MCB Alumni

Love Series – Linda and Edward

We are ending our Love Series with a bang! Here are Edward Villella, Founding Artistic Director and CEO of Miami City Ballet, and his wife Linda Villella, Director of the Miami City Ballet School. Edward and Linda have been married for many, many moons and have a daughter, Crista Villella, who is a ballet mistress with MCB.

We hope you have enjoyed our Love Series! Take the time to celebrate love and friendship on Sunday and have a very happy Valentine’s Day!

More MCB LOVE!

Joan Latham, MCB Ballet Mistress, and former MCB dancer Arnold Quintane, met while dancing together at Miami City Ballet and have been married for ten years! They have two beautiful little girls. Who knows? Maybe they will have the dancing bug just like Mom and Dad.

Principal dancer Deanna Seay and former MCB dancer Mikhail Nikitine completed each other after they met at Miami City Ballet. The married couple recently took the stage together again during Program II in “Diamonds Pas de Deux” to honor Deanna’s last season with the Company. She will be retiring in April after 21 seasons with MCB and will truly be missed.

Deanna Seay and Mikhail Nikitine in Divertimento No. 15. Choreography by George Balanchine. Copyright The George Balanchine Trust. Photo © Steven Caras.

Love Series – Haiyan and Zou

This is such a magical love story! Principal dancer Haiyan Wu and principal soloist Yang Zou (or just Zou, as we call him) crossed paths earlier in life but never met until they were at Miami City Ballet. They recently added the title of “parents” to their resumes after the arrival of their baby boy, Eric William.

More MCB LOVE!
Returning guest artist (and former principal dancer) Katia Carranza and former principal dancer Luis Serrano’s love blossomed out of a friendship created at Miami City Ballet. They are happily married and currently living in Mexico. Luis is a director in Ballet de Monterrey and Katia is a dancer with the company! We are so happy for them and very excited that Katia is back to dance with us once again.

Love Series – Callie and Didier

These two are practically on their way down the isle! Engaged dancers Callie Manning, MCB Soloist, and Didier Bramaz, MCB Principal Soloist, take part in our Love Series. Watch as they look lovingly at each other while giving you a glimpse into their lives.

More MCB LOVE!

Ashley Knox, MCB Corps de Ballet, and Alex Dufaur, former MCB dancer, tied the knot a few years ago and are living happily ever after. Plus, Alex isn’t just an MCB alumni, he also photographs the Company.

From dancer to photographer

Dancing since age 3, Alexandre Dufaur has a keen eye for ballet and a fond love for photography. What better person than a former MCB soloist to photograph the Company during Program I of the 2009-2010 Season?! We caught up with Alex at the dress rehearsal Thursday night to talk about this new “role” with Miami City Ballet. It’s so nice when dancers remain part of the MCB family once they hang up their shoes. Can’t wait to see his shots!

UPDATE: Click here to view Alex’s photos.