Miami may have rather a frivolous reputation as the world’s fun & sun capital, but each August many of the most prestigious ballet companies make their way to our local stages as part of the International Ballet Festival, imparting a profound cultural opportunity for dance fans and local performers who can join in master classes with top professionals. For the price of a ticket, audiences can see programs that would otherwise require travel to the world’s capitals as past participants made their way here from Brazil, Chile, England, Germany, India and Spain!
Under the dedicated direction of Pedro Pablo Peña, the Miami festival includes five major performances at four regional theaters plus a dance film series, a dance-themed art exhibit and local workshops and master classes. Spanning Dade and Broward Counties, the month long event brings hundreds of dancers to the stages at the Lehman Theater at Miami Dade College, Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center, and South Beach’s Fillmore at the Jackie Gleason. The culmination of the festival is the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award which has already been given to Marcia Haydee, Fernando Bujones, and Miami City Ballet’s Director Edward Villella.
Events for the seventeenth season of the International Ballet Festival have not been announced but will be posted at the official website this summer. If you are interested in attending a performance, the awards gala or a local dance film screening at the Miami Beach Cinematheque, advance tickets will be sold online at ticketmaster.com
International Ballet Festival of Miami, 900 SW 1st Street, Miami, FL.