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
Company B
Choreography by Paul Taylor
Songs sung by The Andrews Sisters*
Staged by Patrick Corbin
Costume Design by Santo Loquasto
Lighting Design by Jennifer Tipton
Lighting Re-Created by Les Dickert
Paul Taylor’s Company B is in a class by itself, a rousing modern dance that both celebrates the upbeat optimism that animated the popular music of World War II and reveals the dark realities of war. The music is the songs of the fabled Andrews Sisters — by far the most successful and beloved singing group of its era. Here are the jaunty “Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!” (Johnny - as someone called him, “a wonderful corn-fed Romeo” — under siege by a swarm of besotted girls); the provocative “Rum and Coca Cola” with its beguiling Latin rhythms; the plangent “I Can Dream, Can’t I?”; the explosive "Tico-Tico”; the signature rallying cry, “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy…of Company B.” The dancers are soldiers and bobby-soxers, joyous and carefree, until the war impinges — sometimes fatally — on their fun. Reviewing Company B’s premiere in 1991, The New York Times hailed “the extraordinary appeal of this profound piece of choreography to a groovy beat."
Miami City Ballet premiere February 25, 1995 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts; Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
*All selections performed by The Andrews Sisters courtesy of MCA Records. The Andrews Sisters’ 50th Anniversary Collection is available on MCA Compact Discs.
Bei Mir Bist du Schon (Jacob Jacobs, Sholom Secunda, Sammy Cahn, Saul Chaplin) © 1937 (Renewed) Warner Bros., Inc. (ASCPA); a division of Warner Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Pennsylvania Polka (Lester Lee, Zeke Manners) Used by permission of Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., Inc, New York. All rights reserved. International copyright secured.
Tico-Tico (aka Tico-Tico No Fuba) (Zequinha Abreu, Aloysio Oliveira, Ervin Drake) © 1943 by Peer International Copyright Secured. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh! (Public Domain)
I Can Dream, Can't I? (Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal) © 1937 Chappell & Co. (ASCAP); the New Irving Kahal Music Co. (ASCAP). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Joseph! Joseph! (Sammy Cahn, Saul Chaplin, Nellie Casman, Samuel Steinberg) © 1938 (Renewed) Warner Bros., Inc. (ASCAP); a division of Warner Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (Hughie Prince, Don Raye). All rights owned or administered by MCA Music Publishing, a division of MCA, Inc.
Rum and Coca-Cola (Morey Amsterdam, Jeri Kelli Sullivan, Paul Baron and Al Stillman) Published by EMI Fest Catalog Inc.
There Will Never Be Another You (Morely Music Company)
Grand Glittering Gershwin
Choreography by Durante Verzola
Music by George Gershwin
Costume Design by Mark Eric Designs
Lighting Design by Les Dickert
Grand Glittering Gershwin is a new ballet set to George Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F, written in 1925. From the Charleston to the blues, Gershwin was able to encapsulate the energy and rhythms of American Jazz into a classical concerto that is boisterous, dynamic, and poetic. Each of the ballet’s three movements have their own unique “perfume,” evoking varying themes, feelings, and expressions. Verzola was inspired by the “dream ballets” of the old Hollywood movie musicals. These scenes often portrayed a heightened and fantastical version of what was happening in the film, allowing the audience to enter the reveries of the characters. The likes of Cyd Charisse, Rita Hayworth, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Vera Ellen, and more often brought these dream ballets to life. Verzola hopes to honor these stars and inspirations while capturing a new, fresh, modern “dream ballet” for today.
Deuce Coupe
Choreography by Twyla Tharp
Music by The Beach Boys
Arranged by David Horowitz
Costume Design by Scott Barrie
Lighting Design by Jennifer Tipton
Set Design by United Graffiti Artists
Twyla Tharp’s Deuce Coupe is considered the first crossover ballet, blending classical ballet with contemporary social dance. Commissioned by Robert Joffrey for The Joffrey Ballet, the piece premiered in 1973, set to 14 songs by The Beach Boys. The work merges everyday gestures with ballet vocabulary, creating a unique and energetic theatrical experience. A solo dancer performs an alphabetical (but not-so-straightforward) sequence of classical ballet steps, beginning with Ailes de pigeon and progressing to Voyagé in an unexpected, free-spirited way.
Deuce Coupe is a "vividly American dance" (New York Times) that celebrates dynamic spontaneity, marking a revolutionary moment in the evolution of ballet.
* indicates Miami City Ballet School Alumni
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
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
Mark Wasserman, Properties Assistant
In memoriam 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 memoriam 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, Past Chair
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*
Mark Steinberg*, Past Chair
*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 $17.9 million in cumulative giving since the company’s founding.