The Company

Miami City Ballet's mission is to produce and present the highest level of dance performances throughout Florida, the United States and abroad, train young aspiring dancers, and develop Miami City Ballet School into a leader of dance education.

Miami City Ballet, under the direction of Lourdes Lopez, is one of the most renowned ballet companies in the United States. Founded in 1985 by Miami philanthropist Toby Lerner Ansin and Founding Artistic Director and ballet legend Edward Villella, MCB is considered a leader in the field – nurturing new choreographic voices, creating innovative collaborations and opening new avenues of inclusivity within classical ballet. Our repertory of more than 100 ballets, including over a dozen world premieres, was built upon the Balanchine repertory, style and technique.  It has been expanded to include beloved classical works of importance, as well as exciting new choreography by contemporary and ground-breaking artists.

MCB maintains annual seasons in Miami-Dade, West Palm Beach, and Broward, serving more than 132,000 patrons in South Florida through four diverse programs; the treasured Christmas fairytale, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker^®; and an expansive national touring program.  MCB has toured extensively throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe, and its 2016 debut at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater was hailed by the national press as a resounding success.  The New York Times’ Alastair Macaulay wrote, “Of all the ballet troupes who have visited the Koch in recent years, none looks so truly and completely a company.”

In January 2000, Miami City Ballet took occupancy of its own Miami Beach headquarters, the Ophelia & Juan Js. Roca Center. Our 63,000 square foot facility houses eight rehearsal studios (two of which combine to create a 200-seat theater), school facilities, MCB’s wardrobe department and costume shop, a fully equipped therapy room, and administrative space. The building was designed by the award-winning architect Bernardo Fort-Brescia of ARQUITECTONICA.