Ballet Hispanico School of Dance Announces 2018 Summer Programs

Ballet Hispánico, the nation's premier Latino dance organization, announces this year's Ballet Hispánico School of Dance 2018 Summer Programs. The Ballet Hispánico School of Dance is a leading center of excellence in dance education accessible to the community at large. Located at 167 W. 89th Street, NYC, the School offers something for students of all ages.

ChoreoLaB, June 18 - 29, 2018 - ages 18+

An immersive, career-building program that places rising professional dancers in an intimate studio experience with distinguished choreographers and seasoned artistic staff.Artists in today's dance world must be more than just technicians. Beyond demonstrating skilled technique, dancers are frequently expected to contribute thoughtfully to a choreographic process, transition seamlessly between varied styles of repertoire, and possess strong partnering ability. Dancers can face challenges getting hired if they lack the business skills to communicate professionally with artistic directors, or create supporting application materials that best demonstrate their artistic strengths. ChoreoLaB hones both artistic skills and professional excellence through a holistic program, which shapes hirable, competitive in-demand dancers ready to advance their careers.
During the intimate two-week studio experience, participants will:

Work with renowned guest choreographer, Annabelle Lopez Ochoaas well as former artists from Batsheva, Ballet Frankfurt, Nederlands Dans Theater, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

Learn excerpts of Ballet Hispánico's repertory from Company dancers and artistic staff

Attend forums, networking events and Q&A sessions with artists in the field

Audition in an open call for Ballet Hispánico's second company, BHdos

Receive constructive feedback and guidance from artistic leaders in the field, and more!

For audition details, visit www.ballethispanico.org/classes/choreolab.

Summer Intensive, July 16 - August 3, 2018 - ages 9-23

Ballet Hispánico's pre-professional Summer Intensive challenges students to strengthen their classical technique, experience contemporary forms, and develop professional skills through specialized forums, all through a multicultural lens at the nation's premier Latino dance training program. Ballet Hispánico's multifaceted Summer Intensive experience provides:

Daily Classical Ballet & Pointe classes founded in Cuban methodology

Classical Variations & Partnering

Character

Modern & Contemporary classes with leading artists in the field from Limón, Graham, and Dunham to Improvisation andContemporary Partnering

Spanish Dance Series for both beginners and more experienced students, focusing on the cante, palmas, and palo studies

Ballet Hispánico Repertory classes taught by Ballet Hispánico Company Members & Alumni

Conditioning & Stretch

Master Classes in Hip-Hop, House, Afro-Cuban, Salsa, Escuela Bolera, and more!

Professional Development Seminars in Auditioning, Careers in the Field, and Injury Prevention for Dancers

For audition details, visit www.ballethispanico.org/classes/summer-intensive.

Full tuition scholarships are available for ChoreoLaB and the Summer Intensive; details are available at www.ballethispanico.org/classes/nfsp.

ELEVATE! Summer Dance Boot Camp, July 9-13, 2018 - ages 9-18

ELEVATE! Summer Dance Boot Camp is designed for the dedicated, hardworking beginner to intermediate level student looking to boost their dance technique level. This week-long boot camp has a fun, jam packed schedule from 9:30am to 5:30pm sure to excite and challenge boot campers with daily classes in ballet, pre-pointe/pointe, stretch & conditioning, Sevillanas, castanets, and Afro-Cuban.

For details, visit www.ballethispanico.org/classes/elevate.

Summer Dance Camps: Los Explorers, June 18-22, June 25-29, July 9-13, 2018 - ages 3-5

Los Explorers Camps are the passport to discovering Latino cultures. Campers will have fun moving their way through varied and diverse dances, songs, artwork, and landscapes, while traveling through Mexico, Spain, and the Caribbean. The perfect adventure camp for both boys and girls, join us for this multi-sensory journey of the rhythms, stories, and wonders of these featured countries! Explorer Camps take place Monday-Friday and encompass creative dance, arts & crafts, cultural dance, and music & songs. These globetrotters graduate inspired by this artistic immersion with enhanced skills in socialization, independence, and self-confidence, returning to the world as stronger citizens. A little bit of everything and a whole lot of fun, campers culminate in an open-studio showing for loved ones to witness and celebrate their Explorer's journey. Early drop-off and late pick-up services available for campers.

