There’s a lot being done to help fight food insecurity in Miami. Restaurants across the city are playing the role of food banks, providing meals for out-of-work employees and essential workers.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — You can call it a cool concept. A South Florida organization is using refrigerators to combat food insecurity in local communities.

Eric Trope is someone I met by chance when we both happened to be visiting our friend Caroline Beach in Dresden at the same time several years ago. I had a blast getting to know him (despite even sharing a terrifying experience encountering a neo-nazi on on a tram late one night) and just clicking with him as the three of us were complete goofballs together.

Ballet Des Moines has hired Eric Trope to be its next artistic director, starting July 1. He’ll replace Tom Mattingly, who stepped smoothly into the role four years ago and will continue on for three more as a resident choreographer.

During the weeks prior to our recent premiere at Teatros del Canal, dozens of rehearsals took place at the CND headquarters, where we received three important dance figures who helped us with the assembly of the pieces in the program (Heatscape, Le Jeune Homme et la Mort and Cantata).

NJB’s production has been around for awhile. New York City Ballet’s legendary Edward Villella (who was, and continues to be, an NJB Artistic Advisor) performed as the Sugar Plum Fairy’s Cavalier in NJB’s first Nutcracker fifty-two years ago. I’m sure it’s been tinkered with over the years since then, but it looks as if this essentially is the original production, updated with contemporary effects.

As writers use words to articulate the human condition, dancers uses movement to express human emotion. Both artistic endeavors require dedication and imagination, hard work and passion, giving into rhythm and continuing with intention.

After 50 years of supporting the performing arts, the Lexington Ballet Company is ready to take the leap into a new era.

When Mia Isaac took over duties as CEO of the Lexington Ballet in 2023, plans began for the company’s 50th anniversary — a milestone event then two years away. That meant reaching out to collaborators with varying ties to the dance world. Some were choreographers and costumers, others were poets and musicians. Many from each camp were alumni of Lexington Ballet.

The season of dance is right around the corner, and you can witness the picturesque period right here on the Eastern Shore — and yes, on the beach.

Eric premiered Quiet Music at Shut Up and Dance 2022 on April 30th featuring So Jung Shin and Alex Babayev of the Philadelphia Ballet

Eric Trope is a freelance choreographer, ballet dancer, and repetiteur. His latest work was seen at the Nantucket Atheneum Dance Festival in July 2022. In 2019, Eric's work was presented at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts as part of the finale of the prestigious Mainly Mozart Festival.

Trope, who comes from a family of activists, started helping out with the organization however he could. But when Buddy System began getting some local press, requests ballooned, and he jumped on board to help run a much more complicated operation.

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Eric Trope a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

The Joffrey Ballet Concert Group, under the artistic direction of Bradley Shelver, will appear in all new works, Feb. 16-18 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater.