Royal Ballet Gala shows coming to Miramar Cultural Center April 17-18

By Chris Guanche, Forum Publishing Group

April 11, 2010

A South Florida ballet company is returning to Miramar with a show featuring several classic works.

The Royal Ballet Gala by Ballet Etudes will be performed at the Miramar Cultural Center, 2400 Civic Center Place, with an 8 p.m. Saturday show and a 3 p.m. April 18 show. The show follows a 2009 gala performed by Ballet Etudes and Christmas run of "The Nutcracker" in Miramar.

"They've become quite at home at the cultural center, and we're thrilled to have them," said center spokeswoman Edna LaRoche.

Based out of Miami-Dade County, the company has performed at different venues around South Florida for about 36 years, said artistic director Susana Prieto. The company spent 20 years performing shows at the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami Beach but has since moved on to venues such as the Dade County Auditorium and the Miramar center. The group shares its name with a dance school that was founded at the same time.

Prieto said the company is performing the gala as a two-day show because its rendition of "The Nutcracker" was so well received.

"People are willing to go to the theater," she said. "They just don't want to travel so far."

The show will feature excerpts from various shows. The show will feature a condensed version of "Don Quixote" that boils the story of the ballet down to one act. Other acts will include the balcony scenes from "Romeo and Juliet," the final act from "Sleeping Beauty" and an excerpt from "La Esmeralda Pas de Deux."

The company performed its condensed "Don Quixote" at the 2009 gala, but the other excerpted works are new to this show. On a personal level, Prieto said "Romeo and Juliet" was an important addition.

"It's something I've wanted to do for a long time," she said.

The company, which has studios in Hialeah and Miami Lakes, has been rehearsing the show since January, following the end of "The Nutcracker." Prieto said the show will feature between 30 and 40 performers, including guest dancers from Brazil.

Prieto said the goal in picking works for the gala was to expose the public to classic works and increase awareness.

"These works have endured the test of time, but if people don't come out to see them, they'll die out," Prieto said.

Tickets range from $20 to $55. For tickets or information, call 954-602-4500 or visit http://www.miramarculturalcenter.org and http://www.balletetudesfla.com.

Chris Guanche can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .