Sara Esty

Sara Esty Takes Over Instagram

Soloist Sara Esty takes over Instagram this week!
Sara is no stranger to MCB Blog and has live tweeted for us during opening nights — so you are in for a treat!

© Gio Alma

Fun fact about Sara: she is very active on social media!
Sara is a fantastic follow on Twitter and, in our opinion, an Instagramer extraordinaire! Follow Sara on Twitter @estygrl.

Sara Esty in Pointe Magazine

Soloist Sara Esty is featured in the August/September issue of Pointe Magazine!

In an article titled “It Can Happen In An Instant,” Sara discusses being an understudy and how to be ready to perform at a moment’s notice.

“What began as a routine company class a few years ago for Miami City Ballet’s Sara Esty turned into anything but when a principal ballerina landed badly from a tour jeté. Then in the corps de ballet, Esty felt all eyes turn to her as people realized that she – the dancer’s understudy – would now be starring in both Twyla Tharp’s The Golden Section and George Balanchine’s Valse Fantaisie. Opening night was less than 24 hours away. It was a terrifying, and an exhilarating, moment.

Two years later and one glowing New York Times review later, Esty is a soloist.”

To read the entire article, click here.

New Beginnings!

The 2011-2012 season opens with Program I on October 21 at Adrienne Arsht Center! With a world premiere by Liam Scarlett, two full-length classics, and the return of Opus One Orchestra, this season promises to be one of the best in MCB history! We’d like to congratulate our newly promoted dancers and welcome new faces to the troupe for this very exciting season.

Promoted to Soloist:

Sara Esty (Photo © Leigh-Ann Esty)

Kleber Rebello (Photo © Kyle Froman)

Promoted to Corps de Ballet:

Andrei Chagas

Suzette Logue

Promoted to Company Apprentice:
Chloe Freytag
Lexie Overholt
Kara White

Welcome back Jeremy Cox!

Jeremy returns for Programs I and II as a principal dancer after performing in Paris with MCB.

New to MCB:

Shimon Ito joined the Corps de Ballet and danced with MCB in Paris. He joins us from Ballet San Jose.

Jonathan Batista – School Scholarship Apprentice
Jovani Furlan – School Scholarship Apprentice
Sara McCahill – School Scholarship Apprentice

Working with Liam Scarlett

Liam Scarlett of The Royal Ballet spent the last three weeks with MCB working on the World Premiere, which premieres in January 2012. Enthusiasm filled the building, and dancers and staff alike were thrilled with the developments coming from the studios. Sara Esty, newly-promoted soloist, collected some thoughts on what is was like to work with Britain’s hottest choreographer, Liam Scarlett.

The Road to City Center – Recap

Post by Sara Esty, Corps de Ballet

Hi everyone! Well I am happy to report that Miami City Ballet had a successful and fun trip to NYC for City Center’s Fall for Dance festival. It was an honor to share the stage with so many different and amazing companies. Merce Cunningham Dance Company opened the evening with an interesting and powerful piece, which was eye opening for all. A personal and crowd favorite was a company called Gallim. Their dancers were not only incredible and gave off the most amazing energy, but they were really nice and genuine people!

The whole experience of being back in New York was special for all of us. There is just something about that city – the sparkle and excitement presents a magical feeling that we all felt and made for really special performances. Here is a video of our journey. Enjoy! I hope you have had fun coming along with me for the past few weeks on The Road to City Center. Until next time!!!

Bugaku Girl Talk

Wigs, robes, tutus, and bikinis in a dressing room can only mean one thing: Bugaku! The Company is performing this George Balanchine piece in Program I of the 25th Anniversary Season which opens today! Sara Esty, Zoe Zien, Ashley Knox, and Leigh-Ann Esty had a chat about what it’s like to dance in the corps of this erotic ballet, and who was present during rehearsals.

Don’t miss the first program of the most exciting season yet, which also includes Jerome Robbins’ Fanfare and George Balanchine’s Theme and Variations.

The Road to City Center – almost there!

Post by Sara Esty, Corps de Ballet

September 24, 2010

It’s finally here! Tomorrow is our last day of rehearsals until we get to New York! We have been running through “The Golden Section” every day this week and have been adding the finishing touches to make it its best. Everyone is excited and ready…there are even a few members of the cast who have never been to NYC! Renan Cerdeiro is one such member and can barely contain himself. Even though we will only be there a short time, there is so much everyone wants to see and do. But first things first: kick butt as the closing performers in the sold out opening night shows of City Centers’ Fall for Dance festival (Sept. 28 & 29)! I will be bringing MCB’s flip camera to the Big Apple with us so stay tuned for some highly entertaining footage!

The Road to City Center – looking top notch

Post by Sara Esty, Corps de Ballet

Hi All!

It has been a while since my last post, but for good reason. The company has been in the process of filming an upcoming special for PBS (Great Performances: Dance in America)! Everyone has been so busy, spending everyday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the TV studio dancing our butts off! It has been some of the toughest, hardest days any of us have experienced, but what an incredible opportunity and amazing life adventure it has been. The first two days of filming focused on “The Golden Section.” This really has allowed all of us to feel extra-prepared and ready for our upcoming tour to New York City Center (Sept. 28-29). Not only is our stamina and endurance up, but the performance quality is looking top notch…thanks to a bunch of cameras in our faces! I think it has been great practice, and I can’t wait to bring this piece back to the stage. Stay tuned as we get closer to our departure!

Photo © Alexandre Dufaur

Meet the Dancers – Sara Esty

In celebration of the 25th Anniversary Season, we’d like to introduce you, our patrons and friends, to all the dancers in the company through the Meet the Dancers series. Every week you will meet a different member of the MCB troupe! Get ready to get on a personal level with the dancers — find out what their proudest moments are and what inspires them (among other fun facts).

We’re kicking off the series with Sara Esty! Sara is no stranger to MCB Blog. Most recently she has been blogging about the road to New York City Center. (Click here and here to read her posts.) We are very excited to follow along with Sara as she prepares and performs in City Center’s Fall for Dance festival at the end of this month! Stay tuned for more Sara updates.

For now…take it away Sara!

Dances at a Gathering. Photo by Leigh-Ann Esty

I'm the one on the right! On the left is my twin sister Leigh.

The Road to City Center – 2 weeks down

Post by Sara Esty, Corps de Ballet

August 13, 2010

Hi all! We have just completed our second week back to work, and boy has it been tough. Between trying to learn all of Romeo and Juliet, and keeping up with The Golden Section for City Center, it seems as though everyone is exhausted! Nothing like a weekend to cure that though. Nonetheless, rehearsals are going well and I can feel the excitement for our New York trip growing!