Community Leaders Bring Philanthropy, Business, and Arts Leadership to Company’s Board
(Miami Beach, FL — March 19, 2026) — Miami City Ballet announced today the appointment of five distinguished community leaders to its Board of Trustees: Tatsiana Ansin, Cherie Balena, Anthony DiResta, Elinette Ruiz-Díaz de la Portilla, and Andrea Virgin. Each brings a record of civic leadership, philanthropic engagement, and commitment to the arts that will help guide the company during a moment of significant artistic momentum.
Upon this announcement, Miami City Ballet Board Chair Jeff Davis said, “Trustees play a vital role in strengthening Miami City Ballet’s future and ensuring the continued success of our national company, premier ballet school, and growing community engagement initiatives. Tatsiana, Cherie, Anthony, Elinette, and Andrea each bring unique expertise, deep connections to our community, and a passion for the arts that will help advance Miami City Ballet’s mission. We are delighted to welcome them to the Board.”
Photos of Miami City Ballet’s new trustees can be found here.
The appointments come as Miami City Ballet celebrates its 40th Anniversary Season, which continues this spring with programs across South Florida including Jewels, Carmen up next, plus additional repertory programs featuring intimate performances at The Parker, and larger spectacles like the joyous pairing of Twyla Tharp and the Beach Boys. The season also includes American Dance Odyssey, a collaboration with New World Symphony celebrating American music and dance and featuring the world premiere of a choreographic concerto created by 10 contemporary composers and choreographers.
Looking ahead, the company recently announced its 2026–27 Season, the first fully programmed by Artistic Director Gonzalo Garcia and a defining milestone for the organization. Across five major programs presented throughout South Florida, the season blends classical lineage with contemporary innovation. Highlights include the Miami City Ballet debut of Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland; the return of Alexei Ratmansky’s acclaimed Swan Lake; world premieres by Patricia Delgado and Tiler Peck; the company premiere of Jerome Robbins’ N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz; and the radiant return of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. The season will showcase the full range of Miami City Ballet’s artistry through sweeping story ballets, dynamic mixed repertory, and bold new works. For tickets and more information, please visit www.MiamiCityBallet.org.
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ABOUT THE NEW TRUSTEES
Tatsiana Ansin was born in the former Soviet Union and raised in Belarus, where she earned a master’s degree in mathematics from Belarusian State University. After moving to Miami in 2005, she continued her academic pursuits, earning a master’s degree in computer science from Nova Southeastern University in 2010. Tatsiana has been connected to Miami City Ballet since 2006 through volunteer service, and her family’s ties to the organization run deep—three of her daughters have trained at the Miami City Ballet School. Active in the community, Tatsiana serves on the Board of Lehrman Community Day School, where she previously chaired the board and helped lead the acquisition of additional land and the construction of a new school building. She also serves as a Counselor to the Dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Miami. Tatsiana is married to Andrew Ansin, and together they have four children. She is honored to continue her family’s legacy of supporting the arts and community, following in the footsteps of her mother-in-law, Toby Ansin.
Cherie Balena is a Vice President in the Asset & Wealth Management Division at Goldman Sachs in Miami, where she serves as a Private Wealth Advisor and co-head of one of the firm’s largest domestic teams. Together with her team, she manages approximately $6.5 billion in assets for entrepreneurial families, focusing on strategic wealth management through tax-efficient asset allocation and trust and estate planning. Earlier in her career, Balena worked in Goldman Sachs’ Securities Division in New York specializing in global fixed income sales and served as a consultant in the Global Risk and Investigations practice at FTI Consulting, where she conducted investigative research on high-profile matters including the Madoff case and the Wall Street housing crisis. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a minor in Finance from New York University and is actively involved in philanthropy as Founder and Chairwoman of the Young Everglades Patrons at The Everglades Foundation and as a Board Member of the Plymouth Congregation of Miami Foundation.
Anthony E. DiResta is an arts patron and nonprofit leader with extensive governance experience across leading cultural institutions. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Young Concert Artists in New York City, where he is a member of the Executive Committee and Strategic Planning Committee and Chair of the Governance & Nominating Committee. DiResta also serves as Co-Chair of the Board of the Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach and as a member of the Board of Trustees at Rollins College. His previous leadership roles include service with the Colburn School, Washington Conservatory of Music, Embassy Series, Washington Performing Arts, and Palm Beach Symphony. Throughout his philanthropic work, he has supported emerging artists and frequently hosts private musicales and donor gatherings that cultivate audiences and provide opportunities for young performers.
Elinette Ruiz-Díaz de la Portilla is an attorney at Gunster in Miami, where she specializes in local government law, land use and zoning, and public procurement. Her work focuses on guiding clients through complex development approvals and public contracting matters. Prior to her legal career, Ruiz-Díaz de la Portilla served in several public-sector roles including positions in the Office of the Senior Advisor to the Miami-Dade County Mayor, the office of Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart in the U.S. House of Representatives, and an internship at the U.S. Department of State. She also clerked for the Honorable Judge Mario P. Goderich of Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal. A lifelong ballet enthusiast, she began training at age three with Ballet Études of South Florida and continues to study ballet recreationally.
Andrea Virgin is a visionary leader whose career bridges the arts, engineering, and nonprofit innovation. A former ballet dancer with Houston Ballet II and Ballet Florida, she later earned degrees from Florida Atlantic University and Cornell University before building a successful career as a civil engineer. She subsequently founded Virgin Design, where she combined technical expertise with creative thinking to shape projects across South Florida. Inspired by the belief that creativity should extend beyond the arts, Virgin later founded The Center, where she now serves as Chair and CEO. Under her leadership, the organization has secured nearly $20 million in early support and engaged renowned partners including the Renzo Piano Building Workshop. Following the tragic loss of her husband in a 2015 plane crash, Virgin transformed personal grief into purpose, dedicating herself to advancing creativity, education, and community impact. She has served as President of the Cornell University Alumni Association, a Director for Boca Ballet Theatre, and a Trustee of the George Snow Scholarship Fund.
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ABOUT MIAMI CITY BALLET
Miami City Ballet (MCB) is one of America’s premier ballet companies, recognized nationally and internationally for its artistic excellence, vibrant style, and innovative spirit. Founded in 1985 by Miami philanthropist Toby Lerner Ansin, MCB has earned its place as a leader in the field—nurturing new choreographic voices, forging bold collaborations, and championing greater inclusivity in classical ballet. Its artistic leadership has included Founding Artistic Director Edward Villella (1985–2012), Lourdes Lopez (2012–2025), and current Artistic Director Gonzalo Garcia. Rooted in the style, technique, and legacy of George Balanchine, the company’s repertory has grown to include more than 100 ballets—ranging from treasured classical works to trailblazing contemporary choreography, including over a dozen world premieres. MCB performs for nearly 125,000 audience members annually across South Florida and on tour, with recent appearances in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris. The Miami City Ballet School, one of the country’s top training academies, serves nearly 400 students from Miami and around the world. The company’s community engagement programs reach approximately 20,000 people annually, using the power of dance to uplift, educate, and inspire. MCB is based in Miami Beach at the Ophelia & Juan Js. Roca Center, designed by internationally acclaimed architecture firm Arquitectonica.