Join Ballet Hispánico as it celebrates Latinx cultures in a free virtual celebration of culture for Hispanic Heritage Month during its 50th Anniversary with #BUnidos Por La Cultura, a month-long series celebrating the legacy, representation and impact of Latinx arts and culture, kicking off on September 15 with interactive programming from September 21 through October 15, 2020 on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and ballethispanico.org.

 

As America's premier Latinx dance organization, Ballet Hispánico celebrates Hispanic Heritage daily--this year, we will provide access to our diversified programming to communities nationwide virtually. From salsa steps from around Latin America, to our favorite family recipes, #BUnidos por la Cultura will bring the power of Hispanic experience in a virtual celebration; engaging, inspiring and entertaining audiences throughout the nation and the world.

 

Each weekday from September 21 to October 15, thousands of viewers will experience this programming:

Orgullo Latino Mondays @ 3:00pm EST - Hispanic leaders and influencers will share the importance of celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and what it means to be Latinx/Latino/Latina. Participants include: Gloria Calderon and Nina Vaca, among others yet to be announced.

 

Salsa Tuesdays @ 1:00pm EST - Salsa dancing rules everywhere in Latin America, and every country has its special flare. Each week viewers will learn salsa steps from Colombia, Puerto Rico, Cuba and New York. Master teachers include Lyvan Verdecia, Luis Salgado, Ana Saoco, and Wil Nieves. 

 

Wepa Wednesdays @ 6:30pm EST - Ballet Hispánico will provide a platform to other Latinx dance companies, Bombazo Dance Company, Pajarillo Pintao, Sankofa Danzafro, and Antares Danza Contemporanea to showcase their repertory and Latinx Dance genres from around the world. These watch party performances will be followed by Choreographers & Cocktails, a Q&A with our Artistic Director & CEO, Eduardo Vilaro and the Choreographers. 

 

Tiki-Tiki Thursdays @ 6:30pm EST 

- Celebrate the legacy of Ballet Hispánico with backstage tales and insider conversations from Company alumni and current dancers. Topics will cover different decades, from the birth of BH to the current dance environment.

Fiesta Fridays @ 6:30pm EST - It's not a Hispanic celebration without delicious food, and what better way to prepare it than with the family. Each week adults and children will gather to create a family favorite recipe, highlighting the history of the dish and the diversity of our food culture.

 

"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," said Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director & CEO of Ballet Hispánico.

#BUnidos

#BUnidos began as a daily video series to combat the loss of performances and community programming due to COVID-19. As social distancing continues, we continue to provide content through our social media platforms as a way to instill a sense of community within our BH familia and offer ways to explore dance and Latino cultures online. These virtual efforts have provided weekly Watch Parties of Company repertory, free class offerings from our School of Dance, and interactive materials from our Community Arts Partnerships (CAP) team. Explore more content @ballethispanico.org/bunidos and join us in our effort to #BUnidos! Social distancing does not mean emotional distancing.

 

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.