Miami City Ballet celebrates 40th anniversary and founder's 85th birthday

The ballet company premieres a new work, "Into the Magic City," as part of the milestone celebrations.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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The Miami City Ballet held the world premiere of a new ballet, "Into the Magic City," on Friday night as part of the company's 40th anniversary celebrations. The performance also honored the 85th birthday of the ballet's founder, Toby Lerner Ansin, who started the company at her kitchen table decades ago.

Why it matters

The Miami City Ballet has become a cultural institution in the city, bringing world-class dance performances to the community for four decades. Celebrating this milestone, as well as honoring the visionary founder who made it all possible, highlights the lasting impact the ballet has had on Miami's arts scene.

The details

The Miami City Ballet premiered the new work "Into the Magic City" on Friday at the Adrienne Arsht Center. The performance also included a special piece titled "Roses from the South – Three Roses for Toby" dedicated to Ansin. Dancers had been rehearsing for weeks leading up to the opening night celebration. Ansin, who founded the ballet company when she was 40 years old, expressed her delight at seeing her dream become a reality over the past four decades.

  • The Miami City Ballet's 40th anniversary season kicked off on Friday, February 21, 2026.
  • Toby Lerner Ansin celebrated her 85th birthday on the opening night of the anniversary season.

The players

Toby Lerner Ansin

The founder of the Miami City Ballet, who started the company at her kitchen table decades ago and is celebrating her 85th birthday.

Gonzalo Garcia

The artistic director of the Miami City Ballet, who is leading the company into a new era.

Andrew Ansin

The CEO of Sunbeam Development and Television, and Toby Ansin's son.

James Ansin

The co-president and general manager of Sunbeam Television, and Toby Ansin's son.

Stephanie Ansin

Toby Ansin's daughter, who worked with the charitable Ansin Foundation and helped her mother turn her passion for ballet into an institution.

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What they’re saying

“Well, it's like a dream come true.”

— Toby Lerner Ansin (wsvn.com)

“As a little girl, I could never have imagined I'd be sitting here and be one of the people responsible for all those dancers and the ballerinas and men on the stage.”

— Toby Lerner Ansin (wsvn.com)

“Well, I mean, it's a big year, 40 years, you know.”

— Gonzalo Garcia, Miami City Ballet's artistic director (wsvn.com)

“We take a moment to breath, and to celebrate Toby, and to celebrate the beautiful dancers and everything that this community has built.”

— Gonzalo Garcia, Miami City Ballet's artistic director (wsvn.com)

“When she was 40 years younger, she had this dream, and to her credit, she made it come true.”

— Andrew Ansin, CEO of Sunbeam Development and Television (wsvn.com)

What’s next

The Miami City Ballet's 40th anniversary season will continue with additional performances of "Into the Magic City" and other repertoire through the end of the 2026 season.

The takeaway

The Miami City Ballet's 40th anniversary and Toby Lerner Ansin's 85th birthday celebration highlight the enduring legacy of this cultural institution and the visionary founder who turned her passion for dance into a world-class ballet company that has enriched Miami's arts scene for decades.