Ballet Hispánico Part III: Beyond 50 Years

An entirely virtual campaign, #BUnidos, was launched to continue providing dance classes, weekly motivational inspirations and virtual performances to all.

#BUnidos is a way to keep our mission alive, connecting to our communities and providing access to dance on an international level.

As part of #BUnidos, we provided access to our performances through weekly Watch Parties on Facebook and YouTube. Audiences could enjoy an evening of dance from the comfort of their home.

Each Watch Party is followed by a Q&A, Choreographers & Cocktails, hosted by Artistic Director & CEO Eduardo Vilaro, with choreographers and occasionally, former or current Company members. Hosted live on Ballet Hispánico's website and social media, audiences have the opportunity to engage with our artists and ask questions in real time.

Noche Unidos: A Ballet Hispánico Night of Dance & Unity
The first of Ballet Hispánico's virtual galas, Noche Unidos was a spectacular virtual celebration and fundraiser with Latinx artists coming together to honor the legacy of Tina Ramirez and Ballet Hispánico’s roots while looking forward, beyond our 50th Anniversary.

The evening featured world premieres by ten prominent choreographers: Kiri Avelar, Carlos Pons Guerra, Rodney Hamilton, Michelle Manzanales, Andrea Miller, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Pedro Ruiz, Gustavo Ramirez Sansano, Nancy Turano, and Eduardo Vilaro alongside celebrity appearances by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Rita Moreno, Norman Lear, and performances by Gloria Estefan, Adam & Arturo O’Farrill, and Paquito D’Rivera.

“There is still work to be done, and Ballet Hispánico intends to pave the way and create these opportunities for Latinx voices to be amplified through dance, education, and our communities” - Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director & CEO

"There is no doubt our Latinx cultures have contributed to American’s cultural brilliance. Our celebration is an invitation to deepen our nation’s understanding of the diversity of our culture and its indelible contributions,” - Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director & CEO of Ballet Hispánico.

Ballet Hispánico is an organization that has served black and brown communities since its inception. At this pivotal moment in the racial justice movement, we too have a responsibility to look within and challenge areas in our organization that are affected by the white supremacy and racial inequality. We stand by our original mission, its principles and will deepen each commitment in our daily practice.

Hosted virtually by Artistic Director & CEO, Eduardo Vilaro, with two School of Dance students, Chelsea Phillips and Theo Adarkar, the evening celebrated 50 years of dance, orgullo, education, sabor, access, amor, community, espíritu, and innovation.

Both the Company and School of Dance had featured performances alongside special guest appearances from Lin-Manuel and Luis Miranda, Rosie Perez, and more!

For the first time ever, five of New York City's most iconic dance companies came together for the BAAND Together Dance Festival at Lincoln Center's Restart Stages featuring Ballet Hispánico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem. The festival was made possible by CHANEL.

Critics raved about the performances and about Ballet Hispánico specifically. "10 Ballet Hispánico dancers mamboed through '18+1,'. . .with humor and gusto. The groupings were a sculptural force that splintered into fun parties, and the rhythms were infectious." - Dance Magazine

Ballet Hispánico performed in New York City's newest park, Little Island, as part of their NYC FREE festival, and later at one of the city's most well known parks, Bryant Park for their Picnic Performances series.