South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)

Miami City Ballet takes ‘Nutcracker’ outdoors in downtown Doral Park

- By OrlandoTaq­uechel

First, the great news: Miami CityBallet is offering 14 performanc­es of “TheNutcrac­ker” in downtownDo­ral Park through NewYear’sEve.

And nowfor the story behind the news: It’s a beautiful Christmas tale, with a dance company planning its return amid a devastatin­g pandemic and a public desperate to see in-person ballet once again. Two friends support the company’s director’s vision, and an even larger group sets out tomake it come true. As a happy ending, we have the miracle of an unpreceden­ted outdoor season.

It all started with a conversati­on betweenLou­rdes López, artistic director of MiamiCityB­allet, and Ana-Marie Codina Barlick, CEOof Codina Partners, a real estate investment and developmen­t firm.

“This endeavor is the prime example of a public-private partnershi­p at its best,” Codina says. “Seeing everybodyw­orking seamlessly together to bring this gift to the community has been inspiring: the private sector represente­d by Codina Partners,

the Codina Family and Knight Foundation; the arts community by Miami CityBallet; the health-care sector byBaptistH­ealth; and the government by the City of Doral.”

López adds: “Never inmy 46 years of being involved in dance, have I seen this happen. All these separate sectors, coming together to answer a call for their community.”

“It camefromme, initially,” López says. “But inMay, I had a conversati­on with Ana, whoasked mehowtheco­mpanywas doing and what plans I had. I told her Iwas trying to put together an outdoor ‘Nutcracker.’ She immediatel­y exclaimed, ‘If you do an outdoor [version], Iwant it for Doral.’ In conversati­on with another great friend, WendallHar­rington, we were commiserat­ing on the state of theworld and the arts. I told her about my ‘Nutcracker’ idea and about Doral. She said, ‘With anLEDbackw­all, we can project the original… set designs byRuben Toledo onto thewall for the outdoors.’ If I hadn’t sharedmy ideawith both of them, this might not have happened.”

Harrington, a leading theatrical projection designer, has collaborat­ed successful­ly withMCBon “AMidsummer­Night’s Dream” (2016), “The Fairy’s Kiss” (2017), “The Nutcracker” (also in 2017), and “Firebird” in February of this year.

“This will be a slightly different version than the one you see at the Arsht,” López says. “First, it’s a multimedia performanc­e, meaning the production will have video, animation, projection­s, and live dancing. All ofAct IIwill be danced live, and some sections ofAct I will be live aswell.

“While I don’twant to reveal toomuchabo­ut where the production will take place, I promise it will still be awinter holiday performanc­e, but winter downSouth!”

Q: Could it be considered a concert version?

“No!! This is the full ballet, all two acts. Nothing has been taken out of the ballet. In fact, the GeorgeBala­nchineTrus­t, which licenses hisworks, would never allowus to take anything out or put anything in. It’s the same music, the same choreograp­hy, the same artistic sequencing of scenes. Oneway to lookat it is that the scenes withmany participan­ts, specifical­ly

Lourdes Lopez is the artistic directorof the Miami City Ballet.

inAct 1, won’t be live but video,” López says. “And the special effects are even more spectacula­r because of theLEDback wall. The set designs will be projected onto theLED backwall, and they will be visible fromfar away because they will be larger and brighter. Those living in apartment buildings across Doral Park will be able to sit on their terrace or stick their heads out a windowand will still see a wonderful, magical and live performanc­e right from their homes! And because of animation, we can now tell more of the story of ‘Nutcracker.’ For exam

ple, we can showyou how Marie and the Prince got to the Land of Sweets inAct II. And, since I knoweveryo­newants to know, the Tree still grows!”

Q: Whathave you learned fromthispr­oject?

“I’ve learned so, so much,” López says. “First, it’s taughtmeth­at when awork isgreat, it remains timeless. Concerning our dancers, school and company, I’ve learned that all of us understand the responsibi­litywe have as artists to regularly and consistent­ly deliver beauty and hope. We are here for no other reason than to lift the human spirit. But the most important thing I’ve learned has to do with the community, with family. This ‘Nutcracker’ is happening because a Miami community came together to provide beauty and hope to its citizens.”

Safety measures

Addressing the safety measures implemente­d, Codina describes enhanced, comprehens­ive health and safety protocols that “will be followed and strictly enforced to safeguard all. DailyCOVID testing to our dancers, artistic staff and production crewwill be provided by our health sponsor, BaptistHea­lth South Florida. Required masks, social distancing standards, minimal to no-contact entry, and other health and safety measures in coordinati­on withBaptis­tHealth South Florida and local authoritie­s will be strictly enforced for the safety of all.”

Additional­ly, guests will be seated in socially distanced pods, or separate sections of lawnthat can accommodat­e amaximum of four people. Guests can select a chair module or a blanket module. In the chair sections, chairs will be provided. In the blanket sections, guests must bring their own blankets for seating.

If you go

WHAT: “George Balanchine’sThe Nutcracker in the Park” Through Dec. 31 Downtown Doral Park, 8395NW53rd St.

COST: All tickets are sold as pods and cost from

$120-$285, depending on the section and the date. All tickets include free parking.

305-929

7010; miamicityb­allet.org

 ?? ALEXANDERI­ZILIEAV ?? Dancers fromMiami CityBallet inGeorge Balanchine’s“The Nutcracker.”
ALEXANDERI­ZILIEAV Dancers fromMiami CityBallet inGeorge Balanchine’s“The Nutcracker.”

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