Arts Groups

ARCA Images contributes to Miami’s diverse cultural community by creating, producing, and promoting fresh, exciting tales for the stage, with a special emphasis on Bilingual Theater productions that serve English and Spanish speaking audiences.  Arca is committed to working with local artists, producing works of the highest artistic excellence that reflect Miami’s cultural heritage and contribute to the growth and expansion of theater as a contemporary art form. 

Florida Grand Opera stands as one of the oldest performing arts organizations in Florida. FGO was formed in June 1994 by the merger of Greater Miami Opera, founded in 1941, and The Opera Guild Inc. of Fort Lauderdale, founded in 1945.

Florida Grand Opera has a rich history of presenting internationally acclaimed artists such as Robert Merrill, Dorothy Kirsten, Richard Tucker, Renata Tebaldi, Roberta Peters, Franco Corelli, Renata Scotto, Montserrat Caballé, Jon Vickers, Sherrill Milnes, Nicolai Gedda, Birgit Nilsson, Anna Moffo, Plácido Domingo, Beverly Sills, Joan Sutherland, Evelyn Lear, James Morris, Thomas Stewart, Diana Soviero, Justino Diaz, Simon Estes, Elizabeth Futral, Helen Donath, Deborah Voigt, Lauren Flanigan, and Fernando de la Mora. Luciano Pavarotti made his U.S. debut in 1965 with the company’s production of Lucia di Lammermoor.

With the arrival in 2012 of Susan T. Danis as FGO’s General Director and CEO, the company instituted a “Made for Miami” series—modern works aimed at connecting with South Florida’s diverse communities. Company premieres in this series include Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Consul, Marvin David Levy’s Mourning Becomes Electra, Mieczyslaw Weinberg’s The Passenger, Jorge Martín’s Before Night Falls, Daniel Catán’s Florencia en el Amazonas and in 2019, Robert Xavier Rodriguez’s Frida, based on the life of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.

Florida Grand Opera offers several highly successful outreach and educational programs, including the internationally recognized Studio Artist Program. Offering aspiring artists the opportunity to train and enhance their professional skills, the program reaches more than 20,000 South Floridians annually through educational initiatives and community outreach programs. In addition, the young artists perform and cover lead roles in main-stage productions throughout the season.

The Miami Children’s Chorus has proudly served the children of Miami-Dade County since 1965 by providing a choral music education and youth performance program of the highest caliber. Through an organized program of understanding and skill development the children learn to make music like practicing artists. MCC develops character, commitment, artistry, and passion in children by providing a supportive and nurturing environment where youth can grow their skills. Each child comes to the MCC from different backgrounds and with varying skill sets, but it is here where they learn that it is their dedicated effort that determines the extent of their personal and artistic growth.

Throughout its long history, MCC has prepared children to appear and record with artists in a wide variety of musical settings. They have sung with the Cleveland Orchestra; the Israel Chamber Orchestra; at the 44th NFL Super Bowl with Queen Latifah; for PBS with André Rieu and Ethan Bortnick; with Gloria Estefan, Jon Secada, Nestor Torres and Raul Di Blasio. MCC has performed numerous productions with the Florida Grand Opera – La Bohème, Tosca, Carmen, Turandot, Pagliacci; former Florida Philharmonic Orchestra, Master Chorale of South Florida, Miami Bach Society, Festival Miami and the Mainly Mozart Festival. MCC has also performed in over ten countries – The United States, Italy, Germany, Great Britain, Austria, the Czech Republic, Canada, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, and Australia (summer 2019).

To learn more visit www.miamichildrenschorus.org

Artists in Residence in Everglades, Inc. (AIRIE)‘s mission is to support and enhance the arts and cultural heritage of the Everglades subtropical wilderness through artist residency and public outreach programs. Our purpose is to inform, connect, and support artists, writers and musicians who wish to be ambassadors for the Everglades by providing month-long residencies in the Park and creating interactive public experiences that connect the arts with the environment.

Formed in 2001, AIRIE became a nonprofit in 2007 and has since welcomed over 180 artists through its residency program. AIRIE artists live and work in the park for one month, and are introduced to scientists, park rangers, academics, educators, cultural and community leaders to enhance their experience and understanding of the Everglades.

Year round exhibitions at the AIRIE Nest Gallery, the only contemporary art exhibition space in a National Park, welcomes over 250,000 local, national and international visitors per year.

