Ballet Hispánico Noche Unidos, A Night of Dance and Unity, Raised Nearly $950,000 to Provide Artists, Students, and Communities of Color a Platform for Their Voices

Ballet Hispánico, America’s leading Latino dance organizationknown for “piercing stereotypes” (The New York Times),continued its celebration of 50 years of uniting people through dance with Noche Unidos on Tuesday, June 30, 2020. The evening will be available to view online at https://www.ballethispanico.org/support/events/noche-unidos.

Noche Unidos was watched live by over 6,600 viewers and raised nearly $950,000 in support of the organization’s artistic, educational, and community outreach programs in New York City, across the United States and around the world. This includes the creation of new Company works, scholarships for students at the renowned Ballet Hispánico School of Dance, as well as numerous community arts and educational programs. Donations are still accepted at ballethispanico.org/support.

“It takes a village, and last night’s Noche Unidos, proved that our New York City community understands that dance and the arts are essential. I am so moved by the outpouring of love and support,” said Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director & CEO of Ballet Hispánico.

Noche Unidos included eleven virtual world premiere performances featuring Ballet Hispánico Company dancers and students, new works created remotely in the past weeks by world renowned choreographers Carlos Pons Guerra, Michelle Manzanales, Andrea Miller, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Pedro Ruiz, Gustavo RamírezSansano, Nancy Turano, and Eduardo Vilaro; as well as celebrity appearances including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Rita Moreno, Gloria Estefan,Norman Lear, Paquito D’Rivera, Adam & Arturo O’Farrill, and other Latinx artists. A highlight of the evening was performances by Ballet Hispánico School of Dance students Julienne Buenaventura and Ruby Castillo, Nuestro Futuroscholarship recipients in BH’s La Academia program, works choreographed by Kiri Avelar and Rodney Hamilton. 

The pre-recorded show included new works set remotely on our dancers by prominent choreographers. The choreographers are social distancing in locations around the world, and our dancers are across the country, yet the beauty of dance transcends the distance between them.

Funds raised during the show will provide artists, students, and communities of color a platform for their voices. Donations are still accepted at ballethispanico.org/support.

We gratefully acknowledge the generous lead sponsorship support by Goya Foods for Ballet Hispánico’s Noche Unidos, and recognize their work meeting the overwhelming demand for food donations during the pandemic.

Presenting donors of the show were Jody and John Arnhold, and Kate Lear and Jonathan LaPook, with corporate support from Goya Gives, Univision Communications, Viacom/CBS, MetLife Foundation, Omnicom Media Group, PWC, Chubb, Goldman Sachs. 

PREMEIRE DETAILS:

Ayer y Hoy
Choreographed by Rodney Hamilton
Performed by Julienne Rane Buenaventura, La Academia Student

Cautivadx
Choreographed by Michelle Manzanales in collaboration with Jared Bogart and Simone Cameresi, Company Members

Gazpacho
Choreographed by Carlos Pons-Guerra
Performed by Omar Rivéraand Antonio Cangiano, Company Members

Lady of Spain
Choreographed by Gustavo RamírezSansano
Performed by Shelby Colona, Company Member

Mambo for 50
Choreographed by Nancy Turano
Performed by Lenai Wilkerson

Mi Baile en Casa, a film by Kiri Avelar
Choreographed by Kiri Avelar
Performed by Ruby Castillo, La Academia Student

Orilla
Choreographed by Andrea Miller in collaboration with Chris Bloom and Gabrielle Sprauve, Company Members

Pajarillo Escondido
Choreographed by Annabelle Lopez-Ochoa
Performed by Dandara Veiga, Company Member

Punto de Vista
Choreographed by Rodney Hamilton
Performed by Paulo Hernandez-Farella, Company Member

Serenata
Choreographed by Eduardo Vilaro
Performed by Laura Lopez, Company Member

Sobre ei Siglo de las Luces
Choreographed by Pedro Ruiz
Performed by Lyvan Verdecia and Melissa Verdecia, Company Members

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.