Tango Vitrola
Posted: April 25, 2013 Filed under: Behind-the-Scenes @ BH, Dancers, Performances, The Apollo, The Joyce | Tags: Alejandro Cervera, Tango Leave a commentFor most, the idea of tango conjures up images of steamy Buenos Aires nightclubs full of men, with roses gripped between their teeth, leading ladies across the floor. While Alejandro Cervera’s Tango Vitrola (1987) does feature the key elements of a stereotypical tango milonga (strong men, beautiful women and sensual music), it also challenges an audience’s preconceptions and offers a rich and beautiful exploration of the dance form.
The choreographer, Alejandro Cervera, hails from Buenos Aires, where his first exposure to dance was in the home where his parents would tango with friends and family during parties. “Growing up in Argentina,” he said, “it’s hard not to have a lot of contact with tango and tango music, especially in the big cities.” Tango has been inextricably linked to Argentinean culture, in both beautiful and problematic ways.
Through the creation of Tango Vitrola, Mr. Cervera aimed to challenge the gender stereotypes associated with tango. He explained that in the 1980s, Argentinean society became “much more balanced, more egalitarian” and he sought to reflect these changes in his work. His Tango Vitrola is more democratic and less black and white than the traditional dance form.
The relationship between the partners are complex and certainly not straightforward. His choreography blurs lines of tradition. Tango Vitrola presents the tango as a dance between two people, not as a dance defined by their gender. The result is a work of strength, beauty and subtlety.
Ballet Hispanico performed Alejandro Cervera’s sleek and sexy Tango Vitrola (1987) during our sold-out show at The Apollo last December. If you missed it then, fear not! Tango Vitrola will be performed for the remainder of our 25th New York Season at The Joyce, now through April 28th. For ticket and performance information, please visit our website HERE.
Vanessa Valecillo and Jamal Rashann Callender in Tango Vitrola © Paula Lobo
Sortijas – A World Premiere
Posted: March 18, 2013 Filed under: Behind-the-Scenes @ BH, Dancers, Events, Performances, The Joyce | Tags: ballet, Ballet Hispanico, Cayetano Soto, dance, Talbot Runhof, The Joyce, world premiere Leave a commentLast Friday at the Dana Center for the Performing Arts, the Ballet Hispanico Company previewed Sortijas, a brand new work by leading Spanish choreographer Cayetano Soto. Cayetano, based in Munich, traveled to our studios last week to set his creation on the dancers, and we sat down with him for a chat about his personal career and his creative vision.
Ballet Hispanico’s collaboration with Cayetano has been an endeavor several years in the making. His new work, Sortijas, was intended to premiere during Ballet Hispanico’s 40th Anniversary Season, but his broken achilles forced a postponement. This setback did not discourage Cayetano, however. He said, “These were beautiful mistakes. There is a fate in everything, and this work was meant to happen.”
Sortijas, a lush duet set to music by Lhasa de Sela, reflects Cayetano’s commitment to the personal and intimate aspects of dance. For Cayetano, choreographing is an exploration of the self: “I aim to kill all my demons in the studio.” And he encourages his dancers to do the same. He empowers the dancers to tap into their own experiences and infuse them into their interpretation of the movement.
In addition to the beautiful movement and music in the work, Cayetano has collaborated with the fashion label Talbot Runhof, a German-American duo based in Munich, to design original costumes for Sortijas. Cayetano previously worked with them on his production of Carmen, and he is certain that the new costumes will make the dancers look “amazing” and “perfect” on stage. For more of the designer’s amazing collections, visit their website HERE.
Cayetano is certainly a busy choreographer: for the rest of the year, he will travel from Munich to Santa Fe, Sao Paulo, back to Santa Fe, and to The Netherlands. Despite his demanding schedule, he never compromises his work or his vision. A piece can never be truly finished for him: “Dance is a living art. Like a child’s education, the creation never ends. The process can never be stopped.”
To witness the evolution of Sortijas, you can catch its world premiere at Ballet Hispanico’s 25th New York Season at the Joyce Theater April 16-28, 2013. Visit our website HERE for complete performance and ticket information.
For a behind-the-scenes sneak peek at the piece, check out the photographs below taken during last week’s rehearsals!
