Miami City Ballet celebrating 25 years

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) -- A famed South Florida dance troupe is staying on its toes, as plenty of good things continue to happen at the ballet.

Twenty-five years in the making, the Miami City Ballet is swinging with full momentum. "It's a wonderful, wonderful thing to see-- almost like watching your child develop," said Edward Villella, founding artistic director of the Miami City Ballet

Co-founded in 1985 by Kennedy Center Honoree Edward Villella and Toby Lerner Ansin, the now internationally-recognized Miami Beach dance company is warming up for their silver anniversary season. "I had hoped that we would be in the position that we are in today," Villella said.

They are marking this monumental year with the monumental love story of "Romeo and Juliet."

It's an exciting venture-- even for the production's seasoned stars. "I think this ballet is what all ballerinas dream to do, this role," said Haiyan Wu, who will play Juliet.

Yann Trividic will play Romeo. "Romeo is like the hardest role for a guy," he said, "because first you dance by yourself. You have small variations, especially in the first act. You have a lot of fighting, a lot of running, a lot of acting."

And then, the company that has brought dancers from around the world is taking their show around the world-- to Paris. "So it's wonderful in that we have been considered to be invited to one of the most prestigious festivals in Europe," said Villella said. "So indeed, we are very, very excited."

Once they're in the silver city, the 50 dancers of the Miami City Ballet will have their hard work cut out for them. "Basically sleep, eat well, rest," said Trividic.

They ballet will present 17 performances over the course of a three-week dance festival. Some of those performances feature choreography by dance legends like George Balanchine and Twyla Tharp. "Yeah, it is a really great thing for the company," said Wu. "I'm happy for the company, all the dancers, everybody."

The past 25 years have been a smashing success for the Miami City Ballet, and nobody expects that to change-- for this season and season 26 ... and beyond. "So we would hope that our 25th anniversary will be such a success that we would be able to attract resources to do the works that we have yet to be able to afford," Villella said.

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