Miami, FL – March 18 & 20, 2016 – Miami City Ballet’s landmark 30th Anniversary Season came to a thrilling finale with an unprecedented re-imagining of George Balanchine’s magical full-evening ballet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The brand new production debuted at the Arsht Center and featured all-new sets and costumes by artist Michele Oka Doner, dramatic direction by playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney and Artistic Direction by MCB’s visionary Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez. Miami City Ballet’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream was made possible by the generosity of philanthropists and community leaders, including Title Sponsors of A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Claudia and Steven Perles, who made an extraordinary gift of $1 Million gift for the new production. Lead Sponsors of the production are MCB supporters Margarita and Armando Codina and Ophelia and Juan Js. Roca; Underwriters include Deborah and Charles Adelman; Sarah Arison; Ana and Robert Barlick; Stuart H. Coleman & Meryl Rosofsky; Swanee and Paul DiMare; Michele and Larry Herbert; Kristi and Dean Jernigan; Susan D. Kronick and Edward Manno Shumsky; Lewis Rainieri; Mary Spencer.  A Knight Arts Challenge grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation supports the creation and presentation of this work.The original children’s costumes were made possible by Kinga and Edward Lampert. Bank of America is Miami City Ballet’s 30th Anniversary South Florida Corporate Leader and partners with MCB on this historic production.

Miami City Ballet’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream Performance & Donor Dinner

Miami, FL – March 18, 2016 – Friday night marked the world premiere for the new production, and audience members applauded the ballet and MCB dancers with countless standing ovations. Directly following the performance, major donors and Midsummer supporters were treated to a stunning private dinner on the stage of the Ziff Ballet Opera House. Hosted by Dr. Margaret and Mike Eidson, the dinner was attended by all 51 MCB dancers, and featured shimmering golden seashell centerpieces evoking the underwater staging of the ballet.  Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez, Executive Director Michael Scolamiero, Board Chair Sue Kronick, and Director of the George Balanchine Trust Ellen Sorrin all made heartfelt remarks thanking everyone involved in this historic production. The dinner saluted all Midsummer donors, with a very special acknowledgment of Title Sponsors, Claudia and Steven Perles.

Dancer Farewell

Miami, FL – March 20, 2016 – Following the Sunday afternoon performance, the final curtain went up to reveal longtime Miami City Ballet principal dancers – and husband and wife  – Carlos Miguel Guerra and Jennifer Carlynn Kronenberg. The couple have announced that the 2015-2016 season will conclude their time with Miami City Ballet, departing after 15 years and 22 years, respectively. The beloved dancers took their final bows at the Arsht Center while long-time fans, audience, and orchestra members tossed roses onto the stage to salute them. MCB dancers joined the couple on stage to embrace them one by one, and the moving farewell ended with their young daughter Eva presenting them each with a bouquet and taking a final bow with her parents.