Images © Joshua Preston
Connecting Communities Coast to Coast
Posted: January 7, 2013 Filed under: Behind-the-Scenes @ BH, Education & Outreach Leave a commentToday kicks off Ballet Hispanico’s week-long residency in sunny Santa Barbara, California. Our Company dancers will be busy giving free classes, workshops and performances, but they will also be supported by a fierce group of Ballet Hispanico educational staff. AnaMaria Correa, BH’s Director of Education & Outreach and the School of Dance, will join Artistic Director Eduardo Vilaro in narrating many of the performances, and Franchesca Cabrera, E&O’s Program Coordinator, will teach classes in the local schools.
This trip is particularly meaningful for Franchesca, a Santa Barbara native, because it marks her triumphant return to the city that prepared her so well for the successful performance and professional career she holds today.
We spoke to Franchesca over the phone from Santa Barbara as she waited out the holidays and her reunion with Ballet Hispanico. She offers a unique perspective on the significance, both for herself and for the communities, of BH’s residency there. She couldn’t stop expressing how lucky she was to have the opportunity to connect Ballet Hispanico with a town as rich in dance as Santa Barbara.
“My universes are colliding!” she exclaimed.
Franchesca spent her formative years learning and dancing in Santa Barbara, and she has carried this solid foundation with her across the country and back again, literally. Her current success as a performer in New York and an administrator at Ballet Hispanico supports her belief that you can make it anywhere if you stay positive, keep moving forward, and are open to new definitions of yourself.
“Santa Barbara afforded me everything, all of the skills that I needed to succeed at Ballet Hispanico. I can be more than one thing–a teacher, an administrator, and performer–while staying true to my roots.”
There is a real anticipation in the air prior to BH’s arrival in California. Franchesca spent the holidays making connections with everyone in the dance world there–old teachers, former students, peers–to get them excited about Ballet Hispanico’s tour. Santa Barbara, rife with Hispanic dance traditions so intricately connected with BH’s own mission, imparts a sense of family and community to anyone who enters.
Franchesca, now a vital member of BH’s family, cannot wait to help facilitate the exchange of ideas and dance between her hometown and her chosen career. Ballet Hispanico cannot wait to see what will come of this promising new relationship with Santa Barbara.
Read even more about Franchesca in this great article by the Santa Barbara Independent HERE and visit our website HERE to learn more about Education & Outreach at Ballet Hispanico.
Ballet Hispanico in Schools Across the Country
Posted: January 3, 2013 Filed under: Behind-the-Scenes @ BH, Dancers, Education & Outreach, Performances Leave a commentThis season, Ballet Hispanico Company members have been impacting children’s lives across the globe, from the Dominican Republic to New York City. After their successful evening at the Apollo on December 1, the dancers headed down to New Orleans, Louisiana, for a series of dance workshops in collaboration with the New Orleans Ballet Association.
To get an inside look at our dancers working with children, check out this video featuring Donald Borror and Martina Calcagno teaching Latin Social Dance at a New Orleans elementary school.
Ballet Hispanico Workshop at Chateau Estates Elementary from Jefferson Parish Public Schools on Vimeo.
Next week, the Company takes off for an action-packed week in Santa Barbara, California. Click HERE for a complete listing of events, and stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes information.
Anticipation for the Apollo
Posted: November 26, 2012 Filed under: Behind-the-Scenes @ BH, Dancers, Events, The Apollo | Tags: Eduardo Vilaro, Lauren Alzamora, live music, Martina Calcagno, Paquito D'Rivera, The Apollo 2 CommentsHere at Ballet Hispanico, we returned from a restful Thanksgiving holiday eager for our upcoming performance at the Apollo Theater! After months of preparation, our performance is just days away.
No one is as excited as our Company dancers. Let’s check in with Martina Calcagno, who makes her debut at the Apollo Theater on December 1, and Lauren Alzamora about why they cannot wait to take the stage.
Martina Calcagno:
“It’s my first season with the company, and I’m excited about so many aspects. It’s going to be my first show in New York, and I’m honored that it’s in a theater as historic as the Apollo.
“I’m excited about the ballets we are going to perform because they show the diversity and the versatility of the company and our repertoire.
