Miami Ballet cuts live music

Miami City Ballet will forgo a live orchestra and will perform to recorded music for the second half of its 2008-09 season to save money.

Blaming the economy, ballet officials said Tuesday that they cut the orchestra because of declining ticket sales and donor contributions. Live music for a full season would cost $480,000, but only $188,280 had been raised so far.

Musicians will play during ballet performances through January, except for the company’s holiday schedule of “George Balanchine’s the Nutcracker,” which will feature taped music.

Dancers will perform to recorded music for the remainder of the season, from February through April.