Miami City Ballet will bring its season-opening program, American Rhythms, to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale on Oct. 24 and 25.
The program includes the premiere of Push the Buttons of the Civilized, a new ballet choreographed by former Miami City Ballet principal Patricia Delgado with music by Miami-area musician Emily Estefan. Estefan will perform live, singing and playing drums and guitar from upstage while her combo plays in the orchestra pit.
Delgado’s work draws from Estefan’s songs, including music from her 2017 debut album, Take Whatever You Want, as well as unreleased material. The title comes from lyrics on that album. Miami City Ballet music director Gary Sheldon orchestrated the music, and the piece incorporates a recording of a lullaby sung by Estefan’s grandmother, Gloria Fajardo.
The ballet explores family connections and generations, beginning with a parental pas de deux before following a younger character navigating her own path beyond established expectations, according to Delgado.
American Rhythms also features George Balanchine’s 1956 Allegro Brillante, set to Tchaikovsky, and Miami City Ballet’s company premiere of Jerome Robbins’ 1958 N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz. The three-work lineup pairs classical music, jazz and contemporary pop.
The Broward Center performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24 and 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Oct. 25. The Fort Lauderdale run follows the program’s recent engagement at Miami’s Arsht Center.
