January 14, 2003
Contact: Susan Gwynne
(805) 893-2098
e-mail: gwynne-s@sa.ucsb.edu

Dazzling Ballet Hispanico to give two dance performances at UCSB Campbell Hall and hold a weeklong Santa Barbara County residency

Summary Facts:

• Ballet Hispanico
• The foremost dance representative of Hispanic culture in the United States
• Featuring a repertory that fuses ballet, modern, jazz and Latin dance
• Noted for its visionary arts education outreach programs
• Friday & Saturday, February 21 & 22 / 8 pm
• UCSB Campbell Hall
• General: $28 and $25, UCSB students: $19 and $16
• Tickets/information: UCSB Arts & Lectures at 893-3535

From New York City, the vibrant and flamboyant Ballet Hispanico reflects the diversity of the Spanish-speaking world, performing dances in ballet, contemporary, jazz and ethnic styles. The troupe will be coming to Santa Barbara County for a weeklong residency featuring two exciting public performances on Friday and Saturday, February 21 and 22 at 8 pm in UCSB Campbell Hall. Acclaimed by audiences and critics alike, Ballet Hispanico has performed for over two million people, appearing in major venues such as The John F. Kennedy Center, Jacob’s Pillow and The Joyce Theater in New York. New York Newsday insists, “When Ballet Hispanico’s dancers take the stage, watch out—their joy is infectious.”

Since its founding in 1970 by Artistic Director Tina Ramirez, over 70 new works have been commissioned for Ballet Hispanico’s repertory from choreographers of international stature such as Alberto Alonso, George Faison, Vicente Nebrada, Ann Reinking and William Whitener, and dynamic young artists including Susan Marshall, Ramón Oller and Pedro Ruiz.

Artistic Director Tina Ramirez is regularly lauded for her incomparable artistic vision. In April 2002 she received the Dance Magazine Award, one of the highest honors in the dance field. In September 1999 she received a prestigious Hispanic Heritage Award in recognition of her outstanding achievements in education, presented at a gala celebration at The Kennedy Center. In 1987, Governor Mario Cuomo presented Ramirez with the Governor’s Arts Award in recognition of Ballet Hispanico’s outstanding contribution to the quality of New York’s cultural life.

Established the same year as the company, The Ballet Hispanico School has forged a reputation among the nation’s leading professional training programs, offering a balanced curriculum in classical ballet, modern and Spanish dance—a practice unique among America’s dance training institutions. In addition to performing with Ballet Hispanico’s own company, alumni of the School have gone on to careers in theater (Nancy Ticotin), film (Jennifer Lopez, Leelee Sobieski and Rachel Ticotin) and television (Michael DeLorenzo), as well as with other leading dance companies.

The company, a pioneer in the field of art education, will bring its innovative Primeros Pasos (First Steps) program to Santa Barbara, Isla Vista, Goleta and Guadalupe schools. This residency will feature over 25 activities ranging from classroom demonstrations to social dances. Highlights of the residency will be several Performances for Young People that bring all the hallmarks of a professional concert—dance, music, costumes and lights—to a presentation created especially for a student audience. Ballet Hispanico’s current Performance for Young People, Rhythms, celebrates the diverse rhythms of Latin America.

Ballet Hispanico will present Rhythms, a community performance followed by a Meet-the-Artists reception, on Wednesday, February 19 at 7:30 pm at the Theater Royal, Guadalupe Street, Guadalupe. This event is free and open to the public; for information call 343-0100. Members of the group will conduct a Salsa Dance Class followed by a Meet-the-Artists reception on Thursday, February 20 at 7 pm at La Casa de La Raza, 601 E. Montecito Street, Santa Barbara. This event is free and open to the public; for information call 965-8581.

Members of Ballet Hispanico will teach a free salsa dance class on Saturday, February 22 from 10 am–12 pm at the Goleta Valley Community Center, 5679 Hollister Avenue, Goleta. This class is supported by funds from the City of Goleta. Other members of the troupe will teach a jazz/modern dance class on Saturday, February 22 from 1:30-3:30 pm at the Carrillo Recreation Center, 100 E. Carrillo Street, Santa Barbara. The jazz/modern class costs $15 for students and $5 for observers. Both classes are co-sponsored by the Santa Barbara Dance Alliance; for information and to make a reservation, please phone 966-6950.

Ballet Hispanico is presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures in association with the Santa Barbara Mariachi Festival and is sponsored by the Goleta Valley Voice, Tinta Latina, KSPE Radio (La Nueva 94.5 FM) and Radio Bronco 1490 AM, Univision, and AT&T Wireless. Support is provided by the California Presenters Initiative, which is funded by The James Irvine Foundation and managed by Arts International. Additional funding is provided by the Western States Arts Federation and California Arts Council. Tickets for the Campbell Hall performances on February 21 & 22 are $28 and $25 for the general public and $19 and $16 for UCSB students.

For tickets or more information,
call UCSB Arts & Lectures at (805) 893-3535.

Editor: For photos, please call
Susan Gwynne at (805) 893-2098.