Miami, FL – February 14, 2014 – It was an unforgettable evening of dancing, entertainment and love as Academy Award-Winning Actor George Chakiris hosted a special Valentine’s Day soiree in praise of the timeless and iconic love story, West Side Story Suite. The Miami City Ballet’s 2014 Gala paid tribute to legend Jerome Robbins‘ classic as guests watched MCB’s own Sharks and Jets rumble, fall in love, dance, and sing to Leonard Bernstein’s vibrant score with its Latin rhythms, and Stephen Sondheim’s incomparable lyrics. As one of Miami’s premiere benefit engagements, the annual Miami City Ballet Gala provides critical funding to support MCB performances, education, and outreach initiatives. The gala capped the premiere performance of “West Side Story Suite,” the balletic version of the great Robbins-Bernstein-Sondheim stage play and movie. Miami City Ballet joins other top-tier American ballet companies — New York City Ballet and San Francisco Ballet — in adding the work to its repertory.

George Chakiris, Adrienne Arsht, & John Richard

George Chakiris, Lourdes Lopez, & George Skouras

George Skouras, Adriel Saporta, Anichya Gujral, & Lourdes Lopez

Jorge & Darlene Perez

Adrienne Arsht, Jorge Perez, George Feldenkreis, & Nora Bulnes

Adrienne Arsht, George & Mariita Feldenkreis

Adrienne Arsht & Swanee DiMare

Joshua Robison & Sarah Arison

Michele & Lawrence Herbert

Charlie Cinnamon, Toby Ansin, & Sanfor Evans

George Chakiris & Sue Kronick

Sue Kronic

George Chakiris

Mike & Margaret Eidson

Maile Nomm & Vila Digryte

Vila Digryte & Maile Nomm

Jorge & Darlene Perez, Mari & Pedro Martin

Edgardo & Ana Cristina Defortuna

Mary Elizabeth & Edward Crawford

Constantine Max, Claudia Perles, & Egor Tatarenko

Maria Elvira Salazar & Armando Codino

Chris Adamo & Randi Wolfson

Luke Frazier, Martina Feldenkreis, & Robert Pullen

Bernardo Fort-Brescia, Jessica Goldman Srebnick, & Andrew Frey

Jessica Goldman Srebnick & Scott Srebnick

John Montgomery & Carol Coletta

John Richard. Mike Eidson, & Adrienne Arsht

Lourdes Lopez & George Skouras

Joshua Robison & Lourdes Lopez

Christina Spigner, Brianna Abruzzo, Leanna Rinaldi, & Ellen Grocki

George Chakiris, Lourdes Lopez, Maggie & Armando Codina

Randi Wolfson & Chris Adamo

Adrienne Arsht & John Richard

Sam Rabin & Maria Beguiristain

Rutinha Malzoni & Robert Knibel

Trish & Dan Bell, & Swanee DiMare