The festival has been a success so far. MCB has received great coverage in the press including stories in the Denver Post and Vail Daily ( 7/16, 7/29, 7/30, 8/2).
Check out the beautiful photos by Erin Baiano & Kyle Froman Photography that were posted on Vail Valley Foundation’s Blog and Flickr photostream.
How did the dancers deal with the high altitude and chilly temperatures? What went on backstage and on the bus? We look forward to dancer Leigh Esty’s Vail recap on MCB Blog this week.
Select members of the Company are headed to Colorado today to participate in the Vail International Dance Festival. Making our Vail debut on August 1, we will perform George Balanchine classics Tarantella, The Four Temperaments and Serenade. On August 2 we’ll perform “Rubies” in the Festival Highlights Spectacular. And on August 3 is a unique discussion/demonstration called Up Close: Edward Villella, which examines his famous dance roles (including Prodigal Son, “Rubies”, Tarantella, Afternoon of a Faun, Dances at a Gathering and more).
We handed over our video camera to Corps de Ballet member, Leigh-Ann Esty, to document this exciting experience.
Why Leigh? She’s enthusiastic, in her words “a fanatic about documenting trips,” and has a passion for photography. She was even published in National Geographic Traveler, when she won their 2008 World In Focus contest with this image of the Eiffel Tower.
Check back next week for Leigh’s behind-the-scenes coverage of MCB at the festival.
Meet the voices behind MCB Blog and our Facebook Fan Pages: Ailency Martinez, Kris Kramer and Caroline Murray.
You may recognize Kris Kramer from the MCB stage – she was a dancer with the Company for five years. Recently joining the administrative staff as Development Associate, Kris is charged with recruiting new members for MCB’s Upper Room (the Ballet’s young professionals group) and hosting videos for our Web site, YouTube channel and Facebook Fan Pages (Miami City Ballet Fan Page, MCB School Fan Page). Check out her video intro.:
Caroline Murray is Miami City Ballet’s Marketing Manager. Although she was never a dancer (okay, so her mother shoved her feet into ballet slippers when she was five, but that was short-lived), she loves dance and the arts in general. Caroline has been with MCB for more than eight years – she’s family — and she makes it her business to spread the word about MCB.
Ailency Martinez is a Ballet newbie, starting as our Marketing, Social Networking and PR Assistant extraordinaire last month. She’s always armed with her video camera and iPhone, and is ready to bring you the dish as it happens!
We want to hear from you! Comment here to let us know what you would like featured on MCB Blog.
Photo by Nicolle Ugarriza
Interesting editorial by Jordan Levin in The Miami Herald yesterday. Read the story and let us know what you think.
The time has come to bid farewell to the Summer Intensive Program students. The stage of MCB’s Lynn and Louis Wolfson, II Theatre was graced with the dancing of these young students yesterday as they showcased what they learned. The entire MCB building was buzzing with excitement. Five weeks of hard work was evident as the serious dance students, ages 12 years and older, displayed their abilities and strengths. Friends and family came from all over the world to watch their favorite dancer.
We are sad to see them go. During the past weeks, the studios and hallways were flowing with vibrancy and positive energy. It was something else to watch students who didn’t even speak the same language come together and form friendships. We’ve been chronicling the Summer Intensive through videos and pictures on MCB School’s Facebook page.
We look forward to having these bright dancers return next summer. Watch out for them! There are big things ahead for our students. Lucky for us, some of them will be training at MCB School during the Winter Program.
But we don’t have to wait until the Winter Program begins in September to have students in the studios! On Monday, the 2-week Summer Program (for 11 & 12-year-olds who are just starting on pointe) begins.
Welcome to MCB Blog, your backstage pass to Miami City Ballet.
In the coming months, our Social Networking Team (who you’ll meet next week) will share insider information, behind-the-scenes videos, exclusive photos, interviews with artists and more. MCB Blog will occasionally have guest authors as well, including dancers, artistic staff, administration and supporters. So you don’t miss out on any of the action, subscribe to our RSS feed or visit MCB Blog several times a week to read our updates.
We encourage you to participate! Comment on our posts; let us know what you think of our performances; and send us your ideas for topics we haven’t yet covered here.
Talk to you soon!