To The Steps Of Sarasota County

America As You Like It • 9 September 2024

Step into the vibrant rhythm of Sarasota County, Florida, where arts, culture, and coastal charm blend seamlessly. This blog will take you on a journey through the heart of Sarasota City, showcasing its rich artistic heritage, culinary delights, and unique shopping experiences. Discover why this destination is a must-add to your next Florida holiday.

Opera

Sarasota has become one of the most vibrant arts communities in Florida and its opera house is at the forefront. Once known primarily as a beach getaway, the city has transformed into a flourishing international arts destination. When you step into the theatre, you'll find the perfect size and acoustics for live opera, allowing you to immerse yourself in an unforgettable world of music, lights, costumes, sets, and vocals.

The recently refurbished and innovative Sarasota Opera House enhances this experience. It features a youth opera programme with performances like "The Hobbit," and it has a long history with the works of Giuseppe Verdi, being the only company to have presented all of his operas as of November 2024. Upcoming performances include "Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci" and "The Barber of Seville" in February 2025, as well as "The Marriage of Figaro" and "Stiffelio" in March 2025.

Ballet

Ballet is a cornerstone of Sarasota's vibrant arts community. In the past five years, The Sarasota Ballet has been invited to perform at prestigious venues, including the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, the Fall for Dance Festival at New York City Center, and for week-long residencies at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival and the Joyce Theater in New York.

The Sarasota Ballet has gained both national and international recognition for its critically acclaimed performances. The company has showcased works by world-renowned choreographers such as Sir Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, Sir Matthew Bourne, Dame Ninette de Valois, Michel Fokine, and Sir Kenneth MacMillan.

The Sarasota Cuban Ballet School (SCBS), founded in 2011 by Cuban-born ballet dancers Ariel Serrano and Wilmian Hernández, plays a key role in this scene. Serrano and Hernández, who trained at the prestigious National Ballet School of Cuba, moved to Sarasota in 1993 and continued their careers as principal dancers with The Sarasota Ballet.

Botanical Gardens

Immerse yourself in Florida’s lush tropical flora and vibrant botanicals at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Spanning 45 acres of bayfront sanctuaries, Selby Gardens offers a firsthand experience of native plants as well as exotic air plants from around the world. Enjoy expansive views of sailboats anchored in Sarasota Bay while exploring the garden's renowned scientific collection of orchids and bromeliads, the finest of its kind. Notably, Selby Gardens is the only botanical garden in the world dedicated to the study and display of epiphytes, air plants that thrive in tree canopies, including orchids, bromeliads, gesneriads, ferns, and other tropical species.

Art Galleries of Sarasota

Art has the power to transport you to a world of imagination and colour, bringing stories to life. This is a vital part of Sarasota County and its community narrative. The Sarasota Art Museum, located on the Ringling College Museum Campus, offers 15,000 square feet of exhibition gallery space, an auditorium for educational events, performances, and films, as well as a sculpture courtyard.

The Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy celebrates the creative human spirit and elevates the importance of whimsical art. This museum features a growing collection of light-hearted paintings, sculptures, and stained glass by mostly living artists. The outdoor Lee Family Gardens are particularly enchanting, with grand pink flamingos, a bridge, a boat, a bathysphere, a ballerina, and a stainless steel rocket ship. A visit here will spark your creativity. The museum is open from November to May on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday afternoons from 1 to 4 PM.

Alternatively, you can visit the Venice Art Center, which hosts 12 unique exhibits annually. The centre offers a range of classes and workshops.

Theatre

Theatre holds a prominent place in Sarasota County, and for good reason. Since 2015, Urbanite Theatre has been the premier destination for daring contemporary professional theatre in Sarasota, dedicated to bringing the most thrilling new plays to the region. It attracts top acting and directing talent from across the country, making it a hub for innovative performances.

Florida Studio Theatre (FST), Sarasota’s contemporary theatre, has been a cultural cornerstone since its founding in 1973. Located in the heart of downtown Sarasota, FST has grown into a village of five theatres, each offering intimate and engaging settings for high-quality, professional performances.

Music

Sarasota offers plenty of live music to keep the energy going well into the early hours of the morning. You can visit a live music venue or explore one of the many craft beer bars offering a variety of flavours. The Bay Park, a signature public park along Sarasota's bayfront, frequently hosts local bands for free performances. O'Leary's Tiki Bar & Grill on the bayfront also features a daily lineup of local bands and musicians. If you're looking for a relaxed vibe, Casey Key Resorts is a great choice. Enjoy the newly renovated Osprey Resort live bands playing laid-back melodies five nights a week by the pool deck.

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