About the Festival
The International Ballet Festival of Miami (IBFM) is the most ambitious ballet project in South Florida's history and one of the most distinguished dance festivals in the United States. Renowned for the diversity and caliber of its artists, the Festival presents an extraordinary gathering of world-class talent in every performance. Since 1996, the IBFM has introduced audiences throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, as well as visitors from around the world, to an exceptional array of national and international ballet companies from Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, North America, and South America, many of which have made their United States debut through the Festival. Each participating company is represented by internationally acclaimed principal dancers, creating an artistic experience unmatched in its scope and excellence. The Festival has earned widespread critical acclaim and the respect of local, national, and international media, significantly elevating Miami's reputation as a global destination for professional dance.
Held annually from the last week of July through mid-August, the International Ballet Festival of Miami presents performances by many principal dancers representing numerous ballet companies, alongside a rich program of cultural events that includes a dance film series, dance-inspired art exhibitions, book presentations, workshops, a summer intensive, and master classes. Throughout its history, the Festival has been honored by the participation of many of the world's leading national ballet companies, further strengthening its international prestige. Each year, IBFM also presents two of the dance world's most respected honors: the "A Life for Dance" Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing legendary artists whose extraordinary careers have made a lasting impact on ballet, and the "Criticism and Culture of Ballet" Award, presented to internationally distinguished dance critics in recognition of their exceptional contributions to the appreciation and advancement of the art form.
The International Ballet Festival of Miami is produced annually by the Miami Hispanic Ballet Company (MHB), a nonprofit organization founded in 1993 and dedicated to identifying, promoting, and presenting professional dance artists of Hispanic descent while producing major performances featuring internationally acclaimed talent. This vision gave rise to the creation of the International Ballet Festival of Miami, which has since become one of the nation's premier celebrations of classical and contemporary dance.
The Miami Hispanic Ballet is headquartered at the historic J. W. Warner House in Miami's downtown neighborhood, home to the Miami Hispanic Cultural Arts Center (MHCAC). Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the J. W. Warner House is also the only Miami property featured in Remaking America, the definitive book on historic houses. Centrally located between the Miami River, Downtown Miami, and Brickell, the Center serves as an accessible cultural destination for both the local community and visitors from around the world, providing a vibrant home for dance, music, theater, and the visual arts.
Mission Statement
The Miami Hispanic Ballet’s mission is to encourage excellence in dance, support artistic and cultural diversity and increase opportunities for the public to experience the best in classical and contemporary dance forms. The organization is committed to developing and educating audiences in the appreciation of dance through the production and presentation of high quality events and educational programs, as well as to identify and promote professional dance artists in Miami-Dade County.