Dear Friends,
It is an incredible honor to step into the role of Artistic Director at Miami City Ballet, especially during such a meaningful moment: our 40th Anniversary Season.
Forty years is more than a milestone—it’s a celebration of all the people, passion, and artistry that have brought us to this point. It’s a time to reflect on our remarkable history, to honor the visionaries who built this company, and to step boldly into a vibrant new chapter.
Miami is a city like no other—constantly evolving, full of energy and possibility—and Miami City Ballet is proud to be part of that heartbeat. Right now, the spirit of this city, the creative energy of this company, and the promise of this moment are aligning in a way that feels truly special. My hope is to build on that momentum and continue shaping MCB as a vital cultural force—not just in Miami, but far beyond.
This season is filled with moments I can’t wait to share with you. We open with a dynamic program from one of my closest collaborators, Justin Peck. Two of the works were created especially for MCB, making this a deeply personal and powerful way to launch the season. Justin represents the future of ballet, and it’s a joy to give him this stage.
At the same time, we celebrate the giants of our art form—Twyla Tharp, Paul Taylor, Alonzo King, José Limón, Christopher Wheeldon—and of course, the timeless genius of George Balanchine, with masterpieces like Serenade and Jewels.
We also pay tribute to someone whose vision made all of this possible: Toby Lerner Ansin. Her passion and commitment gave birth to this company and has sustained it for four decades. To honor her 85th birthday, we’ve commissioned a world premiere from Alexei Ratmansky—a fitting tribute to a woman who has inspired growth, nurtured creativity, and propelled MCB to new heights.
And of course, this celebration wouldn’t be complete without you—our audience, our supporters, our community. This season is a thank-you to all who have walked this journey with us, and a warm welcome to those just joining us. I can’t wait to meet you, to hear your stories, and to dream together about what’s next.
Here’s to honoring the past, embracing the present, and imagining a bold future for dance in Miami.
See you in the theater,
Gonzalo Garcia
Miami City Ballet Artistic Director
YEAR OF THE RABBIT
Choreography Justin Peck
Composer Sufjan Stevens*
Orchestration Michael P. Atkinson
Costume Design by Justin Peck, supervised by Marc Happel
Lighting Design by Brandon Stirling Baker
Year of the Rabbit – Justin Peck’s stunning collaboration with American singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens - was the breakthrough ballet for America’s most heralded young choreographer. As The New York Times noted, Rabbit’s first performance at New York City Ballet, in 2012, was greeted by ovation after ovation: “The emotion of Year of The Rabbit is joy, epitomized by the ballerinas who are sent sliding across the floor, toboggans with pointed toes.”
This brilliant work is characterized by a constant flow of invention, all of it dazzlingly fresh, as well as by Peck’s extraordinary grasp of structure – a rare quality among today’s choreographers. From the moment the curtain goes up you know you’re in the hands of a master. No wonder that Alastair Macaulay acclaimed him as “the third important choreographer to have emerged in classical ballet this century following Christopher Wheeldon and Alexei Ratmansky.”
MCB premiere: February 12, 2016, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Miami, FL.
*Sufjan Stevens’ Enjoy Your Rabbit, presented by G. Schirmer, Inc. o/b/o Sufjan Stevens Music.
The acquisition of Year of the Rabbit is made possible by a generous contribution from the Ansin Foundation in honor of Miami City Ballet Founder, Toby Lerner Ansin’s 75th birthday and in celebration of Miami City Ballet’s 30th Anniversary Season.
CHUTES AND LADDERS
Choreography Justin Peck
Composer Benjamin Britten*
Costume Design by Haydée Morales and Justin Peck
Lighting Design by Brandon Stirling Baker
Chutes and Ladders, a pas de deux named after the children's board game, had its world premiere as part of the New World Symphony's "New Work" program of contemporary art in April 2013. Inspired by the "hypnotic, introverted/extroverted nature" of the First Movement of Britten's String Quartet No. 1 and its “unpredictable progression,” Peck wrote the following about his work:
The music, like our minds, moves from one thought to the next, yet each thought has the potential to stand on its own. The intimacy found within Britten’s score lends itself not only to creating a concentrated tension between the two dancers, but also between the dancers and the musicians. Most importantly, this pas de deux is about exposing the subtleties, nuances and undertones of the music through dance.
Originally created for the thrust stage at the New World Center and performed in-the-round, it was necessary for Peck to return to Miami in 2013 to readdress his ballet and adapt it for the proscenium stages where it will now be performed.
Chutes and Ladders was co-commissioned by the New World Symphony and Miami City Ballet and made possible by a generous grant from the New World Symphony.
World premiere by Miami City Ballet: April 20, 2013, New World Center, Miami Beach, FL.
*String Quartet No. 1, 1st Movement (1941), by arrangement with Boosey & Hawkes, Inc., publisher and copyright owner.
The mainstage premiere of Chutes and Ladders was presented thanks to the generosity of Bob Benson.
