This weekend, a truly one of a kind performance is coming to Sarasota. On April 19 and 20, the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School will present world-renowned ballet dancer and director Carlos Acosta’s performance of On Before. The contemporary ballet, initially constructed by Acosta in 2010 as a tribute to his late mother, will be performed at the Sarasota Opera House. Acosta’s performance of On Before in Sarasota will mark Acosta’s first performance in the United States since 2018 and will be his only stop in the country on his current tour.

Acosta, born in Havana, Cuba in 1973, has a long and storied career in ballet. Currently the director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet, Acosta studied ballet at the Cuban National Ballet School and rose to prominence in the 1990s, eventually becoming a permanent member of The Royal Ballet in 1998. Acosta retired from classical ballet in 2016 after 28 years as a professional dancer–since then, however, he’s continued to be active in the world of dance, establishing his own company, Acosta Danza in Havana in 2016.

On Before is undoubtedly Acosta’s most personal and intimate work to date. An intimate, two-person ballet–backed by a choir–On Before will see Acosta pair up with Laura Rodriguez from Acosta Danza. “The show is very abstract. It’s very symbolic,” says Acosta. “There is a sharing of the space between a male dancer and a female dancer. Sometimes it can be interpreted as the mother and child or as lovers dancing together–the show gives me an opportunity to dance with my mother so to speak. Every time I dance in this show I feel her presence and it’s a way of always having her live on in my heart.”

April 19-20, 7:30 p.m., Sarasota Opera House, 61 N Pineapple Ave, Sarasota. 

Pictured: Carlos Acosta and Laura Rodriguez in a performance of On Before. Photo courtesy of Sarasota Cuban Ballet School

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For 75 years, students involved with the Circus Arts Conservatory’s Sailor Circus Academy have wowed audiences with feats of physical strength, grace and courage that might initially seem well beyond the abilities of performers so young. In “Origins,” patrons of all ages, from near and far, will be enthralled as students involved in the Red Troupe of the youth training program flip, fly and soar to new heights during their spring show. Performances take place in the Sailor Circus Arena (2075 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota) at 2 and 7 p.m. on May 4 and at 1 and 5 p.m. on May 5. This year’s show celebrates the creative power behind nature, art, human invention, and 75 years of Sailor Circus entertainment. From stardust to supernovas, from aerials to acrobatics, this show has it all! Nearly 50 students will be featured in acts including trampoline wall, acrobatic roller skating, bicycle for five, clowning, aerial acts such as silks, hammock, cloudswing, duo straps, and web, and – the traditional closing act – the flying trapeze. This show marks the first time the Sailor Circus will perform the thrilling and dynamic act, the Russian Swing, which will open the show. Creative director Jared Walker notes that “Origins” is a more traditional circus show: while there is a theme, there’s no complicated plot line so that the focus can stay on the students. The show will take audiences from the Big Bang through ancient Greek civilization and the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to the age of dinosaurs, the Paleolithic age of early humans, the golden age of invention, the creative boom of art up through modern music, to a concluding supernova. The program's graduating seniors – Scotti Horowitz, Alex Hume, Kate McCracken, Cora Thayer, Emma Wilson Weber and Anjolie Zerbini, some of whom have studied with SCA for as many as nine years – will be featured in acts including aerial web, slack rope, cloudswing, acrobatic dance, and flying trapeze. Also being featured are two dance trapeze students, Anna Buchmeier and Emmi Tvenstrup, who recently performed at VivaFest 2024 in Las Vegas; the duo, coached by Olga Coronas, won 2nd place as an Aerial Duo in the Emerging Pro category. Tickets for “Origins” are $20-$40 and can be purchased via circusarts.org, by calling the Box Office at 941-355-9805, or secured in person at the Box Office on Bahia Vista Street, adjacent to the Sailor Circus Arena. Box Office hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

Pictured: Senior Sailor Circus student Alex with fellow performer Olivia on the flying trapeze. Provided photos/Circus Arts Conservatory.

This Earth Day, engage with nature using all of your senses! A part of Suncoast Remake Learning Days, we’re partnering with Suncoast Science Center | Faulhaber Fab Lab, Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, and Mote Marine Laboratory to offer fun, hands-on learning activities for all ages. Join us to explore your senses through stations like a "guess the scent" challenge, music making and more! Explore our Butterfly House, partake in a plant scavenger hunt, and even discover a special 6th sense! This event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required.

Saturday, April 20, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

Skyway 2024: A Contemporary Collaboration unites five of Tampa Bay's most prestigious cultural institutions in a unique showcase of local artistic talent. Skyway 2024 is not just an exhibition; it is a journey through the vibrant contemporary art scene of the central Gulf Coast region in Florida. The Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg; The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art; Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design; the Tampa Museum of Art; and the University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum are proud to announce their joint effort in presenting this groundbreaking showcase. This collaborative effort will feature a diverse array of contemporary art, including paintings, sculptures, installations, and multimedia presentations by 63 artists and art collectives living and working in the Tampa Bay area. 

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The annual Hermitage Greenfield Prize Dinner on Sunday, April 14th honored playwright and theater maker Deepa Purohit. This was the central event of a three-day celebration, hosted by the Hermitage Artist Retreat (Andy Sandberg, Artistic Director and CEO) in partnership with the Greenfield Foundation. The gala evening was presented at Michael’s on East and featured inspiring performances from Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award-winning star of stage and screen Rachel Bay Jones (Dear Evan Hansen, “Young Sheldon”), accompanied by Broadway veteran Randy Redd; original songs by internationally renowned composer and performer Kavita Shah; and an appearance from past Hermitage Greenfield Prize winner Angélica Negrón. The annual gala raised more than $300,000 in support of the Hermitage’s mission, in addition to the Greenfield Foundation’s increased annual gift of $175,000. The festive evening was co-chaired by Pauline Wamsler and Stephanie & Gene Jones. Hermitage Artistic Director and CEO Andy Sandberg served as master of ceremonies and announced that Asolo Repertory Theatre will be collaborating with the Hermitage as the presenting partner for the first public presentation of Deepa Purohit’s commission in Sarasota in 2026. As this year’s HGP recipient, Purohit receives a $35,000 commission, along with an extended residency at the Hermitage Artist Retreat. The Hermitage Greenfield Prize Celebration culminated on Monday, April 15th with Angélica Negrón presenting Azul Naranja Salado, the original composition resulting from her 2022 Hermitage Greenfield Prize. This world premiere concert set a new standard for embracing the Florida weather as part of the experience; this contemporary classical composition was performed live outdoors on the Hermitage Beach on Manasota Key. Deepa Purohit was selected by a distinguished jury that included Obie Award-winning playwright and Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph, Tony Award-winning Artistic Director of A.R.T. Diane Paulus, and Tony Award-winning actor, director, and writer Ruben Santiago-Hudson. 

ORIGIN STORY | Discover the origin story of The Sarasota-Manatee Originals, which champions local restaurants across the community, April 2024. 

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