(Miami Beach, FL) – This March, Miami City Ballet (MCB) will once again take the ballet outdoors and into vibrant Florida neighborhoods to celebrate the diverse communities that make South Florida a culturally rich, global destination. The pop-up performances, now called To Florida, With Love are all choreographed and performed by MCB’s world-class dancers, offering audiences a fresh way to experience the ballet in unique settings. 

Initially titled, To Miami, With Love, the series was born in response to the pandemic. The performances were the company’s way of saying thank you to the communities that have supported MCB throughout the years while spotlighting iconic destinations and providing the healing power of the arts while eliciting hope and resilience. This message continues this year.

To Florida, With Love has evolved to incorporate exciting new locations in the tri-county area, with ten choreographers presenting 11 exciting works. Many new works are inspired by and celebrate MCB’s South Florida home, providing uplift and inspiration. Yet, others are inspired by social, cultural, and personal issues that touch upon many different themes relating to the human condition.

For example, established choreographer and dancer Ariel Rose has created two works, the first, entitled România, is inspired by the history of Jewish people in Romania, who experienced severe antisemitism, violence, displacement, and suffering throughout the Middle Ages. His second, Meiyo No Tame, touches upon the legacy of onna-bugeisha (a term referring to female warriors in pre-modern Japan) pays tribute to Nakana Tekeko, a great women’s rights leader. 

MCB corps de ballet dancer Luiz Silva will debut In Perpetuity. Inspired by the beauty of nature and how it beautifully coexists, Silva visualized two human beings capable of dancing in perpetuity, adding that his work is “also reflective of my journey of finding my voice as a Black male dancer in the world.” Adding that he drew inspiration from his grandmother who frequently told him, ‘Whenever you understand your blackness, that is the day you will be set free.’”

While corps de ballet member Petra Love steps out with New Love, a satirical romp purely intended to make you smile. The piece plays with the dynamics between three competitive young dancers and a ballerina at the height of her career. 

And Steven Loch will premiere Un Baile Para Cinco, explaining, “This being my first season with Miami City Ballet, I wanted to create a piece that highlighted the company’s talent. The five ballerinas in my work all caught my eye with their technical abilities and artistry, and the blend of them all coming together as one truly embodies and represents the excellence, spirit, and energy of both Miami and Miami City Ballet.” 

Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez says, “Last year, the pop-ups proved a wonderful and much-needed respite from the heartache of the pandemic that brought communities together for moments of joy and beauty. At our core, we believe that MCB belongs to the community, and we strive to make it more inclusive by opening doors and creating bridges to access the art form. In addition, watching our dancers take on new creative endeavors and supporting them in their artistic growth is incredibly rewarding and I am proud of their dedication and work. After all, it’s the artists, dancers, and choreographers who will advance the future of ballet.”

“Not only do we believe in the healing power of the arts,” adds Executive Director Tania Castroverde Moskalenko, “we believe it has the power to uplift and unite communities. Providing access to ballet is critical to our mission and we look forward to expanding our efforts in communities throughout the tri-county and beyond as well as thoughtful and lasting engagements with our community partners. And we are grateful for everyone’s support.”

Dates & Locations: 

Sunday, March 6: The Underline Brickell Backyard Soundstage, Miami

Time: 4:00pm

To Florida, With Love commences with a return to Miami’s urban oasis. Performance followed by Q&A with the choreographer and dancers. (Free with advance registration)

Saturday, April 9: African American Research Library and Cultural Center, Fort Lauderdale 

4:00pm & 5:00pm

Luiz Silva’s In Perpetuity headlines this performance followed by a Q&A with Luiz and dancers at the end of the 5pm performance. (Free with advance registration.)

Sunday, April 10: Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, Delray Beach

1:00pm and 2:00pm

Enjoy a performance with the backdrop of Morikami’s stunning gardens. The last performance is followed by a Q&A with choreographer Ariel Rose and dancers who created a special work for Morikami. 

(Free with the price of admission)

Thursday, May 19: Miami Beach Botanical Garden, Miami Beach, Culture Crawl 

Culture Crawl begins at 6pm, performance at 6:30pm

To Florida, With Love closes near its home studios during Miami Beach’s final Culture Crawl of the season. (Free)

For more information visit miamicityballet.org/popups

ABOUT MIAMI CITY BALLET

Miami City Ballet has a diverse roster of 54 dancers and a repertoire of more than 130 works. As one of the most renowned ballet companies in the country, Miami City Ballet performs for nearly 125,000 patrons annually during its South Florida home season in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West 

Palm Beach and tours to major cities domestically and internationally, including recent visits to New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris.

Miami City Ballet School, the official school of Miami City Ballet, is one of the most respected ballet training academies in America. The School trains students, ages 3-18 year-round, and grants more than $650,000 in scholarships annually. 

Miami City Ballet’s Community Engagement programs, serving more than 12,000 people annually in schools and communities; our free programs use the power of dance to uplift, teach and bring joy.  

Executive Director Tania Castroverde Moskalenko and Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez lead the company. Lopez was recently awarded the prestigious Dance Magazine Award in 2018 and was 

named one of “The Most Influential People in Dance Today.” She is on the Ford Foundation Board of Trustees, the first artist to ever serve on its Board.

Miami City Ballet was founded in 1985 by Miami philanthropist Toby Lerner Ansin and Founding Artistic Director Edward Villella. It is headquartered in Miami Beach, FL, at the Ophelia & Juan Js. Roca Center, a facility designed by renowned architectural firm, Arquitectonica.

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The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has been a generous supporter of Miami City Ballet with over $11 million in cumulative giving since the company’s founding. Knight Foundation is a national foundation with strong local roots. We invest in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. Our goal is to foster informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy. For more, visit KF.org.

Major funding is also provided by the Ford Foundation, working with visionaries on the frontlines of social change worldwide.

Miami-Dade County support is 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. 

Performances and programming in Miami Beach is provided with the generous support of the City of Miami Beach and the Cultural Arts Council. 

Support for Miami City Ballet in the Palm Beaches is generously sponsored in part by the Board of County Commissioners, the Tourist Development Council and the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County. 

Broward County funding is provided in part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners of Broward County, Florida, as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council.

The Company is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.