HEATSCAPE
Choreography Justin Peck
Composer Bohuslav Martinů*
Art Design by Shepard Fairey
Costume Design by Reid Bartelme and Harriet Jung
Lighting Design by Brandon Stirling Baker
Justin Peck has always viewed dance as a meeting place for all artistic mediums. It is in this spirit of creative collaboration that he sought out renowned visual artist Shepard Fairey to develop a vibrant visual design for Heatscape – Peck’s second commission for Miami City Ballet.
Peck initially began examining Fairey’s (ObeyGiant) street art while exploring Miami’s Wynwood Art District. Fairey, who had never designed for ballet, worked closely with Peck to create a visual setting that is as bold as the movement and music. The design emanates from Fairey’s mandala paintings which, Peck told Vogue, inspired him to create these movements that start from the center and build outward in a meticulously detailed fashion. "That means of construct inspired me to develop certain choreographic techniques within this ballet."
Peck chose to choreograph this ballet to Bohuslav Martinů’s relatively unknown Piano Concerto No. 1. “I consider this work to be a hidden gem that is not only rich with texture, innovation and relevance to the current day, but is also tremendously danceable. It has buoyancy, playfulness and emotion—and a sturdy blueprint to guide me in the choreographic process. This piece of music has been on my radar for a few years now, and I felt that Miami City Ballet would be the perfect vessel for realizing a ballet in relation to it.”
Building upon the personalities and movement qualities of each dancer, Peck was prompted to create “a unique world based-off-of and tailor-made-toward these human beings.” The result is a moving and beautifully structured ballet of camaraderie -- a tribute to the community of individuals that is Miami City Ballet.
“For me, this ballet has become a long-term dialogue among Miami City Ballet, Wynwood Arts District, Shepard Fairey, Bohuslav Martinů and the larger community of Miami. It is the outcome of taking some ingredients that don’t conventionally belong together, adding some heat, and seeing what sorts of flavors emerge.”
World premiere by Miami City Ballet: March 27, 2015, Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, West Palm Beach, FL.
*Piano Concerto No. 1 used by arrangement with European American Music Distributors Company, U.S. and Canadian agent for Schott Music, publisher and copyright owner.
The original production of Heatscape was made possible by a New Works grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the generous support of The Rockefeller Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts: ArtWorks, Armando and Margarita Codina, and Bob Benson.
Additional support provided by: Helen P. Welch, Madeline and Stephen Anbinder, Nina and William Albert, Rosalee and Richard Davison, Adelaida Muñiz-Iscoe and Gary Iscoe, Michael Schultz, Miriam Flamm, Carole Gigliotti.
* indicates Miami City Ballet School Alumni
LEADERSHIP
Gonzalo Garcia, Artistic Director & MCBS Chair
Juan José Escalante, Executive Director
Toby Lerner Ansin, Founder
Edward Villella, Founding Artistic Director
ARTISTIC
Roma Sosenko, Principal Rehearsal Director
Joan Latham, Rehearsal Director
Arnold Quintane, Rehearsal Director
Tricia Albertson, Rehearsal Director
Jessica Perez, Company Manager
Gary Sheldon, Principal Conductor and Music Director
Francisco Rennó, Company Pianist
Leana Reisman, Company Class Accompanist
Dr. Lily McCrossin, PT, DPT, Lead Physical Therapist
PRODUCTION AND WARDROBE
John Hall, General Manager
Kelly Brown, Production Stage Manager
Bailey Kirk, Assistant Stage Manager
Brian Harris, Head Carpenter
Nicanor Smith, Properties Master
Shane Cassidy, Head Electrician
Elvin Thomas, Assistant Electrician
Sean M. Deceunick, Sound Engineer
James Sampedro, Assistant Carpenter/Flyman
Gary Darling, Properties Assistant
Wilmer Arellano, Projection Operator
In memorium Richard Carter
WARDORBE
Carrie Cochran, Wardrobe Manager
Ricardo Asturias, Wardrobe Master
Natalie Axley, Wardrobe Mistress
Ibis Hernandez, School Wardrobe Mistress
Julia Villalobos & Alberto Fages, Stitchers
Carol Raskin, Hair & Makeup Artist
Helen Cave, Shoe Inventory Assistant
In memorium Jennifer Conrad
DEVELOPMENT
Dena Liston, Senior Director of Development
Orene Tross-Harris, Senior Director, Major Gifts
Michele Scanlan, Director of Foundation and Government Relations
Lee Eachus, Manager of Foundation and Government Relations
Heather Rush, Director of Special Events
Samantha Hurwitch, Associate Director of Individual Giving – Palm Beach
MARKETING, TICKETING & AUDIENCE SERVICES
Chantell Ghosh, Chief Marketing Officer
