Ballet Flamenco La Rosa brings ‘Miss Julie’ back 

Guest artists Antonio Aguilar and Nella Madarro—pictured here alongside the dancers of Ballet Flamenco La Rosa—starred in the 2014 world premiere of the flamenco ballet “Miss Julie,” a production that now returns to the stage for two performances at the Colony Theatre in Miami Beach. (Photograph by Jenny Abreu, courtesy of Ballet Flamenco La Rosa.)

Ballet Flamenco La Rosa (BFLR) debuted its flamenco dance-theater adaptation titled “Miss Julie” (“Señorita Julia”) —a production staged by Ilisa Rosal in 2014. Now, Rosal brings the piece back saying that “the emotional and theatrical essence of the piece remains intact, while continuing to evolve artistically through new interpretations.”

Inspired by the play “Miss Julie” — written in 1888 by Swedish playwright August Strindberg (1849–1912) , the production will be on stage at the Colony Theatre on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach, for two performances on Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24.

The revival will feature guest artists from Spain alongside the company’s dancers and musicians.

Flamenco dancers Antonio Aguilar (Jean) and Mayelu Pérez (Christine) at the world premiere of the flamenco ballet “Miss Julie” in 2014. (Photograph by Jenny Abreu, courtesy of Ballet Flamenco La Rosa).

“Each artist brings their own personality, experience, and emotional perspective to the production, allowing the work to feel fresh, alive, and deeply relevant to today’s audiences,” remarks Rosal.

Since 1990—when she premiered “The Trojan Women,” based on Euripides’ tragedy—Rosal has been presenting flamenco adaptations of renowned theatrical pieces and literary works.

“Expressing a literary work in this manner entails seeking out the “duende” within the text. It is about finding those moments in which a character’s experiences and emotions become universal,” she explains in the press notes promoting these two performances.

‘Duende” is a Spanish term that describes the achievement of a magical state in a flamenco performance.

To date, Rosal has created 18 flamenco dance-theater adaptations. The most recent of these was “The Virgin and the Gypsy” (2025), inspired by the D. H. Lawrence novel of the same name. Two of her works have been based on plays by Strindberg: “Miss Julie” (2014) and “The Father” (2015).

Strindberg’s play features only three characters: Julie, Jean, and Christine. Julie is a young aristocrat, Jean is the household servant, and Christine is the cook and Jean’s fiancée.

“On this occasion, Miss Julie will be portrayed by the dancer and choreographer La Emi—one of the most respected and accomplished flamenco artists on the international stage today,” says Rosal. “Her artistic intensity, emotional depth, and commanding stage presence make her the ideal choice for this psychologically complex role.”

American flamenco dancer Emmy Grimm, professionally known as La Emi, was born in New Mexico. She began studying flamenco at the age of four and, at ten, joined María Benítez’s prestigious youth flamenco company. In 2014, she founded her own company, and in 2018, she established her academy, where she serves as both a teacher and a director.

Flamenco dancer Nella Madarro, as a guest artist, starred in “Miss Julie” in 2014. (Photograph by Jenny Abreu, courtesy of Ballet Flamenco La Rosa).

For the role of Jean, BFLR has invited Pepe Flores—a Barcelona-born flamenco dancer with a large following in Miami—who, in 2023, starred as the male lead in “Desire,” Rosal’s adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire”.

Flores previously starred as the male lead in “The Seagull” (2016) and “Count Dracula” (2018). He was also a member of the cast of “Flamenco Force” in 2017, as part of a “Pure Flamenco” performance.

La Emi and Pepe Flores have shared the stage before, in Rosal’s “Count Dracula.”

Flamenco dancers La Emi and Pepe Flores in “Count Dracula,” premiered in 2018. (Photograph by Jenny Abreu, courtesy of Ballet Flamenco La Rosa).

Cuban flamenco dancer Mayelu Pérez—now in her eleventh season with BFLR—will take on the role of Christine.

In addition to being one of Strindberg’s most frequently performed works—with numerous adaptations for film, television, opera, and dance— “Miss Julie” is one of Rosal’s most successful productions. 

At the 2022 Daniel Lewis Dance Series, BFLR made a standout appearance with a “farruca” excerpted from the 2014 staging.

“This is one of the productions that audiences have requested from us most frequently. So, when the opportunity arose to present it at the Colony Theatre bringing it to fruition became the next logical step,”  says the artistic director and choreographer.

Rosal says that there is a reason to bring “Miss Julie” back in addition to it being an audience favorite.

“We hope that this production proves to be a deeply moving artistic experience for the audience while simultaneously reaffirming BFLR’s commitment to original flamenco theater works that fuse powerful storytelling with the emotional intensity and versatility of flamenco music and dance.”

WHAT: “Miss Julie,” a flamenco ballet by Ilisa Rosal, based on the play by August Strindberg.

WHEN: 8 p.m, Saturday, May 23 and 3 p.m., Sunday, May 24

WHERE: Colony Theatre, 1040 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach

COST: $45–$60

 INFORMATION:  (786) 320-6982 or www.balletflamencolarosa.com 

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