Dance
So Much Dance At This Year’s International Ballet Festival of Miami
The 30th Miami International Ballet Festival (IBFM), taking place from Saturday, July 26 to Sunday, Aug. 17 throughout South Florida, will feature artists from 17 companies and 11 countries. Pictured are Emily Bromberg and Ariel Morilla (Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami) in “If” by Yanis Eric Pikieris. (Photo by Simon Soong, courtesy of Miami Hispanic Ballet/IBFM).
What began as a series of classical ballet performances has grown into a multidisciplinary international event and now with a strong Latin American presence.
The International Ballet Festival of Miami (IBFM), under the executive and artistic direction of Eriberto Jiménez, marks its 30th edition beginning Saturday, July 26 to Sunday, Aug. 17, and will feature 17 companies from 11 countries with indoor and outdoor public performances, and grand classical galas.
Katherine Rodríguez and Emmanuel Vázquez of the Santiago Ballet (Chile) in “Sleeping Beauty.” The company was featured in the 29th Miami International Ballet Festival. (Photo by Simon Soong, courtesy of Miami Hispanic Ballet/IBFM).
According to Jiménez, who is also the artistic director of the Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami (CCBM), it has been “its resilience in the face of challenges and its continuous work promoting dance that have ensured (the festival’s) relevance and international projection over time.”
When its founder, Pedro Pablo Peña, passed away in March 2018, Jiménez assumed the reins of both organizations. “The Festival has evolved significantly since its first edition,” says Jiménez.
The event will showcase dance performances in Miami, Miami Beach, South Miami, and Fort Lauderdale, along with a variety of collateral activities.
United States-based groups sending representatives to Miami are Ballet Inc., Cincinnati Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, and Virginia National Ballet.
Melissa Oliveira and Agustín Pereyra (Ballet Nacional Sodre, Uruguay) in “The Flames of Paris.” (Photo by Simon Soong, courtesy of Miami Hispanic Ballet/IBFM).
From the rest of the Americas, IBFM will be welcoming the Ballet do Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Les Grands Ballets Canadiens (Canada), the Colombian Ballet Company (Colombia), the Compañía Nacional de Danza Contemporánea (Dominican Republic), the Ballet Nacional Sodre (Uruguay), and three groups from Mexico will participate: the Compañía Nacional de Danza, the Ballet de Monterrey, and Cuerpo Etéreo Danza Contemporánea.
From Europe, the National Ballet Theatre of Košice (Slovakia) will participate.
Miami will be represented by Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida (ABTF), Marez Contemporary Dance, Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami (DDTM), and CCBM as the host company.
The festival opens on Saturday, July 26, with a VIP reception for the unveiling of the festival poster (designed by Camilo Rubio and illustrated by Omar Corrales Mora) at the Miami Hispanic Cultural Arts Center (MHCAC), 111 S.W. 5th Ave.
From Monday, July 28 to Friday, Aug. 15, students from various companies and countries will participate in the event’s Intensive Ballet Course at the MHCAC.
“The star-studded galas remain the heart of the festival,” says Eriberto Jiménez, executive and artistic director of IBFM. (Photo by Ismael Requejo, courtesy of Miami Hispanic Ballet/IBFM).
Jiménez adds that on Tuesday, July 29, a conference titled “The Magic of the Body on Stage” will be led by director and choreographer Keyla Ermecheo and theater director José Eduardo Pardo. “There will also be a special presentation by Ballet Iberoamericano plus a unique performance project comprised of former dancers over 50 years of age,” says Jiménez about the free performance open to the public and set for 6 p.m. at the MHCAC.
A significant initiative in the history of the IBFM has been the creation of two awards presented at each edition: “A Lifetime of Dance” since 1998 and “Ballet Criticism and Culture” since 2007.
This year, the first award will be presented at the Grand Classical Gala to Argentine principal dancer Julio Bocca on Saturday, Aug. 16, to and American dance critic Robert Johnson will receive the second award at the start of the festival’s Closing Gala, scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 17.
“For those attending the festival for the first time,” says Jiménez, “I would recommend starting with the international star galas, which bring together leading dancers from renowned companies from around the world and are true spectacles of technical and artistic excellence. You should also attend the contemporary dance performances, where you can discover innovative proposals and more avant-garde styles.”
Nathalia Duque and Andrés Felipe Vargas (Incolballet, Colombia) in “Giselle” Pas de Deux from Act II. (Photo by Simon Soong, courtesy of Miami Hispanic Ballet/IBFM).
From Friday, Aug. 1, to Sunday, Aug. 3, there will be performances by young medalists. Miami dance lovers will have the opportunity to enjoy contemporary dance performances from Thursday, Aug. 7 to Sunday, Aug. 10. The festival will culminate with two concert galas on Saturday, Aug. 16, and Sunday, Aug. 17.
Jiménez recommends that “for regular festivalgoers, who are already familiar with our essence and history, I would recommend not missing some of this year’s most notable new features. (There’s) the debut of the Slovak National Ballet and Marez Contemporary Dance, and the special participation of the Cincinnati Ballet, now under the artistic direction of Cervilio Amador, a Cuban dancer who participated in the festival years ago.”
María Luisa Márquez with Ihosvany Rodríguez (Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami) in “La Esmeralda” Pas de Deux. (Photo by Simon Soong, courtesy of Miami Hispanic Ballet/IBFM).
While the heart of the festival is the star-studded galas, Jiménez promises something more this celebratory year.
“The 30th edition features new offerings and collaborations that will surprise even our most loyal fans.”
WHAT: 30th International Ballet Festival Miami (IBFM)
WHEN AND WHERE: Young Medalists: 8 p.m., Friday, Aug. 1, Lincoln Road, Euclid Circle, 1623 Euclid Ave, South Beach Plaza, Miami Beach; 8 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 2, Manuel Artime Theater, 900 SW 1st St., Miami; 11 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 3, Dance Marathon, Bayfront Park, Tina Hills Pavilion, 301 N. Biscayne Blvd., Miami; Contemporary Dance: Thursday, Aug. 7, outdoor show at Brickell City Centre (second floor), 701 S. Miami Ave., Miami; 8 p.m., Aug. 8, Manuel Artime Theater; 8 p.m., Aug. 9, Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center, 10950 SW 211 St., Cutler Bay; 5 p.m., Aug. 10, Amaturo Theater, Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW 5th Ave., Fort Lauderdale; Grand Classical Galas: 8 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 16 and 5 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 17, Fillmore Miami Beach, 1700 Washington Ave., Miami Beach.
COST: $35, $45, $65 depending on venue and performance. Outdoor events are free.
INFORMATION: (786) 747-1877 and internationalballetfestival.org
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