Ballet Hispánico School Of Dance Announces Fall 2018 Adult Dance & Fitness Classes

The Ballet Hispánico School of Dance offers adult dance and fitness classes that will keep you moving, fit, and energized. Classes are open to dancers of all levels ages 16 and up (no previous dance experience required). Cost: $20 drop-in class, $90 for 5-class card, $170 for a 10-class card. For more information, visit https://www.ballethispanico.org/classes/adult.

Adult Ballet with Rebeca Maso

Tuesdays 7:15-8:15pm

This ballet class for adults is a great form of movement fitness, slowly building upper body strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination for the new dancer! Taught by Cuban classical ballet master teacher Rebeca Maso, this introductory level is perfect for novice dancers or for dancers who want to refine their technique.

Adult Caribbean Flow with Winston Benons Jr.

Thursdays 7:30-8:30pm

Winston's high-energy style transports dancers of all levels straight to the islands of the Caribbean in this fun and lively class. Each session fuses dance styles of salsa, rumba, soca, merengue, and more. Get strong, get loose, and learn some cultural history while you move!

Adult Flamenco with JoDe Romano

Saturdays 3:30-4:25pm

This class serves as an introduction to the art form of flamenco, covering basic technique. Work on rhythm exercises and full body coordination to engage the entire body through hand, arm and footwork exercises. Have fun expressing yourself through this empowering dance style!

Adult Latin Fusion with Brett Sturgis

Wednesdays at 7:30-8:30pm

Brett's exciting style of Latin Fusion introduces rhythms through elements of salsa/mambo, cha-cha-cha, rumba, samba and African through contemporary styles of jazz dance, modern, theater and improvisation. A marriage of rhythm and technique, with a cardio/dance movement driven warm-up that will increase the student/performers' ability to gain endurance and stamina, classes include a multi-styled technique base including work on posture, stretch, form & balance, and strengthening through movements from Latin dance styles. Dancers can improve their style & performance skills including everything from spatial awareness to facial expressions, and developing confident body language overall.

Adult Latin Jazz with Camille Moten

Saturdays 4:00-5:00pm

Latin Jazz is a style equally rooted in jazz-influenced technique with a Latin-American inflection, infusing styles of salsa, samba, cha cha, and other popular Latin vernacular dance. The movement, expression, and musical accompaniment is pulled from both styles, exploring the fundamentals of both classical jazz and Latin ballroom. Combinations will explore polyrhythmic movement, stylistic textures, and performance development.

Adult Tap with Raquel Valiente

Mondays 7:00-8:00pm

Tap dance fundamentals will be taught and explored in fun rhythmic patterns. Students will dance to Latin, jazz and Broadway tunes, ending each class with a short combo.

Adult Sevillanas with Castanets with Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana

Saturdays 4:30-6:00pm

Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana brings a lively Sevillanas with Castanets class right into the Ballet Hispánico studios! People of all ages and levels will enjoy learning the basic techniques and rhythms of the castanets and will also dive into the Sevillanas; a partner dance that is a "must-learn" for any flamenco student. Led by Maria De Los Angeles, the Sevillanas with Castanets class will prepare you to participate in the Annual Feria Celebration that takes place each April in NYC! No partner necessary.

Note:Adult Sevillanas with Castanets is hosted by Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, but takes place at Ballet Hispánico's studios. Ballet Hispánico students can receive a 25% discount on Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana 5-class and 10-class cards with code FVCS@BH. Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana class cards should be purchased before October 31, 2018. Cost: $30 drop-in class, $140 for 5-class card, $275 for a 10-class card.

