The festival will be launched with an International Dance Spectacular at the Sarasota Opera House on December 21–22, featuring Carreño and Julie Kent of ABT, Tiler Peck and Joaquin de Luz of New York City Ballet and contemporary artists Drew Jacobi and Rubi Pronk, with performances and masterclasses. This is a taster for the month-long Intensive Dance Workshop, to be held in August 2011, with classes, coaching and four performances. For more information, including audition details, see carrenodancefestival.com. Carreño has announced that he will retire from ABT in August 2011.