Renowned for its excellence and ability to attract over 100 world-renowned artists each year, IBFM stands as one of the most anticipated events of the summer in Miami.
This annual festival not only establishes Miami as a world-class cultural epicenter, but also attracts some of the most prominent ballet and contemporary dance companies from Europe, South America, Asia, and North America, many of which make their U.S. debut. IBFM activities are diverse, ranging from art exhibitions to book launches, dance film screenings, workshops, and master classes, complemented by ten performances at select venues in Miami Beach, South Miami, Miami, and Broward County.
Heriberto Jiménez, artistic director of the festival, revealed to DIARIO LAS AMÉRICAS that “for the contemporary dance performances we will have delegations from France, the Dominican Republic, England, Colombia and the United States. For the classical ballet performances we will have delegations from Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico and Spain.”
As a new feature of this edition, he announced that two classical ballet companies (from Serbia and Romania) will be arriving, which will perform for the first time in the United States.
“The artist chosen this year for the festival poster is called Eric Picardo, who lives in Miami and will have his exhibition at the Hispanic Cultural Arts Center in Miami. In addition, the artist who made the statuette for the ‘A Life for Dance’ award is the Mexican David Camorlinga,” Jiménez explained.
The official opening of the festival will take place on Saturday, July 20 at 7:00 pm, in the galleries of the Miami Hispanic Cultural Arts Center. There will be a VIP reception with the presentation of the poster designed this year by Afro-Caribbean artist Eric Picardo, with graphic design by Camilo Rubio. In addition, the cultural center will be enriched with the exhibition of Picardo’s works and the presentation of the statuette “A Life for Dance”, a work by Mexican sculptor David Cormalinga, and inspired by the Prima Ballerina Maya Plisetskaya. This event also marks the inauguration of the Art Exhibition Series. Attendance to this event is by invitation only.
IBFM also offers an Intensive Ballet Course from July 22 to August 9, appealing to students from different countries such as Colombia, Panama, Dominican Republic and the United States. The course offers flexible options over two or three weeks and features a comprehensive curriculum covering ballet technique, variations, pointe, pas de deux, contemporary, jazz and more. With a focus on nurturing talent and encouraging artistic growth, the program is designed to empower dancers to reach their full potential in an inspiring and supportive environment.
On Monday, July 22, at 8:00 p.m., in collaboration with the Cinemathèque de la Danse in Paris and the Dance Film Association (New York), the festival presents a film series that aims to educate the public by showing documentaries and dance films. The documentary “The Kind Euphoria of Dance” directed by Cuban filmmaker Miguel Castañet, explores the life and legacy of Pedro Pablo Peña, the late founder and director of IBFM and the Hispanic Cultural Arts Center in Miami.
Also, from July 26-28, the festival will highlight performances by young medalists, who represent the bright future of dance. This segment will include special events such as a presentation for students at the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center, as well as free outdoor performances on Lincoln Rd and at the Miami Theater Center. This collaboration includes prestigious competitions such as the Miami International Ballet Competition, Universal Ballet Competition (USA), Mercosur Dance Competition, Latin America Dance (Argentina), Danza Activa (Panama) and World Dance Award (Italy), among others.
On Sunday, July 28, there will be a Dance Marathon at the Miami Beach Bandshell, a free outdoor show highlighting young talent from Miami. This event is held in collaboration with Dancetown Miami, Dance Attack, Dance Empire, St. Lucie Ballet, and International Dance Academy.
Beginning August 1, the focus shifts to contemporary dance, featuring cutting-edge companies from Colombia, France, the Dominican Republic, England and the United States in venues including Lincoln Rd, Lehman Theater, Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.
Literature is also part of this dance celebration, on August 9 at the Hispanic Cultural Arts Center in Miami, with the presentation of magazines and books dedicated to dance, with esteemed authors attending for their launch and signing.
The festival climaxes with two classical galas on August 10 and 11 at the Fillmore Miami Beach, where leading dancers from global companies including Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Mexico, Romania, Spain and the United States will unite to dazzle audiences.
The “Grand Classical Gala” on August 10 will include the presentation of the “A Life for Dance” award to the outstanding Russian dancer Valentina Kozlova. The following day, the “Closing Gala” will close the event with a special program that will include the presentation of the “Criticism and Culture of Dance” award to Mr. Perfecto Uriel, renowned director of Casa de la Danza and editor of the magazine Danza en Escena in Spain.
With its rich artistic offering and its ability to attract talent from around the world, the XXIX Miami International Ballet Festival continues to establish itself as a fundamental pillar in the global cultural calendar, offering its audience an unforgettable experience of dance and art.
More about the ballet festival
The Miami Spanish Ballet Company was established in 1993 as a non-profit dance organization dedicated to identifying and promoting professional dance artists of Hispanic descent in Miami-Dade County. Since its inception, the Miami Spanish Ballet Company has also taken on the role of producer and presenter, providing major gala performances of proven artistic excellence that led to the creation of the annual Miami International Ballet Festival, recognized as the most successful in the U.S. and the only one of its kind in the State of Florida, providing our residents and visitors with the unique opportunity to see a wide range of local, national and international artists of exceptional merit.
This festival represents the most ambitious ballet project ever conceived in South Florida, the magnitude of its programming, along with the prestige of the participating companies and the renowned leading ballet stars, have captured the attention of the most demanding public. The festival has received excellent reviews and has earned the utmost respect from local and international media, significantly raising Miami’s profile among international ballet companies as a destination for talented artists to be appreciated.
To learn more about the festival, visit www.internationalballetfestival.org