Sundays in the Park events invite the public to experience the Everglades and the arts, with performances, art workshops, art-making activities, guided tours, public discussions and more. All exhibitions are free and open to the public, as are most of our events.

www.airie.org

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In its 8th year the Coral Gables Art Cinema (CGAC) continues to serve South Florida as its premiere nonprofit cinema with a mission to bring the best independent, foreign, and classic films to the region’s vibrant, diverse, multicultural and multilingual community. Open 365-days a year, its state-of-the-art auditorium boasts 141 seats, 4K digital projection, 3D, and often shows films on 35mm & 70mm. CGAC’s National Theatre Live program is a groundbreaking project broadcasting the best of British theatre from the London stage into the Cinema at a fraction of the cost of a stage play. Dedicated to educating the next generation of cinema goers CGAC produces the Miami International Children’s Film Festival a culturally rich and entertaining annual event. The monthly Family Day programming brings classic family friendly film titles in the form of inexpensive family fun to the community. The Coral Gables Art Cinema is truly where great films live.

Over 30 years of theatrical excellence!

Founded in 1989 by John and Maria Rodaz, pioneers of the Miami arts community, Area Stage Company (ASC), a 501-c3 Nonprofit organization, quickly “changed the perception and standards of what South Florida’s theatres can and should be,” and is “one of the most influential theatres in the region,” according to the Sun Sentinel. For three decades this award-winning organization has staged provocative, world- class theatre and original productions and musicals, becoming one of South Florida’s most influential theatre companies. In addition to housing a professional theatre company, ASC operates a professional-level youth arts conservatory offering classes, workshops, and performance opportunities, and a theatre education program for individuals with developmental disabilities, the Inclusion Theatre Project. 

ASC’s achievements include:

• Earning over thirty-four Carbonell Award nominations.
• Being the only theatre company ever featured on ABC’s Nightline with Ted Koppel.
• Being featured as one of Miami’s premiere theatre companies in Travel & Leisure, Miami New Times’ “Best Of”, WLRN, ABC, NBC, CNN, Univision, and Telemundo. 

Inclusion Theatre Project (ITP)

ASC believes that theatre is a transformative force. ITP sends acting and music coaches to various “ASC partner schools”, specialized for students with disabilities to conduct theatre classes and workshops. ITP students present 1-4 fully produced stage musicals to the public each year. Through ITP, ASC aims to broaden the scope of artistic education available to students with disabilities, and to promote a greater understanding of and appreciation for the disabled community and their artistic abilities. ASC currently serves over 130 students through ITP.

Theatre for the Next Generation

ASC’s Conservatory Program offers young actors, singers, and dancers, professional arts training and prepares them for higher education programs and/or a professional career. ASC students have performed for the privileged residents of The World, the only private residential community-at-sea. A collaboration with Miami Music Project in 2017 resulted in the world premiere of The Rise of the Titans, presented at the Arsht Center. In 2016, ASC students were invited to perform at the TEDxYouth at the Arsht Center. The Ballad of Janis Mathews and The Dodo Scouts, an original play written and developed at ASC, was nominated by BroadwayWorld.com as The Best New Work in New Jersey for the Hoboken Children’s Theatre production. ASC students were also invited to the Arsht Center by The Children’s Trust to perform in a video presentation to honor child victims of violence.

In an effort to make the arts accessible to all, ASC provides 50-60 student scholarships each year. Our theatre education program emphasizes creativity, discipline, and professionalism. To date, over 2,500 ASC students have received training in acting, singing, dance, directing, design, and technical theater, helping stage over 160 musicals and plays. Over 340 ASC students have gone on to university theatre programs and/or professional careers. During 2018 alone, ASC awarded more than $70,000 in scholarships. Around 12,000 K-12 students in public schools from Homestead to Hialeah have attended free, public access performances. Another 500 have attended free workshops at their schools.

The mission of the South Beach Chamber Ensemble (SBCE) is to promote and perform chamber music in all its diverse forms, from its origins in the distant past to the varied cultural creations being produced today, bringing together performers, composers and audiences to experience the beauty and intimacy of the human spirit. We envision a world where music inspires and energizes all people, creating peace, harmony, joy and unprecedented satisfaction in being alive.

We have received funding from The Miami Beach Cultural Arts Council since 1999 for our ongoing program, Music in Beautiful Spaces. In addition to our first-rate soloists, we also encourage and collaborate with students and faculty from the New World School of the Arts, FIU, University of Miami, Barry University, and the New World Symphony. Beyond what you’d expect from a “chamber ensemble”, we’ve performed works by the classics such as Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, Mendelssohn – but we’ve also explored works by more recent composers like Couperin, Copland, Turina, Piazzolla, Villa-Lobos and Vaughan Williams.

