Beginning August 11, 2025, Gonzalo Garcia will be Miami City Ballet’s next Artistic Director, just in time to usher in the company’s 40th anniversary season.
Garcia takes the helm after the announcement of Lourdes Lopez’s departure in February 2025 led to an international search conducted by Phillip DeBoer of DHR Global.
In a statement, Jeff Davis, Chair of the Board of Trustees, expresses:
“We are delighted to welcome Gonzalo to the artistic helm of Miami City Ballet. His international credentials are matched by his genuine devotion to mentoring dancers and engaging audiences.
Gonzalo brings with him deep relationships with many of the world’s most prominent choreographers – Justin Peck, Alexei Ratmansky, Christopher Wheeldon, Patricia Delgado, and more.
He is uniquely poised to steer the company and school towards their next level of excellence and impact as we continue to elevate the performing arts profile of Miami.”
Kristina Newman-Scott, Vice President of Arts at Knight Foundation adds, “Gonzalo, in many ways, represents the future of ballet. His passion, experience, and charisma make him an ideal candidate for the Artistic Director role at MCB. He has the potential to spark exciting national and international collaborations, which will benefit Miami and our diverse communities.”
About Gonzalo Garcia
A Zaragoza (Spain) native, Gonzalo Garcia began his professional career at San Francisco Ballet after winning the gold medal at the Prix de Lausanne at 15 – the youngest dancer to ever win this prestigious award.
In San Francisco, he moved through the ranks and became a Principal Dancer in 2002 during which time he danced leading roles in Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, and The Nutcracker. He also had roles created for him by then-director Helgo Tomasson, Mark Morris, and Lar Lubovitch.
After a decade with the Bay area company, Garcia moved to the east coast to join New York City Ballet as a Principal Dancer where he went on to dance for fifteen more years before retiring from the stage in 2022.
He was recognized for his interpretations in George Balanchine’s Apollo, The Four Temperaments, and Prodigal Son as well as in Jerome Robbins’ Dances at a Gathering and originated roles in contemporary ballets by Justin Peck, Alexei Ratmansky, and Christopher Wheeldon.
Upon taking his follow bow, thanks to his profound understanding of Balanchine ballets, Garcia became NYCB’s Repertory Director where he coached the leading roles in thr choreographer’s works such as Jewels, Symphony in C, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Swan Lake.
“I am energized by the opportunity to lead Miami City Ballet at this dynamic moment. Miami is barreling into the future with unparalleled momentum. It’s a city simmering with creativity, diversity, and rich cultural exchange – I intend to channel that electricity into every fiber of Miami City Ballet.
My goal is to continue honoring the company’s impressive legacy, while igniting new vibrancy and excellence. I’ll champion new voices and ideas alongside beloved masterworks and build bridges between artistic innovation and audience connection.
Ballet can soar when it’s both brilliant and inclusive, with one foot rooted in tradition and the other leaping into the future.“
– Gonzalo Garcia, Incoming Artistic Director of Miami City Ballet
Featured Photo of Miami City Ballet‘s next Artistic Director Gonzalo Garcia. Photo by Rodrigo Díaz Wichmann.
Miami City Ballet is never going to achieve the level of success they seem so desperate for without the direct support and engagement of the locals: the men and women who have naturally shaped this city in a way that can only be done by being born and raised here. The sooner you stop ignoring this truth, the sooner the whole community will thrive and benefit.