ABOUT THE TEACHING ARTISTS

WINSTON A. BENONS JR. is a researcher, choreographer, educator, and the Artistic Director of The Ground Provision Movement (GP), which is a dance theater company founded in 2003. His work is informed by socio-cultural studies and uses dance vocabulary, theatre and text as communicative tools. Winston has had the opportunity to supplement his dance training with socio-cultural studies of several countries of the Southern Hemisphere. Winston has trained with Baba Richard Gonzales, Roseangela Silvestre, Ron Brown, Nia Love and Ned Williams. He is versed in Afro-Cuban, Afro-Haitian, Afro-Brazilian and Contemporary Modern techniques. Winston has been a member of PAKA Dance Company since 2012 and is honored to be a part of their mission to pass ancestral knowledge along. Winston is currently the Co-Director of EVOLVE Diaspora an organization that provides intensive studies in culture and dance techniques of the African Diaspora in NYC and Cuba.

REBECA MASO is a former ballet dancer from Cuba. She received her training at the Professional School of Ballet Arts in Cuba under the direction of Fernando Alonso. She also obtained her diploma as a Ballet Teacher in Cuba and has been teaching for more than 25 years. She was one of the founding ballet dancers of the Professional Ballet Company of Santiago of Cuba in 1990, under the direction of Maria Elena Martinez and choreographer and dancer Jorge Lefebvre, artistic director of Royal Ballet of Wallonie at that time. In 1994, she traveled to Venezuela as a guest ballet teacher to different ballet schools in the southern part of the country, working in regional ballet festivals and teaching Cuban ballet methodology. In Venezuela, she was a member of the Ballet Nuevo Mundo de Caracas for five years under direction of Zhandra Rodriguez, where she performed neoclassic and contemporary works by choreographer such as Jose Pares, Paulo Denubila, Dennis Nahat, Gabriel Castillo, Hector Montero, Maria Rovira among others, participating in European tour and International Ballet Festivals in Cuba. During her time in Venezuela she had the opportunity to perform with Ballet Metropolitano of Caracas by Artistic Director Keyla Ermecheo in different classical ballet productions like The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Giselle. Ms. Maso also was invited from Ballet Metropolitano de Caracas to be part of the world premier "Dejando Rastro," a modern dance created for four female ballet dancers by Carlos Orta, a leading dancer and teacher with the José Limón Dance Company and director of Corearte Dance Company of Venezuela. Ms. Maso came to U.S in 1999 as a guest artist of Metropolitan Ballet of Caracas participating in the international Ballet in Philadelphia. Ms. Maso is currently a student at Saint Mary's College (LEAP), an internationally recognized Bachelor's degree program specifically designed for current and former professional dancers. Ms. Maso was a judge of NJN Hispanic Youth Showcase at The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) for three years and still teaches throughout NY & NJ.

CAMILLE MOTEN is originally from Somerset, New Jersey. Camille graduated with a BFA in Dance from Temple University where she was awarded the Rose Vernick's Most Promising Performer scholarship upon graduation. Camille has completed programs with Broadway Dance Center's Professional Semester program and PHILADANCO! Instruction and Training program, where she had the opportunity to train and perform works by Kim Bears-Bailey, Milton Myers, Pat Thomas, Christopher Huggins, Jim Cooney, Ashlé Dawson, Shelia Barker and more. Camille has had the pleasure of working with Laurie M. Taylor/Soul Movement, Latin Fusion Dance Project, Introspective Movement Project, and Roger Lee Dance. Camille is currently a first year MFA in Dance candidate and a part-time faculty instructor at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. She continues to perform, choreograph, and teach throughout the tri-state as a freelance dance artist.

JODE ROMANO "La Chispa" is a guest teaching artist & graduate of the High School for the Performing Arts in Houston, Texas. There, she was featured in the Houston Grand Opera's production of Carmen. She also performed in the Franco Zeffirelli original production of Carmen, starring Placido Domingo and Maria Benitez at the Metropolitan Opera, which was broadcast for PBS as part of "Live From Lincoln Center" with President Clinton in attendance. For over 20 years, Ms. Romano studied and performed Spanish dance in Spain and Japan, was the soloist and choreographer for the José Greco Dance Company at The Joyce Theater and the Town Hall in New York City, and toured throughout the US and Spain. She was also a dancer in The Charo Show in Las Vegas with Jerry Lewis and others, and has taught a castanet workout on the Dr. Oz Show. She has completed a series of instructional DVDs on castanet and flamenco movement techniques, and has produced and played castanets on her Spanish Classical Piano and Castanets CD.

