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In honor of this momentous occasion, we spoke with Eriberto Jimenez, the Festival’s Artistic Director and one of its original visionaries. In this exclusive interview, Jimenez reflects on the Festival’s journey, the power of intergenerational exchange, the balance between classical tradition and innovation, and what audiences can expect from this landmark edition. ML. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the International Ballet Festival of Miami. Looking back, what are you most proud of in the festival’s journey so far? I met our founder Mr. Peña in 1989, so I’ve been involved since the very inception of the Festival. I was fortunate to perform in the Festival for over 15 years and also took part in organizing the event. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness its evolution—from just two performances in its early days to a multidisciplinary, four-week celebration of dance. Today, the Festival features workshops, a summer intensive program, art exhibitions, a dance film series, book presentations, and ten performances across various venues in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Seeing how far we’ve come is a true testament to the passion and dedication behind this cultural institution. ML. The festival features both world-renowned principal dancers and emerging young talent. How important is it for you to create this space for intergenerational artistic exchange? Over time, the Festival has evolved to become more diverse and inclusive. We began incorporating contemporary dance programs and soon dedicated an entire weekend to performances by young dancers. Our goal has always been to serve as a platform for emerging talent. We offer free performances in various community spaces and later introduced our “Dance Marathon,” which highlights youth from our local community. We actively invite dance schools from across South Florida to participate, creating an environment where young dancers can be inspired by professionals from around the world. What makes this experience truly meaningful is that these young artists aren’t just performing—they have the chance to attend the professional performances, observe rehearsals, watch classes, and learn directly from established dancers. Many of the artists now dancing as principals and soloists in renowned companies actually began their journey by performing in our youth programs. This intergenerational exchange is not only important—it’s essential to the Festival’s mission and legacy, and one of the most rewarding aspects of what we do. ML. From classical ballet to contemporary performances, the festival embraces a wide spectrum of dance. What inspires you to maintain this balance between tradition and innovation? Our desire to reach a more diverse audience led us to open the Festival to modern and contemporary dance—styles that can be performed in smaller, non-traditional venues and outdoor spaces. As our city has grown, so has its cultural richness, and we feel a responsibility to offer high-quality programming that reflects that diversity and speaks to a wide range of tastes. While classical ballet remains at the heart of our Festival, we are inspired to continue expanding. In the future, we hope to include even more dance genres—popular dance, folklore, jazz,