Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida’s 25/26 season culminates in a breathtaking Spring Gala, celebrating artists from all over the globe. In the final program of the season, Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida explores varied cultural landmarks through both neoclassical and classical styles. This spectacular production will be on the stages of the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts on May 2nd and the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center on May 3rd. VIP tickets are available for sale and will include a free drink voucher.
The closing of the season also marks the last events for the Arts Ballet Encounters (ABE) educational outreach series. The ABE series continues before the shows at the Amaturo Theater and the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center with a 30-minute talkback session, featuring conversations with Maestro Vladimir Issaev and the Arts Ballet dancers, which will provide deeper context and give the audience an opportunity to further connect with the show they are about to watch.
Arts Ballet’s annual Spring Gala showcases all the beauty, skill, and determination the North Miami Beach-based company has been known for in the past 29 seasons with a carefully curated night of music and dance. The evening will begin with “Danzón” set to the music of the prolific Mexican composer Arturo Márquez and choreographed by Yanis Pikieris. This lively neoclassical piece is a crowd favorite and promises to delight once more.
A highlight of the evening is the exquisite Pas de Deux from “La Traviata,” set to Giuseppe Verdi’s iconic score. This poignant ballet piece captures the tragic beauty of Verdi’s opera, emphasizing the emotional depth of Issaev’s choreography.
Included in the program is a presentation of “Shostakovich Suites” also choreographed by Issaev. The heartfelt, complex music works in tandem with dynamic techniques to bring to life this spirited interpretation.
The evening continues with “Tarde en la Siesta,” a lyrical ballet from renowned Cuban choreographer Alberto Méndez. Méndez and Issaev are collaborating in order to restage the work, which was originally presented at the Metropolitan Opera House and the Ballet Nacional de Cuba. The piece is recognized as a significant cultural work in Cuba, joining Méndez’s introspective choreography with the music of the prolific and legendary Ernesto Lecuona, whose original recordings will be heard as they accompany what has been called the “Cuban Grand Pas de Quatre.”
The program concludes with the U.S. premiere of “Polovtsian Dances,” from Alexander Borodin’s epic opera “Prince Igor” with choreography by Vladimir Issaev. The Polovsty were a nomadic tribe who, in the opera, capture the prince and dance for him. The grandiose production features a company of 32 dancers that showcase and espouse the ferocity and passion of the Polovtsian people in a stunning display of music and movement. The presentation of “Polovtsian Dances” is generously underwritten by Funding Arts Broward (FAB!) and Funding Arts Network (FAN), whose support has made this spectacular finale possible.