaping it into the masterpiece he envisioned. ”This time, he is paying attention to the all of the smallest details,” said corps dancer Nathalia Arja who landed a leading role in the ballet. Principal Jeanette Delgado seconded Arja saying that our dancers are being “pushed out of their comfort-zones.” Ratmansky changed dancers’ roles, experimented with different casts, and persistently demanded more out of each unique dancer.
Principal Ballet Mistress Roma Sosenko and Ballet Mistress Joan Latham observed rehearsals and shared the following comments on their experience, “We love having Alexei back in Miami working on Symphonic Dances. He is so committed to the work and we love watching his quality of movement. He is so generous and giving and his coaching is as expansive as his heart.”
We are sure that our dancers’ hard work will pay off when the curtain rises on Symphonic Dances during Program III: The Masters, opening February 22 at Kravis Center, March 1 at Broward Center and March 8 at Adrienne Arsht Center.
Alexei Ratamansky’s Symphonic Dances is made possible in part by the support of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, as part of its Knight Arts Challenge.
Below are some photos of our dancers rehearsing Ratmansky’s Symphonic Dances.
Company Apprentice Christina Spigner is eager to get behind the lens for our Instagram feed this week, as the in-demand choreographer from Russia, Alexei Ratmanksy, will be in our studios! This will be Christina’s first time working with the critically-acclaimed artist, as he prepares our dancers for their performance of Symphonic Dances in Program III. We can’t wait to see all of the action caught on camera!
(c) Daniel Azoulay
Fun fact about Christina: Not only does Christina dance, but she also plays piano. When she was younger, she played a piano double in a small film!
You probably recognize corps dancer Skyler Lubin from our 2012-2013 campaign images as the season’s cover girl, jumping in a full split with a perfect combination of grace and athleticism. This week, we will see what Skyler can pull off behind the camera as our guest photographer for Instagram!
Fun fact about Skyler: Although Skyler grew up in New Jersey, she also has roots in Miami. Skyler was actually born here in the Magic City, where both of her grandparents grew up as well. We are lucky to have her back!
Here is Skyler in action in front of the camera during our photo shoot for the 2012-2013 season campaign.
Corps dancer Rebecca King caught up with Marie Johansson, manager of Freed of London’s New York store, to discuss a pointe shoe’s perfect fit. Each year, Marie visits Miami City Ballet’s studios for pointe shoe fittings, helping dancers select a shoe that matches their unique needs. In addition to performing expert pointe shoe fittings, Freed of London also sponsors Miami City Ballet School’s annual audition tour for its Summer Intensive Program. All of us at the ballet thank Freed for its generosity!
Discover the science behind the perfect fit in this video created by Rebecca King.
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!
Program I: Fire and Ice opened last weekend at Adrienne Arsht Center before heading to Broward Center THIS WEEKEND! Check out these exquisite photos of opening night by company photographer Daniel Azoulay.
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