MCB Insider | Miami City Ballet

Makeup Magic with Don Quixote!

We snuck our cameras behind-the-scenes of Don Quixote to get an exclusive look at the intricate and lengthy makeup process involved in bringing these colorful characters to life onstage. Makeup artist Carol Raskin and assistant makeup artist Lisa Horwitz spent over two hours transforming six dancers into Amour (aka Cupid), Dulcinea (Don Quixote’s dream girl), Gamache (the rich nobleman), Sancho Panza (Don Quixote’s right-hand man), Lorenzo (Kitri’s father), and Don Quixote, himself! These characters’ beauty secrets require way more than your standard lipstick and mascara!

Watch dancers Andrei Chagas and Carlos Guerra undergo their transformation to become our favorite dynamic duo — Sancho Panza and the man for which the ballet was named, Don Quixote!

A Ballet Homecoming

Gerard Ebitz joined Miami City Ballet as an original member of the Company in 1986. Twenty seven years later, he has returned to the MCB family as a teacher at MCB School. We asked Gerard about his ballet homecoming and what exciting endeavors he is partaking in at MCB School.

MCB: When did you first join Miami City Ballet and how long did you dance here?

Gerard: I was a founding member of Miami City Ballet and I performed with the company for the first two years.

Gypsies take over Instagram!

This week we are preparing for our final performance of the 2013-2014 Season at the Kravis Center! Our dancers have fully transformed into macho bullfighters, street dancers and sensual gypsies for our full-length production of Don Quixote. In fact, a lead Gypsy lady will be taking over our Instagram feed to cover all of the action in this popular, delightfully Spanish work. Follow principal dancer Patricia Delgado at #PatriciaMCBphotos.

Moving on up!

With Company promotions announced last week, we are thrilled to welcome two Miami City Ballet School (MCB School) students who have been invited to join Miami City Ballet for our 2014-2015 Season. We extend a big congratulations to students Ellen Grocki and Alex Manning for becoming official members of the Company! Learn about these dancers and their reactions to the exciting news below!

A trip to the costume shop for Don Quixote!

The lavish, detailed costumes of Don Quixote are one of this classic ballet’s distinguishing factors. The ballet is filled with a variety of costumes including a traditional matador’s “suit of lights,” named for its rhinestones, beads and gold or silver thread, and his swirling capes to fight off the bulls. What makes these costumes so unique is that they evoke the culture and feeling of Spain — where Marius Petipa danced as an impoverished young man. For #TutuTuesday, we are taking a look at the beautiful tutus in Don Quixote that reflect the utmost elegance of a prima ballerina, but embrace the passion and flair that characterizes the rich, culture of Spain.

Zoe Zien takes over Instagram!

We are getting ready for a performance filled week ahead! On Tuesday, several dancers will premiere their original works created in collaboration with New World Symphony fellows during the FREE series — Inside the Music . Then, only three days later, the entire Company heads up to Ft. Lauderdale for the opening of Don Quixote at the Broward Center. With performances spanning the Florida coastline, we are fortunate to have corps de ballet dancer Zoe Zien taking over our Instagram feed to capture it all! Follow Zoe at #ZoeMCBphotos!