Brett Sturgis is currently in the Gloria & Emilio Estefan hit Broadway musical On Your Feet. Born and raised in the Bronx, NY, he began dancing & singing at the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club training in styles of West African, jazz, tap, modern, hip -op. Teaching since age 15 while a part of the dance troupe Culture Shock, he learned the true meaning of structure, composition and execution hands on. While attending Professional Performing Arts School & Talent Unlimited High School, he majored in dance as well as classical vocal, and took Musical Theater as an elective while training at Amas Musical Theater for acting and fine tuning at Ballet Hispánico and The Alvin Ailey School. Since then, he has taught in Amsterdam at the Lucia Marthas Dance Academy, Fontis Academy, Danceworks in London, Los Angeles at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy as well as New York City at Broadway Dance Center & Steps along with choreographing numerous award shows, fashion shows and industrials in Germany, Budapest, China & United States. Working with local youth organizations, The Board Of Education and various studios in NY, he has made himself the "man of many styles." Teaching styles include: jazz, theater jazz, West African, hip-hop/ street jazz, tap, flamenco fusion, samba fusion, Afro-Cuban, modern jazz, bomba y plena, and salsa open shines/ partner work on 2 with an equal knowledge of each discipline and style he teaches. He strives to make the next generation of performers versatile and passionate about what they do when the lights hit the stage!

RAQUEL VALIENTE holds a BFA in Dance from Adelphi University, where she trained under the direction of ballet master Frank Augustyn. Raquel was also a scholarship student at Jennifer Muller/The Works, where she studied with Artistic Director Jennifer Muller, Associate Director John Brookes and principal company members. Raquel is an ABT Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 3 of the ABT National Training Curriculum. In her native El Salvador, Raquel created a dance program for the prestigious British School and also founded The Broadway Ballet School, which made its debut on the Salvadorian reality TV show Bailando por un Sueño. In addition, Raquel is Ballet Mistress for Dances Patrelle's Nutcracker, performs with American Tap Dance Foundation's Tap Addicts Anonymous and enjoys sharing her expertise through presentations, as she has done for organizations such as the Arts in Education Roundtable' Face 2 Face conference, City College of New York, Adelphi University and the Department of Education's Dance Department.

The Ballet Hispánico School of Dance trains eclectic, versatile dancers who stand out in a competitive professional environment for their mastery of the classical ballet tradition, contemporary techniques, and Spanish dance. 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.

ABOUT BALLET HISPÁNICO
Ballet Hispánico, the premier Latino dance organization in the United States, has been bringing individuals and communities together to celebrate and explore Latino cultures through dance for nearly 50 years. 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.

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 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. 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 over 25 years of teaching experience serving on the faculties of Lou Conte Dance Studio (home of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago), the University of Houston, Rice University, as well as numerous dance studios, high schools, and college dance programs across the country. Her students' accolades include New York City Dance Alliance Teen Outstanding Dancer of the Year and numerous scholarships and top awards from Houston Ballet, The Rock School, Joffrey Midwest, and Youth American Grand Prix, to name a few. Con Brazos Abiertos, her critically acclaimed first work for Ballet Hispánico, premiered to rave reviews at The Joyce Theater in April 2017, and explored the iconic Mexican symbols that she was reluctant to embrace as a Mexican-American child growing up in Texas.

Ms. Manzanales 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 Artistic Director in 2009-2010. Prior to her appointment to School Director, Ms. Manzanales served as Rehearsal Director and Artistic Associate of Ballet Hispánico's main Company for seven years.