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
Serenade
Choreography by George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust
Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky*
Costume Design by Karinska
Lighting Design by John Hall
The first ballet George Balanchine made in America, in 1934, Serenade is one of his most famous and cherished works. Seventeen girls form and reform in kaleidoscopic patterns. A girl enters, late. A boy joins her. After she falls to the ground, another boy approaches her, guided by a “Dark Angel,” then leaves her behind, to be carried off to a kind of transfiguration.
Endlessly suggestive though essentially plotless, Serenade is impelled forward by Tchaikovsky’s rushing, deeply affecting score.
*Serenade in C Major for String Orchestra
The performance of Serenade, a Balanchine® Ballet, is presented by arrangement with The George Balanchine Trust and has been produced in accordance with the Balanchine Style® and Balanchine Technique®, Service Standards established and provided by The Trust.
Tarantella
Choreography by George Balanchine©The George Balanchine Trust
Music by Louis Moreau Gottschalk*
Costumes by Karinska
Lighting Design by John Hall
“This pas de deux,” Balanchine is quoted as saying, “is one of a long series of short ballets I have made for the gifts of specific dancers.” In this case it was for Patricia McBride and Edward Villella early in their celebrated partnership; the ballet premiered in 1964, just prior to NYCB’s move into its new headquarters in the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center. Described as seven minutes of virtually nonstop dancing, Tarantella demands great stamina and exceptionally quick footwork.
Not your traditional pas de deux, Tarantella is more demi-caractère than grand in style, and there is no supported partnering – instead, it is largely of a series of intricate solos. Though classical, Tarantella draws upon Italian folk dance, complete with tambourines and Italian-inspired costumes. Described as “Neopolitan” by Balanchine, Tarantella melds the vibrant qualities of folk dance with the elegance of ballet – all at breakneck speed.
Tarantella was generously underwritten by Dolores & Dr. Sanford L. Ziff.
*Grand Tarantelle for Piano and Orchestra, op. 67
Arrangement for piano solo by Francisco Rennó.
The performance of Tarantella, a Balanchine® Ballet, is presented by arrangement with The George Balanchine Trust and has been produced in accordance with the Balanchine Style® and Balanchine Technique® , Service Standards established and provided by The Trust.”
Roses From The South
(Three Waltz's For Toby)
Choreography by Alexei Ratmansky
Music by Johann Strauss
Costume Design by Moritz Junge
Lighting Design by Mark Stanley
The World Premiere of Roses From The South, THREE WALTZES FOR TOBY - Commissioned by Miami City Ballet and funded by the Ansin Foundation, in Honor of Toby Lerner Ansin’s 85th Birthday.
Mom,
We’ve enjoyed this 40-year journey with you! From the day the Miami City Ballet became a dream in your mind to the day of their first performance to the world premiere of Roses From The South, we have loved the joy it brings to you!
Andy, James, and Stephanie
* indicates Miami City Ballet School Alumni
Watch our Into the Magic City Trailer
LEADERSHIP
Gonzalo Garcia, Artistic Director & MCBS Chair
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
Jessie Draven, Production Assistant
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
Masha Enriquez, Manager of Special Events
Samantha Hurwitch, Associate Director of Individual Giving – Palm Beach
Giana Ruffa, Development Executive Assistant
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
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
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 Programs Manager
Lyndall Vickers, Housing Manager
Ana Arledge, Residential Coordinator
Carmen Ramos, Rachel Abelenda | Front Desk Receptionists
Ana Arledge, Kareen Pauld Camargo, Katia Carranza, Alexander Iziliaev, Claudia Kuwana, Michaela Mann, Rosa Mercedes, Maribel Modrono, Herman Payne, Renato Penteado, Africa Ramirez, Rilanty Septiantari, Chase Swatosh, Durante Verzola, 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
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 Minskoff 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 Cultural Affairs Program, 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.
