Tampa City Ballet’s “If I Cry” Is A Triumph!

Paula Nuñez, the artistic director of the Tampa City Ballet, which is based at her Tampa City Dance Center in Tampa Palms, says she was “thrilled” with the two performances (May 4-5) of her contemporary ballet “If I Cry” at the Jaeb Theater at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Tampa. 

Nuñez originally co-created (with Elsa Valbuena) and had her then-new professional Tampa City Ballet dance troupe perform “If I Cry” back in 2019, but she says the performances at the 312-seat Jaeb Theater the weekend of Cinco de Mayo added many new elements to her original “floor work” dance piece about the life of renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.

“The show keeps evolving,” Nuñez says. “For example, Frida was of course a famous painter, so we added scenes where the dancer playing adult Frida is actually painting and I think the audiences really enjoyed seeing that. Plus, all of the dancers are professionals who each brought their own ideas about how to make the show better. It all came together and I’m so happy with the results!”

I will say that Jannah and I thoroughly enjoyed everything about “If I Cry,” which began with a recorded video introduction by Visit Tampa Bay president and CEO (and New Tampa resident) Santiago Corrada congratulating Paula and everyone involved with “If I Cry,” which he called “spectacular.” 

That video was followed by Tampa City Ballet chief curator Sharmila Seth reading information about Kahlo’s tragic life, from her contracting polio at the age of six, to the bus crash twelve years later that left her with more than a dozen fractures and her abdomen and uterus being impaled on a large rail, to her on-again, off-again marriage to Mexican muralist Diego Rivera (which ended in divorce the first time because she had an affair with fellow female artist Georgia O’Keeffe), to her three miscarriages to her affair with Russian communist leader Leon Trotsky to her tragic passing in 1954, at the age of 47.

All of these events and more are depicted in “If I Cry,” with four different outstanding dancers portraying Kahlo at different ages, including one portraying Frida’s soul. All of the music — hand-curated by Nuñez, included everything from heavy classical pieces (some with violinist Nick Ewing on stage) to jazz pieces by Benny Goodman and Jelly Roll Morton — fit perfectly with what the audience experienced in the intimate Jaeb Theater. Also part of the musical experience was a live mariachi performance by Mariachi Guadalupe, which performed basically in the audience, along with the Wattaka Choir. 

“Frida is such an important figure,” Nuñez, who is originally from Venezuela. “So we wanted to re-tell the tragic story of her life from beginning to end in a unique way.” Mission accomplished, Paula!

The cast was made up not only of amazing dancers, they also were incredible actors who actually made you feel Frida’s pain with their facial expressions and perfectly executed floor work. I intentionally didn’t name any of the dancers who “stood out,” because it honestly wouldn’t be fair of me to leave any of them out, so below is the full cast list (in alphabetical order) of the Tampa City Ballet’s “If I Cry.” 

If you missed it, you truly missed a special event that should not be missed the next time Nuñez decides to share this masterwork with the Tampa Bay community. Bravo!

Nicole Assad (Young Frida)

Humberto Rivera Blanco (guest artist, Leon Trotsky)

Jayron Perez Cabrera (artist in residence, The Death)

John Delgado

Nicholas Garlo

Bailey Lord (Salvador Dali)

Maria Fernanda Papa (Adult Frida)

Aynsleigh Morehouse (Frida Dressed as a Man)

Shelby Russ (Frida’s Soul)

Amber Rose (Georgia O’Keeffe)

Wilson de los Santos (Diego Rivera)

Carissa Smith

Vashti Walters (Natalia Sedova)

Rehearsals For ‘If I Cry’ Just Part Of The Tampa City Dance Center Story 

Members of the Tampa City Ballet (TCB) company rehearse for their upcoming performances of “If I Cry” (see promotional poster below), which will be performed at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Tampa May 4-5. The rehearsal was held at the Tampa City Dance Center in the Shoppes at Amberly in Tampa Palms. (Photos by Charmaine George)

It’s been a while since we last checked in with Paula Nuñez, the founder and artistic director of what previously had been known as America’s Ballet School (located since 2002 in the Shoppes at Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms). But, not only has Paula now merged with the Tampa City Ballet, she has changed the name of her ballet school, which is still at that location, to Tampa City Ballet School (TCBS). 

