A Grand Celebration of Dance: 30 Years of the International Ballet Festival of Miami
- laurie2769
- Jun 30
- 4 min read
Join Miami Living Magazine as we celebrate one of the city’s most iconic cultural milestones—the 30th Anniversary of the International Ballet Festival of Miami, taking place from July 26 to August 17, 2025. With breathtaking gala performances, contemporary showcases, dance films, art exhibitions, and presentations by global talent, this year’s festival promises to be its most dynamic yet.
Rosa Pierro Polish Nat Ballet Andras Ronai Hungarian Nat Ballet - Photo by Simon Soong
In honor of this momentous occasion, we spoke with Eriberto Jimenez, the Festival’s Artistic Director and one of its original visionaries. In this exclusive interview, Jimenez reflects on the Festival’s journey, the power of intergenerational exchange, the balance between classical tradition and innovation, and what audiences can expect from this landmark edition.
ML. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the International Ballet Festival of Miami. Looking back, what are you most proud of in the festival’s journey so far?
I met our founder Mr. Peña in 1989, so I’ve been involved since the very inception of the Festival. I was fortunate to perform in the Festival for over 15 years and also took part in organizing the event. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness its evolution—from just two performances in its early days to a multidisciplinary, four-week celebration of dance. Today, the Festival features workshops, a summer intensive program, art exhibitions, a dance film series, book presentations, and ten performances across various venues in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Seeing how far we’ve come is a true testament to the passion and dedication behind this cultural institution.
ML. The festival features both world-renowned principal dancers and emerging young talent. How important is it for you to create this space for intergenerational artistic exchange?
Over time, the Festival has evolved to become more diverse and inclusive. We began incorporating contemporary dance programs and soon dedicated an entire weekend to performances by young dancers. Our goal has always been to serve as a platform for emerging talent. We offer free performances in various community spaces and later introduced our “Dance Marathon,” which highlights youth from our local community. We actively invite dance schools from across South Florida to participate, creating an environment where young dancers can be inspired by professionals from around the world.
What makes this experience truly meaningful is that these young artists aren’t just performing—they have the chance to attend the professional performances, observe rehearsals, watch classes, and learn directly from established dancers. Many of the artists now dancing as principals and soloists in renowned companies actually began their journey by performing in our youth programs. This intergenerational exchange is not only important—it’s essential to the Festival’s mission and legacy, and one of the most rewarding aspects of what we do.
ML. From classical ballet to contemporary performances, the festival embraces a wide spectrum of dance. What inspires you to maintain this balance between tradition and innovation?
Our desire to reach a more diverse audience led us to open the Festival to modern and contemporary dance—styles that can be performed in smaller, non-traditional venues and outdoor spaces. As our city has grown, so has its cultural richness, and we feel a responsibility to offer high-quality programming that reflects that diversity and speaks to a wide range of tastes. While classical ballet remains at the heart of our Festival, we are inspired to continue expanding. In the future, we hope to include even more dance genres—popular dance, folklore, jazz, tango, hip hop—creating a truly inclusive celebration of movement and expression.
Ballet De Santiago Natalia Berrios & Jose Manuel Ghiso
Ballet Korea del Sur
Ballet De Santiago Natalia Berrios & Jose Manuel Ghiso
ML. This year’s program includes dance films, a book presentation, and a visual art exhibit. How do these multidisciplinary elements enhance the audience’s experience of dance?
Over the years, the Festival has gradually expanded beyond stage performances to include a wide range of multidisciplinary events across the city. Each year, we select a visual artist to create the official Festival poster, and we feature their work in an exhibition at our galleries at the Miami Hispanic Cultural Arts Center. We’ve also developed an International Summer Intensive, where young dancers not only train but also have the opportunity to perform in the Youth Gala and attend the main performances. They get to observe professional dancers in class, in rehearsal, and on stage—an invaluable learning and sharing experience.
In addition, we’ve introduced book presentations, lectures, and a dance film series—all designed to deepen the public’s understanding and appreciation of dance. Our goal is to educate and engage the community while offering a richer, more diverse cultural experience that highlights dance in all its dimensions.
ML. As the founder and artistic director, what challenges have you faced in sustaining and growing the festival over the years, especially as it reaches this major milestone?
One of the greatest challenges we’ve faced is the lack of collaboration from local theaters. While we’ve made an effort to bring the Festival’s programming to different areas of the city, we’ve often struggled to get support from the very venues where our performances take place. As cultural institutions, theaters should have a vested interest in informing their communities about the events happening in their spaces—ensuring their stages are active and their audiences engaged.
As we’ve expanded and diversified our programming, promotional costs have also increased. That’s why it’s even more important for theaters—many of which operate with public funding—to support and uplift local cultural organizations. If we truly want to see our city’s cultural scene grow and thrive, we must invest in and promote what is being created right here in our own community.
ML. What do you hope audiences, especially new ones, take away from this 30th edition of the festival?
Every year, the Festival brings together artists from around the world—many of whom are performing in our city, or even in the U.S., for the very first time. We want our audiences, especially those discovering us for the first time, to experience the richness, diversity, and excellence of these international dance companies. Miami has become a hub for business, commerce, and tourism, but our goal is to also help it grow into a city where the arts and culture thrive at the highest level. We hope audiences leave inspired, curious, and proud to be part of a community that embraces artistic excellence from around the globe.
To learn more or buy tickets visit: www.internationalballetfestival.org.