Summer Dance Camps: Los Adventurers, June 25-29, July 9-13, 2018 - ages 6-8

For the older traveler, Ballet Hispánico's Los Adventurers Summer Dance Camps offer the ultimate mix of movement and cultural exploration for your budding dancer. Campers will spend the week journeying through the rich music and art of the vibrant cultures of Spain and the Caribbean through dance technique classes, arts & crafts, stories, games, music, and songs.A five-day experience, camps take place Monday through Friday from 9am-12pm, and culminate in an open-studio invitation for loved ones to witness and celebrate their Adventurer's journey. ¡Ven con nosotros! Join us! Early drop-off and late pick-up services available for campers.

Ballet Hispánico, the premier Latino dance organization in the United States, brings individuals and communities together to celebrate and explore Latino cultures through dance. Whether dancing on stage, in school, or in the street, Ballet Hispánico creates a space where few institutions are breaking ground. The organization's founder, National Medal of Arts recipient Tina Ramirez, sought to give voice to the Hispanic experience and break through stereotypes. Today Ballet Hispánico is led by Eduardo Vilaro, an acclaimed choreographer and former member of the Company, whose vision of social equity, cultural identity and quality arts education for all, drives its programs. Ballet Hispánico, a role model in and for the Latino community, is inspiring creativity and social awareness in our neighborhoods and across the country by providing access to arts education.

The Ballet Hispánico School of Dance offers an eclectic curriculum based on classical ballet, Spanish, and contemporary dance forms. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance, the School empowers students by offering a holistic approach to movement discovery, including pre-professional training and classes for the novice dancer. The School also offers adult classes and workshops that provide cultural enrichment and the joy of dance to everyone.

For more information, visit www.ballethispanico.org.

EDUARDO VILARO joined Ballet Hispánico as Artistic Director in August 2009, becoming only the second person to head the company since it was founded in 1970. In 2015, Mr. Vilaro took on the additional role of Chief Executive Officer of Ballet Hispánico. He has been part of the Ballet Hispánico family since 1985 as a dancer and educator, after which he began a ten-year record of achievement as founder and Artistic Director of Luna Negra Dance Theater in Chicago. Mr. Vilaro has infused Ballet Hispánico's legacy with a bold and eclectic brand of contemporary dance that reflects America's changing cultural landscape. Born in Cuba and raised in New York from the age of six, he is a frequent speaker on the merits of cultural diversity and dance education.

Mr. Vilaro's own choreography is devoted to capturing the spiritual, sensual and historical essence of the Latino cultures. He created over 20 ballets for Luna Negra and has received commissions from the Ravinia Festival, the Chicago Sinfonietta, the Grant Park Festival, the Lexington Ballet and the Chicago Symphony. In 2001, he was a recipient of a Ruth Page Award for choreography, and in 2003, he was honored for his choreographic work at Panama's II International Festival of Ballet. In 2016, he was inducted into the Bronx Walk of Fame. Mr. Vilaro was also inducted into the Bronx Walk of Fame in 2016 and was awarded HOMBRE Magazine's 2017 Arts & Culture Trailblazer of the Year.

MICHELLE MANZANALES, Director of the Ballet Hispánico School of Dance, is a choreographer and dance educator originally from Houston, TX, Ms. Manzanales has created works for numerous professional companies, universities, and schools throughout the country. Con Brazos Abiertos, her critically acclaimed first work for Ballet Hispánico, had its world premiere at the Joyce Theater in April, 2017. With humility, nostalgia and humor, Con Brazos Abiertos explored the iconic Mexican symbols that Ms. Manzanales was reluctant to embrace as a Mexican-American child growing up in Texas. Ms. Manzanales's previous works include Sugar in the Raw (Azucar Cruda) for Luna Negra Dance Theater, which was applauded by the Chicago Sun-Times as "a staggering, beautiful, accomplished new work" in 2007. In 2010, her homage to Frida Kahlo, Paloma Querida, was hailed as a "visual masterpiece" by Lucia Mauro of the Chicago Tribune. She began working with Ballet Hispánico Artistic Director & CEO Eduardo Vilaro in 2003 as a dancer for his then-company Luna Negra Dance Theater of Chicago, where she later became Rehearsal Director in 2006 and eventually served as Interim Artistic Director 2009-2010. Prior to her appointment to School Director, Ms. Manzanales served as the Rehearsal Director and Artistic Associate of the main company of Ballet Hispánico for seven years.

Photo Credit: Pauala Lobo

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