Carmen Archives | Miami City Ballet

Review: Richard Alston’s ‘Carmen’ in Fort Lauderdale

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Richard Alston’s one-act “Carmen,” recently performed by Miami City Ballet at the Broward Center here, is the best “Carmen” ballet I’ve seen. That is less a compliment than it sounds: Most “Carmen” ballets are clunkily melodramatic and choreographically dismal.

This one, made for the Scottish Ballet in 2009, has its faults and problems, too. It uses Rodion Shchedrin’s arch arrangement of Bizet’s highlights (including two numbers from “L’Arlésienne”), for strings and percussion; and it follows the basic gist of the Shchedrin ballet (originally choreographed by Alberto Alonso) in retelling “Carmen” as a tale about four people — Carmen, her rival lovers José and Escamillo, and a female Fate figure (who here is scaled down into the Fortuneteller). Its virtues, though, both make it rare among “Carmen” ballets and add to your knowledge of Miami City Ballet’s excellent dancers.

MCB Takes Canada

 Rave reviews from critics and audiences alike!

This winter our dancers left behind the warm South Florida weather and headed to Canada for two weekends of special performances, first in Vancouver, British Columbia, and then in Ottawa, Ontario. This marks the Company’s first international tour since 2011.

In Vancouver, hosted by Ballet BC, the Company presented a full program of masterworks by George Balanchine at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre with performances of Serenade, Symphony in Three Movements and Ballo della Regina. The performances, which received high praise, marked the Company’s debut in Vancouver.

MCB’s Balanchine, Tharp and Alston Come Off Beautifully

Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez’s vision for Miami City Ballet was apparent in the tasteful programming of Saturday’s performance at the Kravis Center, with the de rigueur Balanchine work leading off the evening followed by two company premieres.

Lopez who has been “shopping” for new works that would flatter and challenge the company, has been successful. For Program III: Passion and Grace, she brought a rarely seen contemporary work by avant-garde choreographer Tywla Tharp and a sleek contemporary take on the tale of Carmen by British choreographer Richard Alston. Like Balanchine, both of these dance-makers are known for their extremely musical choreography.

The program, ruled by the Delgado sisters, Patricia and Jeanette, with a welcomed sprinkling of new faces doing lead roles, was appealing, well-balanced and well-danced. The company looked strong and confident. The Opus One Orchestra played with gusto and aplomb and the production values were polished and refined.

MCB’s “Carmen”: Ballet with a Flamenco Flair

Love. Betrayal. A feisty Spanish gypsy woman with a terrible fate. Though perhaps best known as an opera, Carmen CONTINUES to captivate audiences. Now, Miami City Ballet is tackling choreographer Richard Alston’s version of the tale. Before the last leg of performances Mar. 20-22, Pointe spoke with MCB principal Jeanette Delgado about INTERPRETING the title role in the American premiere of Alston’s flamenco-flavored ballet.

Miami City Ballet Takes Vancouver

This month our dancers left behind the warm South Florida weather and headed to Vancouver, British Columbia for a weekend of special performances. Hosted by Ballet BC, the Company presented a full program of masterworks by George Balanchine with performances of Serenade, Symphony in Three Movements and Ballo della Regina. The performances, which received rave reviews, marked the company’s debut in Vancouver.

Carmen by Miami City Ballet

Miami City Ballet proudly presents the American premiere of Richard Alston’s critically-acclaimed Carmen, a flamenco-fueled, modernist take on the classic tale of passion and betrayal. Plus, the company premiere of Twyla Tharp’s Sweet Fields, and George Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante. The venue to enjoy this performance will be our Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, season home of Miami City Ballet.

The 18th-century hymns and egalitarian beliefs of the Shakers were Twyla Tharp’s inspiration for Sweet Fields – a joyous, ethereal celebration of innocence and simplicity.

George Balanchine’s dazzling Allegro Brillante is a testament to the beauty, strength and grace of the human spirit, set to a vigorous Tchaikovsky score. As Balanchine once said, “It contains everything I know about classical ballet in thirteen minutes.”

Alston/Shchedrin’s Carmen Suite adapted from Bizet, will be widely acclaimed for its brilliance of melody, harmony, atmosphere and orchestration. Miami City Ballet, one of America’s Most-Beloved Dance Companies, will reward ballet enthusiasts in the Greater West Palm Beach with a new production of the story of seductive, defiant Carmen in a show of neo-classical dancing with traditional costumes.

A Contemporary Take on the Classic Carmen

A high-intensity drama about spirited Spaniards seems like such a good fit for Miami City Ballet, you’d think company artistic director Lourdes Lopez ran out looking for Carmen. But in a way it was Carmen that came to her.

As the centerpiece of MCB’s third program of the season, this story ballet by contemporary British choreographer Richard Alston has all the elements to give it prominence in the troupe’s repertoire. And, luckily for the choreographer, MCB has the craft and personalities from corps to principals — with force, speed, flair — to offer Carmen interpretive luxury in its first artistic home in America.

Miami City Ballet estreia novo espetáculo

A companhia de dança Miami City Ballet, uma das principais do sul da Flórida, estreia na próxima sexta-feira (13), em curta temporada no Adrienne Arsht Center, em Downtown Miami, novo espetáculo.

Passion and Grace leva ao público três histórias executadas por seu competente elenco de bailarinos. A primeira delas é Carmen, na montagem criada pelo coreógrafo Richard Alston e aclamada pela crítica. Este trecho do espetáculo é repleto de danças em estilo flamenco e é descrito pelo Miami City Ballet como uma “versão modernizada do clássico, marcada por paixão e traição”.

Miami City Ballet to present ‘Carmen’

Miami City Ballet dancer Jeanette Delgado is not someone you’d tend to overlook, but she’s taking no chances on this steamy August afternoon. She steps challengingly to the front of the company’s studios — then stomps in defiance, planting her hands on out-thrust hips; inviting, no, demanding that we pay attention.

“This is when you go hello Miami!” smiles choreographer Richard Alston.

MCB On Tour: Canada

Miami City Ballet dancers spend their days rehearsing in sunlit studios surrounded by swaying palm trees. But this winter, our dancers dig out their winter coats and boots as they embark on a tour of Canada with stops in Vancouver (Feb 19-21) and Ottawa (Mar 5-7).

Tickets are now on sale!