In addition, in January of this year, she opened a new studio adjacent to the ballet school called the Tampa City Dance Center (TCDC), in order to offer both children and adults the opportunity to explore a variety of dance disciplines. Although TCBS still focuses on classical ballet variations, pointe, repertoire and contemporary ballet, and has its own outstanding faculty, TCDC offers classes (and private lessons) in Acrobatic Dance (or “Acro”), Contemporary, Flamenco, Hip-Hop, Salsa, Tango and even “Mommy & Me” (for kids ages 1-4, with their parent or grandparent). 

Top right, l.-r.) Jayron Perez (who choreographed some of the ballet pieces in “If I Cry”), TCB founder & artistic director Paula Nunez and musician & composer Nick Ewing. 

“It is exciting to offer a dynamic dance program designed to provide a platform to explore creativity and discover new ways to move,” Paula says. “Dance is a fantastic way to release stress, gain confidence and help with concentration and balance. This program fosters a supportive and fun environment for all ages. It definitely creates a community.” 

Paula notes that, at the Tampa City Dance Center, her long-time friend and TCDC executive director Claudia Correa and her staff, “offer a captivating selection of classes to suit all ages and interests. Paula says that Claudia was not a dancer herself, but adds, “She shares my passion for the arts.” 

Each of the dance disciplines at TCDC are taught by different professional faculty members. The pointe/ballet instructor is Vashti Walters. The contemporary and jazz dance and choreography lessons are led by Shelby Russ, who earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree from the University of South Florida (USF). Aynsleigh Morehouse, another USF BFA graduate, teaches stretching, tap, contemporary, pointe and the “Mommy & Me” classes. John Delgado teaches salsa and contemporary dance. 

More About Paula Nuñez 

Paula, who has many years of professional experience as a dancer and choreographer, is on the dance faculty at USF. She is a former principal company member of the International Ballet of Caracas (Venezuela), Ballet Nuevo Mundo and the Cleveland Ballet, San Jose. In 1992, she co-founded the well-known “Fundación Ballet de las Americas” now in residence at the Teresa Carreno Cultural Performing Arts Center in Caracas. 

In 2008, she established a nonprofit organization with the goal to provide scholarships to talented youths and to foster discipline in others who desire to dance. Some of these students are currently national and international dancers, educators and choreographers. 

(Above, l.-r.) Aynsleigh Morehouse, Maria Fernanda Papa & Shelby Russ rehearse for “If I Cry.” Aynsleigh & Shelby also teach at the Tampa City Dance Center. 

Paula also launched a community engagement program (in 2012) called “On Your Feet,” which has offered scholarships and high-quality dance education in collaboration with well-known organizations such as the University Area Community Development Corp. and their research-based prevention and diversion program for youths ages 5-18. 

Then, in 2018, she created Tampa City Ballet (TCB), a nonprofit professional contemporary dance company with an innovative repertoire that focuses on, and is invested in, connecting communities. TCB serves the community by providing high-quality arts education, to facilitate research and to create a space for dancers seeking professional experience. It also encourages interdisciplinary collaborations, while also offering unique, immersive and engaging experiences. 

Since 2022, Paula also has been part of the collective art space at the Historic Ybor City Kress Building in the new Gas Worx District. She says her mission is to create a collaborative model that integrates intergenerational and intercultural productions, demonstrating the alchemy that occurs between disciplines, creators and performers. 

Paula has made a significant impact on the cultural landscape of Tampa Bay. She has received numerous awards for her teaching, choreography and contributions to the arts in our area. She also has been nominated for the City of Tampa’s prestigious Hispanic Heritage Award. 

“If I Cry” — May 4-5 

Although many recent TCB performances have been and will continue to be held at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center, the ballet company recently used TCDC as a rehearsal space for its upcoming performances of “If I Cry,” which is described as “A surreal dance journey through the mind of renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo,” based on the artist’s personal diaries. Neighborhood News photographer Charmaine George attended that rehearsal, where she took the pictures on this page. 

The performances of “If I Cry” (see poster, below) will be held May 4-5, at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Tampa. Tickets are available through the Straz Center Box Office. Call (813) 229-7827 or visit StrazCenter.org for tickets and more information. 

For more information about the Tampa City Dance Center or Tampa City Ballet School (both located at 15367 Amberly Dr.), call (813) 558- 0800, visit TCDanceCenter.com or TampaCityBallet.org.