The Miami Hispanic Ballet Company (MHB) was established in 1993, as a not for profit organization dedicated to identifying and promoting professional dance artists of Hispanic descent in Miami-Dade County. Founding Artistic/Executive Director, Pedro Pablo Peña, arrived in Miami from Cuba in 1980, and realized that there was no artistic shelter available to dancers coming into this country. He set out to create a safety net and company that would serve newly arrived dance professionals.

MHB is the umbrella company for the annual International Ballet Festival of Miami, now in its sixteenth year and considered one of the most important Festivals of its kind in the US. The International Ballet Festival of Miami (IBFM) consists of performances and Galas, featuring world-wide prestigious ballet companies represented by their greatest stars, a spot for Contemporary Dance companies, a dance film series, fine arts exhibition inspired by the dance, workshops, and a special performance for young medal winners of International Ballet Competitions, representing the most ambitious ballet project ever conceived in Miami-Dade County and Florida. The magnitude of the program and prestige of the participating companies have captured the attention of the most demanding audiences. The festival has accomplished the task of introducing the population of South Florida and our visitors, to a stunning array of national and international ballet companies of artistic excellence from Europe, Latin America, and the USA. The IBFM has received rave reviews and earned the utmost respect of the local and international media.

MHB is also the parent company for the new Miami Hispanic Cultural Art Center (MHCAC) slated to open the doors in early 2012. This mega project will be the home for the popular Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami company & School dedicated to presenting the classics and perpetuating the spectacular technique and style of the school of Cuban Ballet; and the Creation Art Center presenting theatrical performances by the best of Spanish playwrights.

The MHB received a grant of $1 million for the purchase of the property that will house the MHCAC from Miami Dade County Cultural Affair Council and is also the proud recipient of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Knight Arts Challenge Grant Award 2011 of $100,000 in support of the historical restoration of the original building, the JW Warner House, and the contrasting new modern Miami architecture dance studio space to compliment the Center. This has been designed bro bono by the great architect Omar A. Morales of the Form Group in Coral Gables. MHCAC will primarily offer ballet classes at different levels extending to a modern and contemporary dance program. There will also be classes in other disciplines in the arts, performances and art films in the new Black Box Theater and art exhibits in the gallery.

For more information and to support this ambitious project please visit www.hispanicculturalartcenter.org