“The Apollo is also a great venue to perform with live music. Our show will demonstrate how two different kinds of art can meld so perfectly together and create such a magical atmosphere.”
Lauren Alzamora:
“Thinking back on last year, I recall being excited and nervous for Ballet Hispanico’s premiere at the Apollo Theater. I didn’t know what to expect, especially with the live music component for two pieces…. And also the pressure of having Mr. Vilaro’s world premiere of Asuka, his first piece choreographed for BH. The experience turned out to be incredibly enthralling and quite memorable. The energy from the audience was palpable before we even opened the curtain.
“I have never worked with Paquito D’Rivera before but I am very excited to do so. I have heard such great things about him! I think his and the other musicians’ improvisations will add a whole new dimension to Danzón.
“When there is live music, we as dancers tune in much more intently – and if something takes us by surprise (as it most certainly will) we pull together that much stronger.
“The Apollo is just around the corner! I am curious to see how people respond to their performance this year, as the program is quite different from last year. It is definitely a consolation of sorts to be able to picture the stage and the beautiful house in my mind’s eye, as I re-live last year’s shows. I hope Ballet Hispanico returns year after year to conjure up and take part in the magic of this historic theater.”
We all look forward to making magic on December 1! Find complete program and ticket information on our website here.
What does it mean to perform at the Apollo?
Posted: November 19, 2012 Filed under: Behind-the-Scenes @ BH, Dancers, Performances, The Apollo | Tags: A vueltas con los ochenta, dancers, Donald Borror, Melissa Fernandez, Paquito D'Rivera, The Apollo Leave a commentDecember 1st marks Ballet Hispanico’s return to the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem. Last year’s premiere was a life-changing moment for our Company dancers, and this year will be no different.
We asked mix of dancers new and returning to the Apollo about their anticipation of the big night.
Company member Melissa Fernandez will perform on the Apollo stage for the first time this year:
“As a first season dancer with Ballet Hispanico, I’ve approached every tour and every performance with great excitement and joy. Performing at the Apollo will mark our first New York performance of this 2012-2013 season. This fact brings me even more excitement and anticipation because I have many family members who live in New Jersey and will have the opportunity to see me do what I love as a professional and support all the diverse and talented artists that make up Ballet Hispanico.
“Dancing at the historic and famous Apollo Theater will be a memorable experience in and of itself. Harlem’s Apollo Theater has been the stage where “stars are born and legends are made.” It will be an enormous honor to dance on the stage where such great artists as Duke Ellington and Bruce Springsteen have performed. As a new member of the Harlem neighborhood and community, I am looking forward to performing for the people of my community in Harlem and New York City as a whole. I firmly believe that Ballet Hispanico’s presence at the Apollo Theater is a positive and enriching artistic endeavor that will enable the continued growth of Hispanic/Latin-infused contemporary dance. I am proud and honored to be a part of it.”
Company dancer Donald Borror, now in his third season at BH, offers a different perspective on the upcoming performance at the Apollo:
“Performing at the Apollo is a big deal. It means something to everybody. You usually don’t have to explain much when you say you’re dancing at the Apollo.
Backstage, and especially in the dressing rooms, there’s an energy that is really special. You literally can feel the history oozing out of the walls. While onstage, the balconies are so enveloping, it feels like the audience is truly a part of the performance. It’s all very inspiring!
I am also thrilled to be working with Paquito D’Rivera! Paquito is just the nicest, coolest guy…which makes how incredibly talented he is even better!”
Donald Borror in A vueltas con los ochenta (c) Paula Lobo
To see Melissa and Donald in the World Premiere of A vueltas con los ochenta, click HERE for tickets to the Apollo!
Designing for Danzon
Posted: November 12, 2012 Filed under: Behind-the-Scenes @ BH, Events, Performances | Tags: Eduardo Vilaro Leave a commentBallet Hispanico’s return to the Apollo Theater is just around the corner! All of the dancers and staff are busy preparing for the big night, which will include three Ballet Hispanico premieres and live music by Latin Jazz legend Paquito D’Rivera.
