BALLET HISPANICO
Performed its 45th Anniversary New York Season at The Joyce Theater from April 5-10, 2016
New
York Premiere of Flabbergast by
Gustavo Ramirez Sansano
Bury
Me Standing by Ramon Oller
Club
Havana by Pedro Ruiz
The Joyce Theater
175 Eighth Avenue (at 19th Street), New York City
175 Eighth Avenue (at 19th Street), New York City
Ballet Hispanico is touring the world, please visit
their website for more information.
Artistic Director and CEO Eduardo Vilaro
commented that the program this year reflected the "breadth and range of
the company over the past 45 years of artistic reflection" and the works
of the choreographers honor Ballet Hispanico's ballet legacy fused with
eclectic contemporary dance that portrays America's diversity.
Ballet Hispanico, the nation's premier Latino dance
organization, presented three programs. It began with Choreographer's Gustavo
Ramirez Sansono's Flabbergast, a
story about immigrants with preconceived notions concerning a new and foreign
land and it was done with humor and fast-moving, stylistic modern dance set to
the music of Juan Garcia Esquival.
The second program was Bury Me Standing choreographed by Ramon Oller with
traditional gypsy melodies and flamenco music by Lole y Manuel. Oller
created this piece based on the culture of the Gypsy or "Roma" people
that reflected their strong communal bonds, sensuality, feelings of oppression
and longing and strength. The sensual music was felt in the heart and soul of
audience members who were moving their bodies rhythmically in their seats. It
felt like a Latino counterpart to Alvin Ailey, the dance troupe that celebrates
African-American ethnic traditions.
The third and last program was Club Havana
choreographed by Pedro Ruiz set to Latino dance music like the Mambo,
Cha Cha Cha, Bolero, Rhumba and Conga. It was a fusion of modern dance and
ballet with Latin dances. It's a portrait of glamorous Havana of the 1950s during
the heyday of Cuban music, dance, and nightlife. It ended with a Latin social
dance under confetti which was magical.
Overall, the Ballet Hispanico dancers are wonderful
to watch and they portray their characters so the stories are understood. The
dancers can bend in every direction, leap, strut, and engage in inventive
partnering moves. At the end of the entire program, one feels real joy.
I would highly recommend to go to Ballet Hispanico's
other performances throughout the year whether in the United States or around
the world.
By
-
Laura Thompson -
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