Miami City Ballet’s (MCB) reimagined production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker returns to South Florida stages, featuring enchanting costumes and sets designed by Cuban-American artistic power couple Isabel and Ruben Toledo, paired with Balanchine’s glorious choreography and Tchaikovsky’s beloved score. All performances feature live music performed live by Opus One Orchestra.
The dazzling production opens at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami from December 13–22 and continues at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach from December 27–29.
“We take great pride in bringing George Balanchine’s festive holiday classic to South Florida audiences for the 29th year, capturing the wonder of childhood with its fantastic score, vibrant costumes and rich holiday tradition,” said Miami City Ballet Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez. “The Nutcracker serves as a gateway to the art form of classical ballet for many audiences, making its annual performance critical to our mission of engaging the community in the arts.”
In 2017, the late Isabel Toledo and her husband Ruben Toledo designed brilliant new costumes and sets exclusively for Miami City Ballet’s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. Isabel passed away in August – a great loss to the creative worlds of fashion and art. She is revered as one of the greatest fashion designers of the last two decades.
Miami City Ballet would like to take this opportunity to celebrate and remember the life and incredible contribution that Isabel Toledo has made to their company and their audiences. They are so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Isabel and will remember her with joy and love each time they perform this work.
Lopes went on to say: “This season, we perform this beautiful ballet in tribute to Cuban-American designer Isabel Toledo, who was revered all over the world as one of the great fashion designers of the last two decades, and who designed the costumes of our new Nutcracker, with her husband, Ruben Toledo, designing the sets. As we reflect on the life and work of Isabel, as both a friend and an artist, we are reminded of all the beautiful, tender moments when she and Ruben were in our Miami City Ballet studios and how full of joy she was to see her designs move across the studio and stage as our dancers danced. Isabel was beloved by MCB dancers and staff alike. We were thrilled by her unique and vivid sense of style, her meticulous technique and her deep reservoir of creativity. She was always welcoming, thoughtful and gracious, and she brought a tremendous generosity of spirit to every encounter. We were so very fortunate to have these moments in our hearts and feel privileged to now continue to wear her art on our stages year after year.”
Miami City Ballet is one of the few companies in the country to continuously perform George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. This holiday favorite features an impressive cast of more than 100 performers, including 70 children from Miami City Ballet School.
Tickets are available now at miamicityballet.org/nutcracker, by phone at 305.929.7010 or 877.929.7010, and in person at 2200 Liberty Ave, Miami Beach FL, 33139.