Behind the scenes, Wardrobe Director Diana Ruettiger is hard at work crafting new costumes for Danzón, a piece choreographed by Ballet Hispanico Artistic Director Eduardo Vilaro. We visited her workshop last week to speak about her creative process and the long, but rewarding, journey of designing for Danzón.
Her office is filled with fabric, mannequins, props, and fashion photos for inspiration. When faced with a new collection of costumes to design, Diana’s first steps are to watch, consulate, and experiment. She has been attending Company rehearsals, watching taped footage of the work, and meeting with Mr. Vilaro about his vision for the piece.
And his vision?
“Purple and lace. That’s what he wanted.”
Diana got to work. With a sense of direction for color and texture, she also had many other factors to consider: how do the dancers need to move in the costumes? What design will work best on all the women’s body types? How can she capture the essence of the piece in her design?
She showed us what she had so far. She found some beautiful fabric in her own collection that evoked lace. There was one slight problem: the fabric was pink. Diana, who always thinks fast on her feet, simply dyed it an elegant shade of purple.
For now, she’s playing around with a few different ideas and isn’t exactly sure what the final product will be. One thing is certain, however: Diana’s costumes will be as beautiful, creative, and fabulous as always.
You can see these new costumes for yourself when Ballet Hispanico performs at the Apollo Theater on December 1, 2012 at 7:30pm. For complete performance and ticket information, visit our website here.
Until then, enjoy this sneak preview of Diana Ruettiger’s new Danzón costumes!
Hispanic Heritage Month Continues
Posted: October 4, 2012 Filed under: Behind-the-Scenes @ BH, Dancers, Performances | Tags: dancers, heritage, Hispanic Heritage Month, latino 2 CommentsBallet Hispanico has been in full swing celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month! We kicked it off with a free performance for public school children at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center in Queens. The second company BHdos has been busy performing all over New York City, including the ¡Fiesta! celebration at the Metropolitan Museum of New York.
As we continue our celebration, we bring you more stories from the Ballet Hispanico Company dancers!
Lauren Alzamora: “My father was born in Ecuador, but my siblings and I were not raised speaking Spanish in the home. Through the eclectic repertoire at BH I am able to explore the Latina side of my heritage as it relates to the many facets of Hispanic culture worldwide – I get to give that side of me a voice, so to speak. Not to mention, I have an opportunity each day to steadily improve my Spanish language skills!”
Melissa Fernandez: “As the daughter of Cuban parents, it’s always been important in our family to embrace and remember the traditions and customs of our culture. As a Cuban-American dancer, I feel great joy and pride in having the opportunity to express myself as a strong and creative Latin woman within such a culturally diverse company as Ballet Hispanico.”
Jamal Rashann Callender: “Ballet Hispanico’s diversity is very radiant, and still growing. The Company is thrilling, exciting, and on the verge of anew. I recently learned I have family from Cuba! ¡Eso es!”
Jessica Alejandra Wyatt: “Ballet Hispanico has become a wonderful home for me because it gives me the opportunity to combine the expression of my beloved art form along with the Hispanic culture I am proud to be a part of.”
Mario Espinoza: “I was born and raised in Tijuana, Mexico, so I spent my childhood influenced by Latino music and dance. After moving to the United States at the age of 17, I refined my technical ballet jazz and modern training, while holding tight to my Mexican roots. Now a dynamic dancer who fuses the pulse of his Latino heritage with the technique of ballet, I flourish in the dance environment that Ballet Hispanico provides.”
Cushnie et Ochs Dances into Fashion with BH!
Posted: September 20, 2012 Filed under: Behind-the-Scenes @ BH, Dancers, Education & Outreach, Performances | Tags: Cushnie + Ochs, Dance Into Fashion, Janna Raskopf, Paul Arnhold Leave a commentBallet Hispanico is so excited to partner with designers Cushnie et Ochs for our Junior Society’s 2012 Dance Into Fashion event! On October 18, this annual benefit will celebrate the intersections of dance and fashion, featuring a presentation by our Company dancers dressed in Cushnie et Ochs and raising money for our Education & Outreach division. Co-chairs Paul Arnhold and Janna Raskopf have enlisted Annabelle Dexter-Jones, Grace Gummer, Hannah Bronfman and over 70 committee members to host the event.
