Miami City Ballet, an American ballet company led by Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez, hosted its fifth annual Nutcracker Magic Children’s Soirée on Sunday, Dec. 15 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. Event Co-Chairs included Asha Elias, Nikki Squire and Tina van der Ven, who returned to their leadership roles for the second consecutive year.

Through tickets sold and event sponsors, this year’s Soirée raised more than $190,000, which will support the Community Engagement programs at MCB School that aim to eliminate barriers to access to the arts for its approximately 19,000 annual participants.

The curated children’s event began with a “Visions of Sugarplums” themed brunch reception, sponsored by Centner Academy – a new multilingual and multicultural language immersion school in the Miami Design District dedicated to cultivating emotional intelligence, mindfulness and well-being in children – and allowed guests to dance alongside ballerinas, take an escorted backstage tour and pose for pictures with performance characters before taking prime seats inside the center’s Ziff Ballet Opera House for a production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®.

“We’re so pleased that this lovely event created a delightful and memorable experience for each guest – and returning guests – which in turn ensures ongoing and impactful experiences for community engagement through the arts,” said Asha Elias, Event Co-Chair.

The Nutcracker Magic Children’s Soirée VIP experience also included intermission refreshments, table-side magic, a photo booth sponsored by Publix Super Markets Charities, complimentary valet parking, a swag bag sponsored by Dreams of Cuteness, a Nutcracker keepsake doll sponsored by Resnick and Louis, P.C., and a signed ballet shoe for each child.

After the performance, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Honey Shine, Inc., The Little Lighthouse Foundation and Chapman Partnership were hosted in the Peacock Foundation Studio for The Sugar Plum Holiday Party, sponsored by Royal Caribbean Cruises, LTD, Doctors Hospital and Alicia Celorio. Participants from these social service organizations enjoyed a dessert party while dancing with costumed characters from The Nutcracker.

For upcoming performances or more information on MCB School Community Engagement programs, visit www.MiamiCityBallet.org.