Azara Ballet is dedicated to changing the game. The Sarasota-based, non-profit professional dance company, which just concluded its second season, is dedicated to not only producing innovative ballet performances, but also changing ballet culture. Azara—based loosely on an old name for Sarasota, “Zara Zota”, meaning “a place of dance”—was founded by Kate and Martin Flowers to be a safe haven for dancers. Both Kate and Martin had grown up dancing ballet, yet Kate left the sport at 16 from the underlying toxicity that led to eating disorders and eventually drug abuse. Martin, who went on to have a professional career as a dancer, had a more positive experience—after being diagnosed with autism at 28, he credits much of his happiness and career success to ballet's innate ability to be a non-verbal form of expression.

Azara Ballet was created with the intention of providing an accepting, body-positive professional dance company that would provide neurodivergent and autistic communities the chance to experience the art of ballet.

On May 17, at Azara’s Masquerade Gala, the company announced the hiring of a new artistic director, Joshua Stayton. Stayton is an accomplished dancer, choreographer and teacher, having been a soloist with the Cincinnati Ballet, the Tulsa Ballet and has had world premieres of his works with Azara Ballet and other companies.

“This is a full circle moment for me,” says Stayton. “I’ve known Kate for 25 years now, we first met at the Cincinnati School for Performing Arts and played Clara and Fritz in the school’s production of The Nutcracker. To be joining her all these years later is something that I never could have dreamed of, especially with such a close friend.”

As Stayton transitions from the stage to the studio, he notes that he’s excited to carry on Azara’s unique vision, while leading the charge in season programming, casting, choreography and ultimately teaching the dancers of the company. “There’s a quote that I saw a few years ago that I’ve been living by as a teacher and a choreographer, which is ‘to be a true leader, don’t show them your superpowers, show them theirs’. I’ve had my time as a performer and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. My vision and direction is to openly communicate and let the dancers feel appreciated for the work that they’re doing, while trying to give them the tools they need to improve on their technique and artistry and discover that confidence and security within themselves.”

Azara Ballet, Inc., 5020 Clark Rd, Suite 504, Sarasota, 34233. 

Joshua Stayton performing. Provided photo.

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Last night, New College of Florida hosted a provocative installment of its Socratic Stage Dialogue Series titled “Justice or Politics? The Weaponization of Law in Modern America,” bringing together two towering and controversial legal figures: Alan Dershowitz and Steven Donziger.

Dershowitz, the former Harvard Law professor and constitutional scholar known for defending civil liberties in high-profile cases, opened with a clear theme: that American universities have strayed from their mission. “Teachers are not teaching students how to think,” he said. “They’re teaching them what to think.” He called New College “a reaction to the old college”—a place determined to restore open inquiry and intellectual diversity.

Donziger, best known for his decades-long legal battle against Chevron on behalf of indigenous communities in the Amazon, shared a different but complementary story. He recounted how, after winning a multi-billion-dollar judgment in Ecuador’s courts, he became the target of a retaliatory legal campaign. Donziger described being sued for $60 billion, placed under house arrest, and ultimately prosecuted—not by the government—but by a law firm representing Chevron, appointed as a “special prosecutor” by a federal judge. “I believe I’m the only person in U.S. history to be criminally prosecuted by a corporation,” he said.

Though their worldviews often diverged, Dershowitz and Donziger found common ground on the dangers of politicized justice. Dershowitz, a self-described liberal who has defended Donald Trump, warned against turning legal systems into tools for ideological enforcement. Donziger, who identifies as a progressive, emphasized that lawfare is not confined to government actors. A major concern of Donziger was that private corporations could weaponize the law, and were often successful in silencing critics when they did.

He took heart though, in the over 51,000 people who had donated to his own defense fund; “Most are very small donations, which I love. But when . . . you're being attacked and you put it out there– you stand up–I find that people, whether you're Republican, Democrat or whatever, regardless of their politics they respond to injustice.”

The conversation spanned from Harvard’s internal crises to DEI in higher education, from race and meritocracy to the foundational meaning of free speech. Dershowitz lamented the climate of fear he believes now defines elite academic spaces, clearly describing himself as a target of politicized application of the judicial process. “I used to speak at Harvard once a month,” he said. “Since the issues relating to Israel came out, and since I defended Donald Trump, and since I was supposedly accused of Jeffrey Epstein related matters–I have not been invited for a single time back to Harvard. I can speak all over. I can be on television tonight [but] the students of Harvard have been denied my voice.”

Donziger, while defending progressive ideals like social equity and environmental justice, acknowledged that free speech and due process have become endangered on many campuses. He praised New College for hosting the event, saying, “This is the first institution that’s invited me to speak.”

That comment underscored a broader point: New College’s commitment to hosting dissenting voices is increasingly rare in the American academic landscape. President Richard Corcoran has positioned the school as a home for “bold ideas and fearless debate.” The Socratic Stage Series, launched to showcase challenging conversations on democracy, law, and culture, is fast becoming a signature of that mission.