Mary Landreth, Senior Director, Business Development
Anne Mortomore, Director of Marketing, Digital and Content
Joshua Wickard, Director of Audience and Ticketing Services
Ali Castro, Senior Manager, Content and Creative Services
Mina Rhee, Senior Production Designer
Masha Enriquez, Marketing Coordinator, Events and Creative Services
Eden Cohen, Marketing & PR Coordinator
Katharine Baines, Manager Ticketing Operations
Adam Garner, Associate Coordinator, Audience Services and Ticketing
Ashley Arvizu, Anthony De Peña, Jade Emmanuel, Randy Fumero, Sofia Osorio, Jennifer Parra | Audience Services Representatives
Billy Zavelson/Richard Kornberg & Associates, General Press Representation
Ron Roberts, Creative Direction Consultant
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Brenda Alba, Director of Community Engagement
Norma Fuisting, Community Dance Education Programs Manager
Bianca Guirado, Community Engagement Coordinator
Kassie Abreu, Matthew Aubeuf, Efrain Chibas, Bradley Dunlap, Nuria Martinez, Rilanty Septiantari, Rae Wilcoxson, Tamia Williams | Arts in Education Teaching Program: Teaching Artists and Musicians
Merle Inasi, Noeli Morejon | Community Engagement Program Assistants
FINANCE AND OPERATIONS
Ainsworth Geddes, Chief Financial Officer
Marisa Rios-Lopez, Payroll Manager
Carlos Lopez, Finance and Donor Systems Manager
John Colon, Staff Accountant
Lina Aguirre, Senior Director of Human Resources
Joy Stanfield, Human Resources Assistant and Office Manager
Amanda Del Cerro, Board and Executive Relations Assistant
MIAMI CITY BALLET SCHOOL
Arantxa Ochoa, School Artistic Director
Cameron Basden, School Managing Director
Jessica Bork, School Operations Manager
Manon Maher, Pre-Professional Division Manager
Vanessa Haro, School Administrative Assistant
Lyndall Vickers, Housing Manager
Ana Arledge, Residential Coordinator
Carmen Ramos, Rachel Abelenda | Front Desk Receptionists
Durante Verzola, Alexander Iziliaev, Katia Carranza, Maribel Modrono, Michaela Mann, Kareen Pauld Camargo, Ana Arledge, Africa Ramirez, Natalia Cordero, Claudia Kuwana, Claudia Lezcano, Rosa Mercedes, Herman Payne, Renato Penteado, Rilanty Septiantari, Chase Swatosh, Leslie Young | Permanent Faculty
Marianela Castro, Juvenal Correa-Salas, Gladys Fariñas, Vivian Gonzalez, Yraima Menendez, Teresa Valdivia | Pianists
PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS
Lisa Berg, Esq. — Stearns Weaver Miller, et al, P.A. Employment and Labor Law
Glenn Rissman, Esq. — Stearns Weaver Miller, et al, P.A. Immigration Law
Robbins and Moroney, P.A. Auditor
MEDICAL PROVIDERS
Dr. Lily McCrossin, PT, DPT, Lead Physical Therapist
Dr. Kathleen Davenport, MD, Company Physician
Dr. Steven David Steinlauf, MD, Foot and Ankle Orthopedic Specialist
Alexis Somoano, LMT, Jill Davidson, LMT, Massage Therapists
Dr. Bethany Cook, PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS, Physical Therapist
Chase Swatosh, NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Strength and Conditioning
Maria Vallasciani MS, RDN, LD, RN, CNSC, IBCLC, CSSD, Dietitian
Dr. Scott Leydig, Psy. D. Sport Psychologist
Jeffrey Davis, Chair
Charles Adelman
Jill E. Braufman
Veronica de Zayas, Esq.
Alex DiLeonardo
Juan José Escalante, Ex Officio
Robert Friezo
Gonzalo Garcia, Ex Officio
Dan Gelber, Former Mayor of Miami Beach
Kathy Guttman
Bruce Halpryn, Vice Chair
Maria Hernandez, Ex Officio
Kristi Jernigan
Susan D. Kronick
Allen London
Manny Marquez, Ex Officio
Saul Sanders, Treasurer
Michael Schultz
J. Randall Waterfield
Sara Minsoff Allan
Toby Lerner Ansin, Founder
Robert Chaskes
Lester Coney
Philip DeBoer
Susan Fox-Rosellini
James Freeze
Dini Golden
Janine Gordon
Elissa Kramer
Sara Solomon
Barbara Sullivan
Elizabeth “Zibby” Tozer
John Vogelstein
Suzy Wahba
Gail Wasserman
Charmaine Waterfield
Fehmi Zeko
Diana S.C. Zeydel
Ana-Marie Codina, Past Chair
Mike Eidson, Past Chair
Ron Esserman*, Past Chair
Robert Gottlieb*
Jacqueline Kott*
R. Kirk Landon*
Gerri LeBow*
Rhoda Levitt, Past Chair
Rita Stein*
*Deceased
Major funding for Miami City Ballet provided by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Arison Arts Foundation, and The Ansin Foundation. Miami-Dade County support provided by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, with support from the City of Miami Beach Department of Tourism and Culture, Cultural Arts Council, and the Miami Beach Mayor and City Commissioners. Sponsored in part by the State of Florida through the Division of Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has been a generous supporter of Miami City Ballet with over $14.2 million in cumulative giving since the company’s founding.