MCB Insider | Miami City Ballet

Leigh-Ann Esty in The Big Apple

This week on the MCB Summer 2015 blog series, we caught up with corps de ballet member Leigh-Ann Esty, who is spending some time in NYC this month.

Leigh-Ann writes —

This spring I was asked to participate in a choreographic workshop with some of my coworkers. Ariel Rose, a fellow MCB corps de ballet member, asked me in March if I would be willing to spend a month in New York City working with him. He received a choreography fellowship through the Center for Ballet and the Arts at NYU. Who wouldn’t want to hang out in the Big Apple for a month?!

Samantha Galler Celebrates College Graduation

Since closing MCB’s 2014-2015 in Broward last month, our dancers have been enjoying some much-needed time off. From teaching to traveling, this summer promises plenty of exciting adventures, which we will be sharing in our MCB Summer 2015 blog series. If you’ve ever wondered what professional dancers do off the stage, you’re about to find out.

Today we spotlight a very exciting accomplishment for corps de ballet member Samantha Galler, who recently celebrated her college graduation!

Mary Carmen Catoya

Beloved ballerina Mary Carmen Catoya’s performance in George Balanchine’s Raymonda Variations on Sunday April 19, 2015 at 2pm at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, marked the conclusion of her distinguished sixteen-year tenure with Miami City Ballet.

Following her departure from MCB at the end of this season, Ms. Catoya will continue her career as an acclaimed ballerina, appearing as a guest artist both nationally and internationally.

Remembering Kirk Landon

Miami City Ballet is deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved friend, esteemed Board Member, and tremendous supporter R. Kirk Landon.

His leadership and tenacity, his fearless spirit, and above all, his remarkable philanthropy have shaped the course of Miami City Ballet for decades. Kirk believed in the transformative power of the performing arts, and his love for Miami City Ballet was inspiring to us all.

South Florida has lost a pillar of our community, and we have lost a most cherished member of the MCB Family. We honor Kirk, we salute him, and we will always remember him.

MCB Takes Canada

 Rave reviews from critics and audiences alike!

This winter our dancers left behind the warm South Florida weather and headed to Canada for two weekends of special performances, first in Vancouver, British Columbia, and then in Ottawa, Ontario. This marks the Company’s first international tour since 2011.

In Vancouver, hosted by Ballet BC, the Company presented a full program of masterworks by George Balanchine at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre with performances of Serenade, Symphony in Three Movements and Ballo della Regina. The performances, which received high praise, marked the Company’s debut in Vancouver.

Dancer Meet & Greet with Artist’s Circle Members

Miami City Ballet hosted an exclusive members-only Meet and Greet cocktail event for upper level Artist’s Circle donors, all 50 MCB dancers, and Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez. Sponsored by Frank & Gabriele Armstrong, the event was a champagne-filled soiree on the private balcony of MCB headquarters.