Miami Beach Dance Festival

From April 3rd through Apr 13th, 2008. For the fifth consecutive year the Miami Beach Dance Festival brings to Miami dynamic dance from national and international companies including the Ballet Hispanico from New York, Ballet Contemporaneo de la Ciudad de Oaxaca, Mexico; a return performance by 2006 favorite Florida Dance Theatre from Lakeland, newcomer BrazzDance Theater and Festival founders Momentum Dance Company and Ballet Flamenco La Rosa. Lectures, master dance classes, social events and presentation of dance related films round out the ten-day festival. Venues include the Byron Carlyle Theater, Miami-Dade County Auditorium, the Miami Beach Botanical Garden and Miami Beach Cinematheque.

The 2008 Festival will showcase an opening night “Fandango” by Ballet Contemporaneo at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden. This free event is an informal performance of Mexican folkloric and social dance with live music and audience participation. Film Night at the Miami Beach Cinematheque offers a screening of "All That Jazz" with Roy Scheider, Ann Reinking and Jessica Lange. The film gives a remarkably realistic view of life as a Broadway dancer. Broadway dancer Christine Bailey will be on hand to talk about her professional experiences dancing on the Great White Way. Master classes with guest company directors will round out the Festival, including a special class in Katherine Dunham technique by Ballet Hispanico, ballet with Florida Dance Theatre’s Carol Krajecic, modern with Ballet Contemporaneo’s Laura Vera, and Afro-Brazilian with Momentum’s Odman Felix.

"The Miami Beach Dance Festival is a celebration of our profoundly human, deeply moving and fantastically diverse art form,” explains Iles. "Over 50 artists will gather to share their love and enthusiasm for dance through a wonderful menu of activities that will engage audiences in so many meaningful ways. Dance is a living thing that can only be experienced in the moment of action, whether you are watching a concert or taking a class you feel its power. We are proud to share our love of dance with each member of our audience. It’s real. It’s personal and it is an experience for which there is no substitute."

For more information, please call: 305.858.7002