With less than a month until Dance Into Fashion, Ballet Hispanico visited the Cushnie et Ochs design headquarters to discuss the creative details of the evening. Cushnie et Ochs just completed a very successful New York Fashion Week, so the studio was full of their latest pieces. As their Fashion Week runway show looped on a TV in the background, Artistic Director Eduardo Vilaro couldn’t help but gasp at their beautiful collection and imagine the Company dancers in their clothes.
We met with designer Carly Cushnie, who brought out the look books from their various collections. The atmosphere in the room was definitely excited as Mr. Vilaro and Carly brainstormed how to best dress the dancers to showcase their clothing while also highlighting the dancers’ movement.
BH Artistic Director Eduardo Vilaro and Carly Cushnie of Cushnie et Ochs
The pieces in the Cushnie et Ochs collections certainly have a lot of movement in them. At one point, Carly admitted that they had never designed for dance before. Mr. Vilaro quickly responded, “But you already have!” Check out this gorgeous dress below, and you’ll see just how perfect their collections are for Ballet Hispanico.
If you want to see these looks up close and in person, then you should buy your tickets for Dance Into Fashion now! Visit the Junior Society page on our website to find full event information. Hurry–special pre-sale ticket prices expire on September 22 and this event is sure to sell out.
Company Dancer Jamal Rashann Callender: How I Spent My Summer Vacation
Posted: August 27, 2012 Filed under: Behind-the-Scenes @ BH, Dancers | Tags: Ballet Hispanico, Eduardo Vilaro, Edwaard Liang, Fire Island Dance Festival, Jamal Rashann Callender, New Orleans Ballet Association, Princess Grace Award 1 CommentLabor Day is just a week away, and that means summer will be officially over. While that may be bad news for those of us who love the beach, it also means that Ballet Hispanico will be kicking off another exciting season full of new works and great performances.
Before we mark the beginning of fall, we have a final installment in our Company dancer summer vacation series! Jamal Rashann Callender shared his great break with us, capped off by his 2012 Princess Grace Award. Enjoy!
Summer Break? It flew by so fast with so many activities. After the company left the stage at Celebrate Brooklyn, I took a week to rest and reflect. Soon after, I was given one of the most amazing opportunities for which I am forever grateful. I was invited to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of Jacob’s Pillow. The Men Dancers: From the Horse’s Mouth was an homage to Ted Shawn (Founder of Jacob’s Pillow) and his men dancers. This performance was unique because it was all improvised, and I never worked with any of the other male dancers. There were 25 male dancers from various backgrounds and styles of dance, including Gus Solomon, Lar Lubovitch, and Arthur Mitchell. Each dancer also told a two minute story about dance, and I choose to talk about how I first learned to dance with my grandmother in Barbados.
I almost forgot to mention, before I actually arrived at Jacobs Pillow I had an emergency tooth extraction of tooth #32 (wisdom tooth). I missed the group bus heading to the Pillow and instead lay in my in bed. On that same day, toothless, in pain, with a numb lip and barely able to open my mouth, I received the wonderful news that I won the 2012 Princess Grace Fellowship award for Dance. I cried, and my mom and dad were so thrilled and proud.
I returned to NYC back at BH preparing for the DRA Fire Island Dance Festival where Vanessa and I premiered Edwaard Liang’s newest creation, A Verme. I had performed in this festival once before, so it was great to return to the same love and warmth of the organization that does a fantastic job fundraising to fight HIV/AIDS. Immediately following our weekend of performances on the Pines (Fire Island), Vanessa and I got on a plane to New Orleans to teach with the New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA). This was one of the highlights of my summer. I love to give back to a community who, just like me, didn’t have the funds to go away to summer camp or dance program. These students were given a unique opportunity to work with professional dancers, directors and choreographers. Mr. Vilaro even came down and spent some time with the students which was rewarding for them as well. The program culminated with a performance which included a piece I created titled Slate.
Overall I enjoyed my summer break. Some may look and think it wasn’t a break; however, this was more rejuvenation I could ever ask for! I also played with my 11 week old Niece Aubrey who loves to smile. I have already started to stretch her and point her feet just in case…you never know!
Ballet Hispanico 