For students, faculty, and attendees, the event offered not just a collision of opinions, but a reminder of what civil discourse looks like. Dershowitz closed the event to rousing acclaim. He opined that a debate so uncensored and open-ended was “something that couldn’t happen at most colleges today.”

“Thank God for New College.” said Dershowitz, “[It’s] an important player and an important part of our academic marketplace. This is going to sound like a strange statement—the United States could survive today without Harvard. The United States could not survive today without New College.” 

Left: Steven Donziger; Right: Alan Dershowitz at New College of Florida's Socratic Stage Dialogue Series. Photo by Wes Roberts.

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is proud to produce Dames at Sea, a joyful, tap-filled celebration of the golden age of Broadway. With book and lyrics by George Haimsohn and Robin Miller, and music by Jim Wise, this high-spirited musical begins performances in FST’s Gompertz Theatre on June 11, with an official opening on June 13. 

Step into a visual conversation between two lifelong friends who helped shape Sarasota’s artistic history at 502 GALLERY. Hartman + Berg: Parallel Paths, celebrates the enduring friendship of William Hartman and Wilfrid Berg—two artists who painted side-by-side throughout the 1940s and 1950s in both Sarasota and Michigan.Their watercolor paintings, many of the same scenes rendered through separate eyes, reveal a rich, intimate dialogue of light, color, and perspective. This exhibition offers a rare look into a creative relationship rooted in trust, curiosity, and deep appreciation for the landscape they shared. Visit 502 Gallery to experience the show while it’s still up—and discover a unique chapter in Sarasota’s history. 

502 Gallery | 502 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota 

This Memorial Day weekend, trade in your beach towel for a brush with brilliance at the St. Armands Fine Art Festival, returning to the iconic St. Armands Circle on Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Admission is free—creativity, sunshine, and good vibes are included. Recently named one of Sunshine Artist’s 200 Best in 2024, this boutique-style art festival turns Sarasota’s most stylish circle into a curated outdoor gallery, featuring original fine art and hand-crafted treasures from top artists across Florida and the United States.

St. Armands Circle, Sarasota, Saturday & Sunday, May 24–25, 10:00am–5:00pm daily, Admission: Free and open to the public. 

For tens of thousands of local children, summer means more than sunshine and free time — it also means the loss of school meals, often their most reliable source of daily nutrition. To address this need, All Faiths Food Bank is once again partnering with the Sarasota and DeSoto County school districts and hundreds of community partners to provide free, nutritious food to children all summer long. With support from donors and partners like Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation and the Gould Family Trust Foundation at Gulf Coast Community Foundation, All Faiths Food Bank’s annual Campaign Against Summer Hunger brings healthy meals to kids at dozens of community sites across the Suncoast – including schools, libraries, early learning centers, summer camps, community centers and numerous other organizations.  The effort is bolstered by the federally-funded Summer BreakSpot program, run by Sarasota and DeSoto County Schools’ Food and Nutrition Services departments.  The campaign ensures children don’t go hungry even when the school year ends. Last year, more than 35,000 children received food through the campaign. 

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Selby Gardens is honored to partner with the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation for the continuation of the Virginia B. Toulmin Leadership Scholarship, available for the 2025-2026 academic year. The deadline is approaching for college juniors and seniors in our region to apply for the Virginia B. Toulmin Leadership Scholarship, awarded in partnership with Selby Gardens' President & CEO Jennifer O. Rominiecki! The 2025 Awardee will receive a $15,000 scholarship, one-on-one mentoring from Rominiecki, as well as invitations to Selby Gardens events, an appointment to the Advisory Committee, and an annual membership. Please feel free to share this with possible candidates! The deadline for applications is May 31, 2025. 

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In Sarasota County, the Legacy Trail and its connecting routes to other parts of the county are creating one of the more dynamic portions of the Florida Gulf Coast Trail, a program of Trust for Public Land (TPL) that aims to create a regional trail system in Southwest Florida from Naples to Tampa — with Sarasota at the center. It’s been quite the journey. From the early days of the Legacy Trail until now, TPL has been there to support the community in its vision for a county-wide trail system that enhances outdoor recreation, neighborhood connectivity, healthy lifestyles, safe routes to schools, alternative transportation, and economic opportunities. Spanning seven coastal counties from Tampa and St. Petersburg to Naples, the Florida Gulf Coast Trail aims to connect communities with safe pathways for outdoor recreation and stimulate economic investment and job creation. 

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Reserve a space to be in front of SRQ Magazine's vibrant readers in the July/August 2025 edition, packed with premium opportunities: the inspiring Home & Design Flipbook, essential Hurricane Preparedness section, and the celebrated Best of SRQ Local Winners Showcase. Reach engaged readers with impactful stories, expert positioning, and targeted visibility. Space is limited—secure your placement today.