"Versatile, talented, attractive, and energetic" (The New York Times), Ballet Hispanico is recognized around the world as the foremost dance interpreter of Hispanic culture in the United States. Founded in 1970 by Artistic Director Tina Ramirez, Ballet Hispanico’s innovative repertory fuses ballet, modern and Latin dance forms into spirited reflections of contemporary Hispanic American culture. "To miss one of their performances is to miss a great treasure in the dance world," says the Buenos Aires Herald.

APRIL 5 PROGRAM:

NightClub
FOR MATURE AUDIENCES
--Conceived by Tina Ramirez
--Choreography by Graciela Daniele, Alexandre Magno, and Sergio Trujillo
--Music by Astor Piazzolla, Tito Puente, Pink Martini, dj St.Germain, Gotan Project, and X Alfonso
--Libretto by Jim Lewis
A full-length dance/theater work hailed as “an ingenious effort” by the Chicago Tribune, Nightclub takes you to where the music is fierce, the dancing is hot, and the passion is undeniable. Conceived by Ramirez, the work tells three stories in three acts—from the Buenos Aires brothels of the 1920s to the Spanish Harlem social clubs of the 1950s to the New York nightclubs of today—using powerful Latin rhythms and the intimate language of dance.

APRIL 6 PROGRAM:

Eternamente y un Día
--Choreography by Peter Pucci
--Music by Briseño, Sánchez, Guzik, Lara, Lecuona, and Domínguez as performed by the Kronos Quartet
From the glowing orange of a sunset over the desert, to the deep midnight shadows cast over an ancient ritual, choreographer Peter Pucci captures the vibrancy and splendor of Mexico's history, culture, and landscape. Set to traditional Mexican folk songs as arranged by the Kronos Quartet, images of sacred ruins, village life, farm animals, sun-baked pottery, and heartfelt celebration transition gracefully, fueled by mystery, passion, and childlike abandon.

Bury Me Standing
--Choreography by Ramón Oller
--Music: Traditional Gypsy Melodies
The unique culture of the Gypsy or "Roma" people, who have journeyed across continents for a thousand years, inspired Spanish choreographer Ramón Oller to create Bury Me Standing. The compelling rhythms and melodies which accompany the ballet—drawn from Spain and Eastern Europe, traditional folk songs, and contemporary world music—reflect the many cultures and traditions the Gypsies touched and were touched by on their travels. The ballet portrays not so much the narrative of that journey as the emotional essence of the Roma: their strong communal bonds, sensuality, feelings of oppression and longing, and their strength and exuberance.

“Ballet Hispanico dances with elegance and lyricism.” —The Washington Post

“Everything about Ballet Hispanico is smashingly theatrical.” —Chicago Sun-Times