Leigh takes you to Chicago – plus Stephen’s exciting experience

Post by Leigh-Ann Esty

Hello everyone! It’s Leigh Esty back with another video installment of Miami City Ballet on tour–this time we traveled to Chicago! I’ll take you from hot Miami weather to chilly temps in the Windy City! You’ll see excerpts of performances, rehearsals and backstage action. Chicago welcomed us with open arms, blessing us with grand applause, full houses and wonderful reviews. This tour was full of exciting moments! Principal Dancer Patricia Delgado got her hands on the Flip and added her commentary during backstage activities. Two of our corps members danced new roles! To say the least, this tour was quite eventful. I hope you enjoy my video journal as much as we enjoyed Chicago!

Stephen Satterfield, MCB Corps de Ballet, had the opportunity to dance a principal role in Symphony in Three Movements on the Chicago tour. Check out this video about his experience.

With the support of the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners.

Windy City Reviews

The Company traveled home last night from a very successful Chicago tour. We weren’t kidding when we said our dancers would light up the stage! MCB left Chicago wanting more.

Check out these dazzling reviews.

Miami City Ballet displays its spirit, intense virtuosity, Chicago Sun-Times, 10/3/09

Miami City Ballet reviewed, Chicago Tribune, 10/5/09

With the support of the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners.

MCB is in Chicago

Unfortunately the 2016 Olympic Games aren’t happening in the Windy City, but this weekend Chicagoans are in for a treat! The stage at the Auditorium Theatre will light up when our super human dancers perform Symphony in Three Movements, Valse Fantaisie (1953), Black Swan Pas de Deux and In The Upper Room. Leigh-Ann Esty, Corps de Ballet, took the Flip camera with her once again and will be documenting the tour.

Check out these articles in anticipation of Miami City Ballet’s arrival in Chicago.

At long last, Miami Ballet dances in Chicago, Chicago Tribune, 10/2/09

Ballet great to show off Miami dance company, Chicago Sun-Times, 9/27/09

Interview: Edward Villella, trailerpilot.com, 9/25/09

With the support of the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners.

Vail Video Journal – Part 3

Leigh-Ann’s experience with the Flip camera in Vail comes to an end in Part 3 of her video journal series. Here she takes you through MCB’s final days at the festival including Up Close: Edward Villella, on stage before and after a performance of “Rubies” and on the journey home.

Leigh-Ann did a terrific job documenting the Vail tour and was extremely excited about sharing it with you. Stay tuned for coverage on future tours!

Did you enjoy the video journal? What else would you like to see?

Vail Video Journal – Part 2

We hope you enjoyed the first part of Leigh-Ann’s video journal. There is so much more to see! In Part 2 you’ll follow the dancers during their time off in Vail, listen in on Damian Woetzel talking to the dancers at dinner, watch a pre-performance company class, and more.

Check back tomorrow for the third and final part of the video journal.

Dancer Video Journal: Leigh-Ann Esty at the Vail International Dance Festival

Post by Leigh-Ann Esty

Hello everyone! Leigh-Ann Esty, here. I am a member of MCB’s Corps de Ballet.

As you know, the Company recently traveled to Colorado, to participate in the Vail International Dance Festival, directed by Damian Woetzel (former New York City Ballet dancer).  It hadn’t been long since we’d gotten back from our summertime off, and before we knew it we were packed and on our way.   When I was asked by the Company to carry around a Flip camera and document our trip, you can imagine how excited I was – I’m a huge photography fan! I tried to capture all the moments I could: in the airport, on the bus, during free time, even on stage while we were warming up and about to perform! Out of this came a three-part video journal series, which gives you a sneak peek of what it’s like to be in the Company when we’re on tour. One of the best parts of this whole experience is being able to show you how normal ballet dancers really are! We are just a bunch of goofballs.

In Part 1 you’ll join us on the way to Vail and watch as we adapt to our new, and very different surroundings. You’ll see the two beautiful venues we performed at (Gerald R. Ford Ampitheater and Vilar Performing Arts Center), the dancers share their feelings about the Vail tour, and watch us backstage as we prepare for show time. Check back on Friday and Saturday for the rest of the Vail coverage .

Well, I hope you enjoy the clips! We all had a great time in Vail…minus the dramatic moments of high altitude hitting us! Thanks for viewing.

More from Vail…

Nice review in The Denver Post: Keeping Balanchine legacy alive, kicking

Video of Jeanette Delgado and Alex Wong on Plum Vail

Images from UpClose: Edward Villella yesterday

 

Vail International Dance Festival Update

The festival has been a success so far. MCB has received great coverage in the press including stories in the Denver Post and Vail Daily ( 7/16, 7/29, 7/30, 8/2).

Check out the beautiful photos by Erin Baiano & Kyle Froman Photography  that were posted on Vail Valley Foundation’s Blog and Flickr photostream.

Serenade

The Four Temperaments

Tarantella

How did the dancers deal with the high altitude and chilly temperatures?  What went on backstage and on the bus? We look forward to dancer Leigh Esty’s Vail recap on MCB Blog this week.

Vail or Bust!

Select members of the Company are headed to Colorado today to participate in the Vail International Dance Festival.  Making our Vail debut on August 1, we will perform George Balanchine classics Tarantella, The Four Temperaments and Serenade.  On August 2 we’ll perform “Rubies” in the Festival Highlights Spectacular.  And on August 3 is a unique discussion/demonstration called Up Close: Edward Villella, which examines his famous dance roles (including Prodigal Son, “Rubies”, Tarantella, Afternoon of a Faun, Dances at a Gathering and more).

We handed over our video camera to Corps de Ballet member, Leigh-Ann Esty, to document this exciting experience.

 

Why Leigh? She’s enthusiastic, in her words “a fanatic about documenting trips,” and has a passion for photography. She was even published in National Geographic Traveler, when she won their 2008 World In Focus contest with this image of the Eiffel Tower.

leigh eiffel 72

Check back next week for Leigh’s behind-the-scenes coverage of MCB at the festival.