Our guest photographer series on Instagram continues next week with corps dancer
Nicole Stalker!
Nicole will take over the feed starting Monday, August 20th for one week. She’ll be sharing lots of amazing photos from the studios, plus more!
Don’t get left out of the fun – follow us on Instagram!
© Gio Alma
Fun fact about Nicole: she recently participated in The Ballerina Project!
Gorgeous photos of Nicole were taken at Fairchild Tropical Garden — like this one!
© Ballerina Project
The dancers are taking over MCB’s Instagram account for our guest photographer series! They will be posting lots of dancer activity,
so follow us and don’t miss a beat!
First up is corps dancer Leigh-Ann Esty!
Leigh will be controlling our Instagram account starting Monday, August 13th for one week
(which also happens to be choreographer Liam Scarlett’s first day back with the Company)!
Leigh-Ann Esty © Gio Alma
Fun fact about Leigh: she loves photography and often takes photos of the Company (such as these gorgeous shots).
Plus, she was published in National Geographic Traveler, when she won their 2008 World In Focus contest with this image of the Eiffel Tower.
Congratulations to principal dancers Jennifer Kronenberg and Carlos Guerra!
The two love birds (and dance partners) are expecting their first child in November!
Jennifer and Carlos met and fell in love at Miami City Ballet. Two years ago we sat down with the couple for our Valentine’s Day love series and asked them when we would hear the pitter-patter of little ballet shoes — their answer was one to two years. And here they are in 2012 with a baby on the way! Click here to see their charming Valentine’s Day interview.
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.
Post by Ashley Zimmerman, MCB School Resident Assistant
This is a compilation of photos and laughable moments that make me smile, hope you all enjoy! It’s my way of saying thank you. : )
MCB’s Summer Intensive has filled me with a lot of joy this year. I look forward to hearing about all the adventures that are ahead of you guys. Don’t stop dancing, no matter what obstacles may try and break you down, let difficulty strengthen the quality of your artistry and build an even deeper resilience inside your bones. I love you ALL!
-Ashley Marie
Post by Vanessa Woods, MCB School Resident Assistant
It’s the hump week in Miami City Ballet’s 5-week Summer Intensive Program. The bus ride on the way to the studio this morning was eerily quiet with sleeping ballet dancers, however by mid day, there is an energy buzzing through the air. I am one of the six chaperones living at the University of Miami with the 120 students. It’s almost surreal being back here because 10 years ago I came to this very summer program as a student. Then in 2006 I came back and studied here year-round before landing my first job. I have been dancing professionally ever since, currently with the Saint Louis Ballet. In an ever-changing world, it seems not much has changed here. It still has the incredible teachers, staff and fellow dancers who all come together to make this program a unique and a valuable learning experience. Sixteen-year-old McKenna Karnes says that getting to have classes with so many different teachers is a real highlight. The real standout teacher is Mr. Edward Villella himself whom the girls got giddy talking about. They describe him in awe, saying, “he’s not scary” and love how he dances to the music throughout class.
The 2012 RAs! (I'm the second on the left)
After powering through a semi slow-moving first two weeks, little time elapses before friendships emerge that seem life-long. At the studio, students are focused but have a real sense of camaraderie as they lounge around the hallways resting or changing shoes in between their rigorous 4-5 classes a day. When we get back to the dorms, rare do I find a student not huddled in among a group of giggling bun-heads. Regularly, you catch a gaggle of them flocking from the dining hall to scamper off to the pool, TCBY, Starbucks or some other popular close by destination. Last Wednesday broke up the busy week with our July 4th IndepenDance cruise. Packed into a two-story boat, the students dressed to the nines parade aboard after concluding a full day of classes at the studio. Soon, there is a pile of shoes growing and sweaty dancers crowd the top level of the boat for non-stop dancing leading up to the breathtaking fireworks overlooking the water. Even with training some six hours a day, it seems the students always have a reserve of energy saved for the lucky chaperones at night.
Hanging out on Biscayne Bay
By week three, the ever-important act of icing becomes key and many dancers are seen waltzing around the dorms with bags of ice for their various ailments. After a week of hard work and limited sightseeing, the students are able to sign up for exciting weekend excursions. Last weekend we went to Lighthouse Beach at Key Biscayne and Parrot Jungle. On Saturday’s beach trip, we unloaded our busses-o-ballerina and after turning a few heads, the dancers enjoy some sun on the sand, turquoise warm waters and traditional Dominican snacks under a shady pavilion. With the snorkeling and Spiderman in IMAX trips this weekend combined with the end of program show just weeks away, the students have much to look forward to. After ten years since doing this summer intensive, I am amazed at how quickly the adaptation process to this whole type of program takes place. With quick adjustment to dorm life, dancing all day, making new friends, having roommates and eating cafeteria food, one would think these students have been doing this for years…then you realize, with this kind of talent, many of them have. Still, there are some adjustments no amount of experience can prepare you for. When asked what she misses most about home life, 16 year old Morgan Povinelli says with smiling conviction, “home cooked meals”.