Ballet Hispánico is an American dance company based in Manhattan,

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

. It was founded by the Puerto Rican-Mexican-American dancer and choreographer

Tina Ramirez Ernestina Ramirez (November 7, 1929 – September 6, 2022) was an American dancer and educator, best known as the founder and artistic director (1970–2009) of Ballet Hispanico, the premier Latino dance organization in the United States. Biograp ...

in 1970 and presents dances reflecting the experience of

Hispanic and Latino Americans Hispanic and Latino Americans ( es, Estadounidenses hispanos y latinos; pt, Estadunidenses hispânicos e latinos) are Americans of Spanish and/or Latin American ancestry. More broadly, these demographics include all Americans who identify as ...

. The company has performed for more than two million people in the United States, Europe, and South America, and has a repertoire of over 75 works. The company has commissioned nearly 80 works and acquired 11 others, working with 45 choreographers from around the world.

About

founded Ballet Hispánico in 1970. Daughter of a Mexican bullfighter and grand-niece of a Puerto Rican educator, Ramirez enjoyed a long professional dance career before establishing the organization. Its New York City headquarters includes six dance studios. In August 2009,

Eduardo Vilaro Eduardo Vilaro is a Cuban-American dancer, choreographer, educator, and artistic director & CEO of Ballet Hispánico. He first joined Ballet Hispánico as a principal dancer in 1985, leaving for Chicago a decade later to further his education a ...

became the Ballet Hispánico Artistic Director. He is the second individual to lead the company since 1970. In 2015, he also took on the role of CEO. Vilaro was a former member of the Ballet Hispánico Company, serving as a dancer and educator for nine years starting in 1988. He stepped away in 1996 to found and lead Chicago’s

Luna Negra Dance Theater Luna Negra Dance Theater was a dance ensemble that celebrated the richness and diversity of Latino culture through the creation of works by contemporary Latino choreographers. Founded by Cuban-born dancer and choreographeEduardo Vilaro the company ...

for ten years before returning in 2009.

The Company

Ramirez' vision for the Ballet Hispánico Company promoted Hispanic culture in American dance, much as Alvin Ailey did for the Black community. During her 39 years as Artistic Director, she invited 50 choreographers from diverse backgrounds to provide a modern-day interpretation of Spanish-speaking cultures, drawing on the versatility of her dancers in ballet, modern dance, jazz, ethnic and other dance techniques. World-renowned artists responded to her vision, including ballet artists as Vicente Nebrada and Alberto Alonso; Talley Beatty and Anna Sokolow from modern dance;

Paco Fernandez Paco is a Spanish nickname for Francisco. According to folk etymology, the nickname has its origins in Saint Francis of Assisi, who was the father of the Franciscan order; his name was written in Latin by the order as ''Pater Communitatis'' (fath ...

and Jose Coronado from ethnic dance; and Graciela Daniele and

Ann Reinking Ann Reinking (November 10, 1949December 12, 2020) was an American dancer, actress, choreographer and singer. She worked predominantly in musical theater, starring in Broadway (theatre), Broadway productions such as ''Coco (musical), Coco'' (1969) ...

from Broadway. "More than most artistic directors, she has consistently given exposure to fresh talent," nurturing artists early in their careers, including William Whitener, now Artistic Director of Kansas City Ballet; MacArthur Award-Winner Susan Marshall; Ramon Oller, head of Spain's ''Metros Danza''; and Pedro Ruiz, then a member of the Company, now an independent choreographer.

School of Dance

The School of Dance offers a curriculum including flamenco,

classic Spanish dance A classic is an outstanding example of a particular style; something of lasting worth or with a timeless quality; of the first or highest quality, class, or rank – something that exemplifies its class. The word can be an adjective (a ''c ...

, ballet, and contemporary techniques. The School offers pre-professional training, a general program, and classes for preschoolers and adults.

Community Arts Partnerships

Location

In 1983, Ballet Hispánico purchased two carriage houses adjacent to the former Claremont Riding Academy building on West 89th Street listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The structures were built to designs by architect Frank A. Rooke in 1892. With architects Buck/Cane, Ballet Hispánico converted the two carriage houses into the company's headquarters in 1989. A subsequent expansion in 2006 doubled the capacity of the organization's facilities.

References

{{authority control 1970 establishments in New York City Hispanico, Ballet Dance companies in New York City Latin dances Hispanic and Latino American culture in New York City Performing groups established in 1970