We have an incredible, supportive, and positive board and we’re hoping to grow it’s numbers. If you’re interested in being part of an exciting, small board where your skills and talents will be valued, then consider jumping on board with South Beach Chamber Ensemble! We’d love to talk with you about your interests in music and how you can make an impact on our organization’s growth. Click the “CONNECT ME” button today!

Today 54 years  old, the tradition grows for the SFYS  and abounds under the fine direction of Founding Maestro Carmen Nappo’s step daughter, Marjorie  Hahn. The SFYS, Inc. has commissioned musical compositions,   performed at the  Music Educators Convention,  presented over 376 concerts featuring collaborations and outside artists , and  continues to educate young performers  ages 3-21 through Music Tours and Festivals, including the Inauguration Heritage festival in Washington DC  on January 19-23,2017,and Carnegie Hall appearance in 1988,1992 and  Feb 25, 2018.

Locally the symphony works with over 250 students yearly  from primarily the low income, educationally and culturally underserved neighborhoods and the SFYS performs up to 5 community concerts, showcasing these exciting kids.

Many alumni are now teachers ,administrators and musicians in the area and around the country, Including Daniel Andai who is the Music Dean of Miami’s New world School of the Arts, Joe Lovinsky Principal Horn of the Pershing’s Own Army Band, professor of Horn at Shenandoah Conservatory   The list goes on!

To learn more about the SFYS visit the web site at  www.sfys.net   and see us on FACEBOOK.   Or call the symphony at 305-238-2729 for more information.

The Chopin Foundation’s mission is twofold: (1) to assist young, talented American pianists in their career development and in so doing, open doors to international careers; and (2) to make classical music, especially the music of Frederic Chopin, accessible to all.

Founded in 1977, the Chopin Foundation offers young American pianists the National Chopin Piano Competition, Scholarship Program, public concert opportunities, workshops, and much more. For the South Florida audiences we offer the annual Chopin for All Free Concert Series, Salon Concerts, and other special events. Our membership consist of music loving professionals, who meet three times a season for a concert and wine reception in the intimate setting of elegant La Gorce Country Club on Miami Beach.

Founded in 2006 by Artistic Director Elaine Rinaldi, Orchestra Miami exists to fill the unique cultural needs of our community. The Orchestra’s main goal is to provide low-cost, high-quality artistic experiences that build community and provide programming which would otherwise be unavailable in South Florida. Equally important goals are to provide quality symphonic concerts to those whose economic circumstances prevent them from purchasing a ticket, and to provide children and their families with opportunities to experience classical music, make it a part of their lives, and use it as a tool for learning and enjoyment. Orchestra Miami’s signature programs include its “Beethoven on the Beach” free outdoor concerts, its “Discover Miami Through Music” series, its many collaborations with the Miami Dade County Public Schools and the Nicklaus Children’s Pinecrest Outpatient Center Family Fun Concert Series at Pinecrest Gardens. Orchestra Miami consists of a select group of professional musicians, all permanent residents of South Florida, whose collective body is unparalleled in terms of excellence and experience. Led by Founder and Artistic Director Elaine Rinaldi, Orchestra Miami continues to exceed expectations in terms of programming and artistic quality. For more information, please visit our website at www.OrchestraMiami.org.

Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida has become a force in the ballet community of South Florida and it is also expanding its performances to most important venues in the area such as the Fillmore at the Jackie Gleason Theater, the Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, the Julius Littman North Miami Beach Performing Arts Theatre, The Parker Playhouse of Fort Lauderdale, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, the Willow Theater in Boca Raton and the Sunrise Civic Center. The company made its debut in New York at the New Dance Amsterdam Theater in 2012 and it continuously tours internationally to Europe, Asia and South America.

SiempreFlamenco, Inc was founded in 2002 by Celia and Paco Fonta as a not-for-profit corporation with the purpose of promoting awareness and preservation of the art and traditions of Flamenco. With yearlong programs fit for many diverse audiences, and performances in Libraries, Schools, Hispanic Heritage Festivals,Street Fairs, and Concert Performances throughout Florida, Siempre Flamenco does its utmost to enrich the cultural community through Flamenco.

