Miami City Ballet Receives $50,000 NEA Grant

Miami City Ballet, one of the country's premier ballet companies, has received an Art Works grant of $50,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts, as part of the NEA's first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2018. The Art Works category is the NEA's largest funding category and supports projects that focus on the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and/or the strengthening of communities through the arts. Miami City Ballet received the Art Works grant to support the presentation of a centennial celebration of American Choreographer Jerome Robbins.

"It is energizing to see the impact that the arts are making throughout the United States. These NEA-supported projects, such as this one to Miami City Ballet, are good examples of how the arts build stronger and more vibrant communities, improve well-being, prepare our children to succeed, and increase the quality of our lives," said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. "At the National Endowment for the Arts, we believe that all people should have access to the joy, opportunities and connections the arts bring."

"We are honored and grateful to the NEA for its continued support and endorsement of Miami City Ballet," said Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez. "The Art Works grant enabled us to launch our season's tribute to the great American choreographer Jerome Robbins, who received his own NEA grant in 1966."

Miami City Ballet will continue to celebrate the life and work of Jerome Robbins with performances in two upcoming, world-class Festivals. In May, the company will open Charleston's 42nd Spoleto Festival USA with The Art of the Pas de Deux, a special program paying tribute to one of Robbins' historic presentations, before traveling to Paris for performances with the prestigious Les Etés de la Danse Festival.

The 42nd Annual Spoleto Festival USA, in Charleston, South Carolina will open with a special program commemorating the centenary of legendary choreographer Jerome Robbins, hosted by MCB Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez. The evening will pay tribute to an historic program Robbins organized and hosted for the 1973 Spoleto Festival in Italy entitled Celebration: The Art of the Pas de Deux, which featured world-class performances interspersed with Robbins's commentary. Lopez will assume Robbins' mantle as host and commentator as the company performs three of Robbins' works: Other Dances, In the Night and Afternoon of a Faun.

The company will also present second program of works, featuring Alexei Ratmansky's Concerto DSCH, Justin Peck's Heatscape, Sir Kenneth MacMillan's Carousel Pas de Deux and George Balanchine's Walpurgisnacht Ballet. https://spoletousa.org

The Company's tribute to Jerome Robbins continues with performances at Les Etés de la Danse Festival (Summers of Dance) in Paris, as part of the Festival's Robbins Centennial Celebration. This is a return engagement for the company, following its acclaimed three-week engagement in 2011. MCB will present Other Dances and In the Night as part of the Festival's second program, which will also feature performances by New York City Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet and Perm Opera Ballet Theatre. http://www.lesetesdeladanse.com/en/presentation

Miami City Ballet, now in its 32nd season, has been led by Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez since 2012. Lopez was recently named one of "The Most Influential People in Dance Today" by Dance Magazine. MCB was founded in 1985 by Miami philanthropist Toby Lerner Ansin and Founding Artistic Director Edward Villella. The Company has 51 dancers and a repertoire of more than 100 ballets. MCB performs for nearly 100,000 patrons annually during its South Florida home season in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Naples, and tours to top theaters domestically and internationally.

Miami City Ballet School, the official school of Miami City Ballet, is one of the most respected ballet training academies in America. The School's renowned faculty, challenging syllabus and affiliation with Miami City Ballet make it a place where all students - from children to adults - can receive comprehensive dance training. The School trains approximately 400 students, ages 3-18, in its year- round program, and 400 during its summer programs, granting nearly $500,000 in scholarships annually. More than 500 adults participate in a vibrant community division.

Miami City Ballet is headquartered in Miami Beach, Fla., at the Ophelia & Juan Js. Roca Center, a facility designed by renowned architectural firm Arquitectonica. http://www.miamicityballet.org

Photo Credit: Alberto Oviedo

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