Ballet Hispánico continues B Unidos, its Instagram video series on Monday, April 20, 2020 with an inspirational message at 3pm from actor and tap dancer Ayodele Casel (one of The New York Times’ “Biggest Breakout Stars of 2019”) at www.instagram.com/ballethispanico/.
Next week’s content also includes:
Take Action Tuesday 4/21:
– The School of Dance offers an 11am activity for Pasitos (children ages 2-5); a 1pm activity for Pre-Ballet (age 5); a livestream Flamenco Rhythm class at 3pm with Franchesca Cabrera (for all ages) and a livestream jazz class with Cecilia Cáceres at 5pm (open level).
Wepa Wednesday 4/22:
– 1pm ET: BHdos Dancer Spotlight featuring Raechelle Manalo.
– 3pm ET: Turn the Beat Around Challenge
– 7pm ET: Facebook Watch Party of Tania Pérez-Salas’ 3. Catorce Dieciséis (2017) followed by LIVE Q&A with Ballet Hispánico Artistic Director and CEO Eduardo Vilaro and special guest professional dancer Sarah Matry Guerre. Watch this Company performance LIVE on Facebook or view on the website.
Therapeutic Thursday 4/23:
– 12pm ET: Fitness for Pequeños with Mariana Ranz (children ages 4-7).
– 3pm ET: Company dancers from Ballet Hispánico who are currently quarantining across the country come together virtually for a video performance in Bailando Juntos.
– 5pm ET: Joshua Winzeler teaches Stretch and Conditioning on Instagram LIVE.
Flashback Friday 4/24:
– 11am ET: A retrospective look back the 1980s from Ballet Hispánico archives of videos and photos, with a request for followers to share their archives with the company.
# B Unidos
The series features a series of videos posted created by the three arms of the Ballet Hispánico: the professional company, the School of Dance, and Community Arts Partnership (CAP) and featuring the hashtag #BUnidos at www.instagram.com/ballethispanico/. Daily, the company releases a new video generated by the dancers, teachers and administrators with the goal of serving as class, exercise, and inspiration: Motivational Mondays (inspirational messages), Take Action Tuesdays (technique tips for young dancers), Wepa Wednesdays (explorations of the many varied styles of Latin Dance), Therapeutic Thursdays (focus on conditioning, health and wellness, stretching), and Flashback Fridays (retrospective looks at past 50 years from Ballet Hispánico’s archives).
“As a community of dancers, artists, and human beings, we are all in this together. We will persevere through this challenging time and we hope that these videos provide a coping outlet, for you, for our followers and the community overall,” said Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director and CEO of Ballet Hispánico. “Now more than ever, it is important to band together in support of the arts. The personal and professional challenges that we have already endured and will continue to face over the next few weeks or months are significant. What we can take from this time of cancellations, uncertainty and social distancing is a chance to use our creativity to connect with the community on a new level. Social distancing does not mean emotional distancing. Ballet Hispánico was founded upon and has always believed in the importance of reaching and servicing our community through dance and culture. As this pandemic occurs during our 50th Anniversary, it provides us with an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come, get back to our roots by reaching out to community near and far, and look forward to what is ahead.”
About Ballet Hispánico
Ballet Hispánico, America’s leading Latino dance organization, has been bringing people together to celebrate the joy and diversity of Latino cultures for 50 years. Over the past five decades, Ballet Hispánico’s mission-driven ethos has been a catalyst of change for communities throughout our nation. By bringing the richness of the Latinx culture to the forefront of performance, education and social advocacy, Ballet Hispánico is a cultural ambassador. 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 artistic vision responds to the need for social equity, cultural identity, and quality arts education for all. Ballet Hispánico has been, and will continue to be, a beacon for diversity. The art we create explores and celebrates the culture without the trappings of stereotypes. We foster the pursuit of art as a way of providing transformation through the exploration of the human condition. Our art often defies gravity, acting as a frontline against cultural division by releasing preconceived notions of culture and instead offering our audiences new perspectives.
