International Ballet

The Miami Hispanic Ballet Company, founded in 1993 by Pedro Pablo Peña, is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Hispanic dance artists in Miami-Dade County. Under the artistic direction of Eriberto Jimenez, the company has become a prominent producer and presenter of dance performances, most notably through the creation of the Annual International Ballet Festival of Miami. This festival, recognized as the most successful of its kind in the United States and unique in Florida, offers audiences the opportunity to experience performances by over 100 principal dancers from more than 20 ballet companies worldwide. The festival includes a diverse program featuring dance film series, art exhibits, book presentations, workshops, and masterclasses, and presents prestigious awards such as the A Life for Dance Lifetime Achievement Award and the Criticism and Culture of Ballet Award. In 2011, the Miami Hispanic Ballet received significant funding from the Miami-Dade County Cultural Affairs Council and the Knight Foundation to establish the Miami Hispanic Cultural Arts Center in the historic J.W. Warner Place. The center aims to enrich Miami's arts scene and preserve Hispanic cultural heritage, with plans for state-of-the-art facilities designed by architect Omar A. Morales. The organization's mission is to foster excellence in dance, support cultural diversity, and enhance public appreciation of both classical and contemporary dance forms through high-quality events and educational programs.