Miami City Ballet Performs Swan Lake

When Miami City Ballet performs Swan Lake next month, they will also be celebrating two milestones.

For the first time in its 36-year history, the company will present the full-length version of one of the world’s most recognized classical ballets. Miami City Ballet’s opening night on February 11, 2022 at the Arsht Center also marks the North American premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s production of Swan Lake.

Miami City Ballet Performances ⤞

“Every major ballet company performs a version of Swan Lake as it is truly considered the epitome of classical ballet. I have wanted to bring this production to our audiences for more than six years and to finally see it come to life feels like an incredible achievement. Over the past 10 seasons with the company, I have watched our dancers grow artistically and technically and it is a thrill to see them take on this challenging ballet. Add Ratmansky’s genius and being witness to the genuine love and dedication he put into restoring the ballet’s original intent, we are simply honored and extremely excited for our audiences to experience the greatest of all classical ballets.”

Lourdes Lopez

Artistic Director of Miami City Ballet

Ratmansky “reconstructed” this Swan Lake based on historical notations and archival material dating to the 1895 Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov Mariinsky Theatre premiere. What you will experience in this production, as Ratmansky explains is, “a historically informed” presentation of the iconic classic.

Here the humanity and storytelling of the original ballet is restored along with visual attention to the time. Tutus are bell shaped rather than jutting out from the hip and the swan maidens wear their hair down, adorned with crowns rather than feathers, for they are women first. The sets are as grand as a medieval courtyard and as haunting and still as a misty lakeside at midnight. A timeless story, it deals with themes of love, romance, betrayal – real emotions that are part of the human condition.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FlJ-EJaoHM&list=PLso8wkRgWO85kuWLqDvm_WorH509ZFtZA&index=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtXi3rQKCBw&list=PLso8wkRgWO85kuWLqDvm_WorH509ZFtZA&index=2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Tdqu__98qo&list=PLso8wkRgWO85kuWLqDvm_WorH509ZFtZA&index=3

“Realizing Swan Lake has been a labor of love for us all at MCB,” explains Executive Director Tania Castroverde Moskalenko. “Mounting such a spectacular production has pushed not just our dancers and artistic staff, but our entire administrative team to new heights. I am very proud of everyone’s determination – from our extraordinary marketing and fund-raising teams to our devoted donors – everyone has worked tirelessly to bring this Swan Lake to our audiences, and we can’t wait for you to see it.”