Miami City Ballet Hires New Executive Director

Michael Scolamiero will join Loudes Lopez, the MCB artistic director

Miami City Ballet has hired Michael Scolamiero as the troupe's new executive director.

Scolamiero will join the Miami Beach-based company June 30. He told The Miami Herald that he hopes to work closely with the ballet's artistic director, Lourdes Lopez.

"I think the trajectory that Miami City Ballet is on and a city that is really vibrant and growing is very exciting," Scolamiero said. "Lourdes has a really clear vision of where she sees the company going . and the artistry of the company is very strong."

Scolamiero had been the executive director at the Pennsylvania Ballet for 17 years. The Philadelphia-based company's budget rose from $6.5 million to $11.3 million under Scolamiero.

"Michael comes to MCB with a wealth of invaluable experience," Lopez said in a statement Thursday. "His lifelong dedication to the arts, passion for ballet, and exceptional track record at Pennsylvania Ballet will be an enormous asset to us and I look forward to working with him as we prepare for an exciting season of dance in 2014-15."

Miami City Ballet board president Susan Kronick said Scolamiero's "financial prowess has been demonstrated."

Scolamiero replaces Daniel Hagerty, who left last month for family and personal reasons.

According to the company, Miami City Ballet's current budget is $15.5 million, higher than at any time in its history. Attendance and ticket revenue increased by nearly 20 percent in the 2013-2014 season that ended in early April. The troupe has 49 dancers.

Next season will feature several new ballets, including a world premiere by New York City Ballet's Justin Peck, a production of "Carmen" by British choreographer Richard Alston and the Twyla Tharp work "Sweet Fields."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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