On Friday, April 25, Miami City Ballet unveiled its daring new take on Carmen, choreographed by the visionary Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. Known for her modern, sharp-edged storytelling, Ochoa brings a distinctly fresh energy to the legendary tale, one that celebrates female autonomy with fierce elegance—and, fittingly, style was at the heart of it all.

From the moment the curtain lifted, it was clear this Carmen was not bound by tradition. The stage was transformed into a dreamlike landscape with towering sculptural forms—spindly, twisted cones in saturated reds and yellows—that evoked a surreal Gaudí vision. As the performance unfolded, these forms and the stage lighting evolved: fiery reds and golds gradually softened into cooler blues and pinks, a reflection of Carmen’s shifting journey from dominance to downfall.

Costuming in this production was anything but conventional. Instead of relying solely on sensual clichés, the wardrobe told a story of power through transformation. Early scenes introduced Ochoa’s Carmen in a flirtatious short red dress, a nod to Carmen’s historic allure. But this flirtation soon gave way to power dressing: Carmen herself later appeared in bold red pants and a flowing cape, channeling the commanding silhouette of a matador. The choice was striking—not just aesthetically, but thematically—declaring her agency and positioning her as a player in control, not prey to fate.

As the ballet edged toward its climax, fashion took a symbolic turn. Carmen emerged in a sweeping white gown adorned with a flamenco-style train, an echo of tradition laced with tragedy. Opposite her, Death—cloaked in black and similarly trailing fabric—created a haunting visual as the two engaged in their final, fatal duet. It was a masterclass in costuming as narrative: purity meeting inevitability, light battling darkness.

Ochoa’s Carmen delivered a technically precise and captivating performance. Her portrayal favored control over overt passion, embodying a Carmen who was deliberate rather than impulsive—a modern woman whose strength lay in calculation rather than chaos. This colder interpretation might surprise those used to the opera’s tempestuous heroine, but within Ochoa’s stylish world, it made perfect sense: this Carmen was no victim of love, but an architect of her own destiny.

Miami City Ballet’s Carmen is a feast for the eyes—a visual symphony of bold set pieces, artful lighting, and high-fashion costuming that redefines a classic story for today’s audience. It’s not just a ballet; it’s a statement about power, identity, and the evolving language of style on stage.

Stay tuned as Style & Polity heads next to Fort Lauderdale, where our special guest writer—a ballerina herself—will offer an exclusive insider’s perspective on the technique, movement, and artistry that bring this powerful new Carmen to life.

– S&P

PERFORMANCE DATES & TICKETS

Miami City Ballet’s Carmen
Miami: Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts – April 25–27
Fort Lauderdale: Broward Center for the Performing Arts – May 3–4

This review is part of a series on Carmen, as presented by two of Miami’s leading cultural hubs.

💃 ^{Dice, Desire, and Destiny: Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Carmen Takes Center Stage}
💃 ^{Carmen Reimagined: A Revolutionary Spirit Takes the Stage in Miami}
💃 ^{Carmen Takes Miami: A Duel of Opera and Ballet} 
💃 ^{A Night of Fire, Femininity, and Freedom: Inside the VIP Carmen Experience with FGO}