In March of 2006, Siempre Flamenco produced the 1st Festival of Cante Flamenco in Miami, to celebrate the cultural heritage of flamenco song and dance. Many styles of Cante Flamenco are seldom heard outside of Andalusia. This traditional festival is one way to help preserve, maintain and pass down to future generations this beautiful art form.This year marks the 14th edition of this annual Festival which has gained international recognition as the only one of its kind in the United States. Itis the goal of Siempre Flamenco to continue quality programming, throughout all of Florida and the United States with cultural and educational programs aimed at promoting and preserving the art and tradition of flamenco music and dance.For more information about Siempre Flamenco, please visit the website www.siempreflamenco.com

Launched in 1996 to develop and produce new work, City Theatre is known as one of Florida’s most distinctive professional theater companies. It is among Miami’s most established cultural institutions, and is recognized as the only theater company in the US  dedicated to developing and fully producing  “shorts”, a unique genre comprising complete plays and musicals running ten minutes or less.  These tiny works pack a big theatrical punch when curated by City Theatre into lively, surprising, provocative and entertaining programs and productions. City Theatre also produces full-length work it considers impactful to the community.

City Theatre’s year round productions and programs have something for everyone and include:

The signature Summer Shorts Festival runs throughout the month of  June and is produced at Miami’s landmark Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in the Carnival Studio. The production features a number of short plays and musicals by well known and emerging playwrights, composers and lyricists, performed by an ensemble of regional all-stars.  Considered the official kick-off of the summer theatre season (Christine Dolen, Miami Herald and Artburst), Thousands of audiences In June 2020, Summer Shorts will celebrate its  25th continuous season.

The Short Cut’s program: which tours Miami Dade schools performing appropriate themed short plays for students. City Theatre produces a study guide to accompany each of the plays in the Short Cuts program. Students can interact with actors and can discuss the plays after the performances

City Reads: free readings of short plays at various locations around Miami Dade county

City Shorts features a collection of entertaining classics from City Theatre’s 24 seasons, along with world and Florida premieres. Each performance is followed by a post-show discussion with the cast.

As the only theatre in the nation dedicated to the solicitation, development and production of the short play and short musicals genre, City Theatre has received thousands of submissions as part of the annual City Theatre National Award for Short Playwriting Contest. The contest is followed by CityWrights, a weekend that was developed for theatre industry professionals.

City Theatre Scholars; Giving Voice to the Next Generation of Playwrights,

or more simply, NextGen. During the school year, aspiring high school playwrights are invited to participate in intensive workshops that span multiple weekends. Student playwrights work with professional playwrights, directors, and actors to create, rehearse, and present original work during readings at Summer Shorts.

The Miami Urban Contemporary Experience (MUCE) is an arts productions company bringing our niche heritage experience to the global market through pop up exhibitions, fairs, and festivals. The company represents a shared belief that the arts belong in every community. We are committed to utilizing arts as a vehicle to preserve heritage and as a platform to diversity the artistic landscape in the western world.

Miami short Film Festival is a film festival that features local, national and international short films of 20-minutes or less. A growing movement to exhibit and expand the art form of short film making providing a venue to build community around the arts.

Our Philosophy: Short films, past and present, are true works of art, and deserve a venue dedicated to their exhibition.

Our mission: is to present quality films from around the world as well as support, recognize and honor filmmakers.

The Greater Miami Festivals & Events Association, Inc. (GMFEA) is 501c(3) organization that supports the professional development, enhances the success and sustains year-round promotion of festivals and events in South Florida. GMFEA is proud of the role it plays in providing valuable resources and support to its member organizations.

Based in Miami, with artists from the U.S., Latin America and Spain, Ballet Flamenco La Rosa (BFLR) has performed to sell-out crowds and received critical acclaim in both the artistic mainstream and in Tablaos (Flamenco Clubs) of South Florida since 1985. The private and public sectors as well as National, State and local grants consistently support the company’s work.

A non-profit organization, BFLR is committed to creating and presenting the highest quality Flamenco performances and educational programs.  One of few U.S. professional companies dedicated to the development and presentation of the Art of Flamenco, their pure flamenco performances keep the traditional roots of this art form alive, while their innovative fusion works bring it to ground breaking new levels. These works trace the connection between Flamenco and other styles of music and dance, including Jazz/Tap/Blues, Middle Eastern, Afro-Cuban, Afro-Haitian, African, Sephardic and Indian dance, and even American Country music. This, in addition to their dramatic Flamenco Ballets, gives the company an exciting and powerful repertory that inspires and educates wide audiences.

BFLR enhances the dance community through work with internationally renowned guest artists and provides daily classes in many forms of Dance, Music and Theater for all levels and ages at its North Miami Studios.