A new era begins for Miami City Ballet at the Kravis Center this weekend, as Lourdes Lopez takes over the company from departing founder Edward Villella. The opening production is a series of three ballets familiar to the company.

Sir Frederick Ashton’s “Les Patineurs (The Skating Party)”, a 1937 work, evokes a 19th century winter idyll. It’s the only Ashton ballet in MCB’s repertory, and the dancers are required to master a tricky combination of show-off virtuosity, softly shaped lyricism and playful silliness (coy pratfalls and mincing steps that mimic ice-skating).

MCB has danced the pristine, idiosyncratic architecture of George Balanchine’s masterpiece “Apollo” for 25 years. It’s about a young god discovering and growing into his destiny, with a Stravinsky score.

The finale is “Piazzolla Caldera,” Paul Taylor’s mesmerizing tango piece set to music by Astor Piazzolla, with its intense human drama, sexy costumes and erotic playfulness.

MIAMI CITY BALLET: PROGRAM 1

When: Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.

Where: Kravis Center, West Palm Beach

Information: 561-832-7469 or 877-929-7010