MIAMI – It’s one of the most iconic stories in opera and dance — but now, Miami City Ballet is turning "Carmen" on its head.
With high drama, bold fashion, and an unexpected poker theme, the company’s world premiere of Carmen brings a modern, empowering twist to the stage.
“Because Carmen is unpredictable and so is this production,” said internationally acclaimed choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa.
Before the curtain rises, Local 10 News got a behind-the-scenes look at the ballet’s dramatic reinvention, which draws inspiration from the 2017 film Molly’s Game and repositions Carmen not just as a seductress — but as a card dealer who seizes power throughout the performance.
“Instead of just being a love story, I wanted her to become a card dealer and then slowly in the ballet she becomes more and more powerful and then show runs her own poker games,” Lopez Ochoa said.
The result is a high-stakes, high-style production that challenges tradition while celebrating spectacle.
“I want to give them drama, sexiness and entertainment. It’s also going to be a celebration for the eyes,” Lopez Ochoa added.
Helping bring that vision to life is costume designer Mark Eric, who worked with Miami City Ballet’s costume shop and collaborators in New York to create a wardrobe fit for Carmen’s transformation into a modern power figure.
“We had them developed in New York City (and) we sourced all the fabric. He handmade all that material,” Eric said. “Her origins were as a gypsy, so we wanted to bring her in today’s times. A powerful woman, give her a full wardrobe and she’s kind of the person in power.”
Some outfits were 3D printed and gilded with gold leaf, paired with ornate props — including a skull — to emphasize the ballet’s daring aesthetic.
“This is all 3D printed and gilded with gold leaf,” Eric said. “We have these kind of fun sparkly costumes, a little Miami vibe.”
The designs took nearly a year to complete, with some costumes requiring up to ten mockups.
As excitement builds for opening night, Lopez Ochoa says she hopes audiences come dressed to match the mood.
“I’m inviting everybody at home to wear their red outfit because we all have a bit of Carmen in us,” she said.
Carmen runs through May 4 at the Adrienne Arsht Center in downtown Miami. Click here for more ticket information.