Miami City Ballet is taking a bold new approach with its latest production of Carmen, reimagined with a high-stakes, modern twist. Choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, the world premiere debuted at the Arsht Center, trading tradition for poker chips in a daring reinterpretation of the classic tale. The production draws inspiration from the 2017 film "Molly's Game", portraying Carmen as a card dealer climbing her way to power in a drama-filled ballet that trades tradition for a contemporary empowerment storyline.
According to a Local 10 News report, Lopez Ochoa expressed her vision for the production saying, "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." This conceptual shift aims to quickly capture the audience's attention with a mix of drama, sexiness, and entertainment, a significant departure from the "Carmen" many have known.
Adding to the visual feast is costume designer Mark Eric, who painstakingly created the modernized wardrobe alongside skilled collaborators. Taking nearly a year to complete, the costumes, some of which involved 3D printing and gold leaf, encapsulate the transformation of Carmen into a contemporary figure of power. The wardrobe undergoes several iterations throughout the show, some requiring up to ten mockups, Lopez Ochoa explained in a statement obtained by Local 10 News.
Lopez Ochoa found further inspiration by delving to definitely revisit the origins of "Carmen" in Prosper de Merimée's 1845 story, which she believed focused too much on Don José's tragedy. "Why was this called Carmen if the tragedy is Don José’s?" she remarked in an interview with the Miami Herald. The choreographer leveraged symbolic elements and modern music that resonate with the timeless melodies of Bizet's opera, meticulously arranged by Juan Pablo Acosta to ensure a seamless blend of old favorites with new rhythms.
The "Carmen" experience, inviting viewers into the casino world of thrills, spills, and the occasional FBI chase, runs through May 4 at the Arsht Center before moving to Fort Lauderdale’s Broward Center for additional performances. Costing between $25-$225, the production promises to be an emotional journey that resonates powerfully both on and off stage, as principal dancer Dawn Atkins indicated in her reflection on the experience shared with the Miami Herald: "The last scene especially is quite powerful. I have to exhale when I step off at the end because of what happens in the storyline. I find it all very emotional and hope that also resonates with the audience.”
