Dance Victoria 2017-2018 Season | Ballet Hispánico program insert

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Ballet Hispánico Passionate works by three leading female choreographers April 6 + 7, 2018 • 7:30 pm • Royal Theatre Running time: 2 hours (including 2 x 20 minute intermissions) Program is subject to change.

About the Works Línea Recta (2016) Choreography: Annabelle Lopez Ochoa Music: Eric Vaarzon Morel Costume Design: Danielle Truss Lighting Design: Michael Mazzola Dancers: Jared Bogart, Shelby Colona, Melissa Fernandez, Mark Gieringer, Omar Román De Jesús, Eila Valls, Dandara Veiga, Lyvan Verdecia Powerful and resonant, Línea Recta explores an intriguing aspect of flamenco: the conspicuous absence of physical contact between dancers. While maintaining the integrity and hallmark passion of the genre, Belgo-Colombian Annabelle Lopez Ochoa imagines an original and explosive movement language premised upon the theme of communication between the sexes and performed to an original guitar composition by Eric Vaarzon Morel.

Línea Recta was commissioned in part by the Apollo Theater and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.

– Intermission (20 minutes) –

Con Brazos Abiertos (2017) Choreography: Michelle Manzanales Artistic Collaboration: Ray Doñes Soundscape includes Carla Morrison, Cheech & Chong, Julio Iglesias, Edward James Olmos, Gustavo Santaolalla, Maria Billini-Padilla, Juan Carlos Marin Marin, Ember Island, Mexican Institute of Sound Costume Design: Diana Ruettiger Lighting Design: Joshua Preston Dancers: The Company

In her first work for Ballet Hispánico, Michelle Manzanales explores with humility, nostalgia, and humour the iconic Mexican symbols that she was reluctant to embrace as a Mexican-American child growing up in Texas. Intertwining folkloric details with a distinctly contemporary voice in dance, set to music that ranges from Julio Iglesias to rock en español, Con Brazos Abiertos is a fun and frank look at a life caught between two cultures.

Special thanks to artists Juan Carlos Marin, Nir Ben-Gal, and Noemi Gasparini, for this original recording of “Chiles Verdes” and to Maria Billini for her original poem, Con Brazos Abiertos.

Creep by Radiohead used with permission by Warner/ Chappell and Sony/ATV. CON BRAZOS ABIERTOS

By Maria Billini Que es ahora?

Con brazos abiertos I bring myself to you a bronzed goddess of native and foreign tongues.

Mírame, una mujer with eyes black like distant galaxies.

Lips abundant, exploding stars, hips carved from ancient pyramids.

I am her.

About the Works (cont’d)

Yo soy el presente, el pasado, y todo lo que te espera.

Are you listening?

Gliding in and out of two worlds that collide and combine and will never fully be mine.

Escúchame…

My language, this culture of Latin warriors, these kisses of fire, these hot plates of jalapeño ecstacy.

Estoy aquí… con brazos abiertos, without criminality or apologies, without the heat of shame, without chains, or borders, or green paper work.

Instead there are green pastures, sombreros, tortillas, familia, maíz, arroz con frijoles, newspapers, musicá, inventions, libros and blue prints.

Engineers and painters, poets and lovers.

Mírame…

My hair long black strands of defiance, of protest, of voters, of builders, of fighters, of mothers, of daughters.

Una Madona Bonita, peligrosa but sweet like piñas y mangos, like apple pie and ice cream.

Pero linda en mi ropa, beautiful in my skin.

A moving mountain.

A breathing testament.

I am here con brazos abiertos.

– Intermission (20 minutes) –

3. Catorce Dieciséis (2002) Choreography: Tania Pérez-Salas Music: Marin Marais, Girolamo Frescobaldi, A. Vivaldi, François Couperin, and Giovanni Battista Pergolesi Costume Design: Amanda Gladu Lighting Design: Bob Franklin Dancers: The Company One of the leading voices of Mexican contemporary dance, Tania Pérez-Salas draws inspiration from the number Pi to reflect on the circularity of our movement through life. With intense theatricality and breathtaking imagery set to music by Vivaldi and other Baroque composers, 3. Catorce Dieciséis is a joyful feast for the senses.

Ballet Hispánico in Con Brazos Abiertos (left) and in 3. Catorce Dieciséis (right). Photos © Paula Lobo

I am here.

I am.

About Ballet Hispánico Orleans, and Chicago. By bringing individuals and communities together to celebrate and explore Latino cultures through dance, Ballet Hispánico is now a beacon of hope, tolerance, and artistic excellence.

Eduardo Vilaro – Artistic Director & CEO

In the fall of 1970, Tina Ramirez looked at her neighbourhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and envisioned a world where the young Latino children playing on the street could find a way to a world of art and professional opportunities. Her vision grew into a small grassroots dance and education organization that gave a voice to those young students at a time when Latinos were either absent or stereotyped in American culture. Today, Ballet Hispánico is a catalyst for change and diversity with tremendous impact, nurturing artists, students and future leaders. An acclaimed choreographer and former member of the Company, Artistic Director & CEO Eduardo Vilaro has brought a dynamic vision of social equity, cultural identity, and quality arts education.

Under his leadership, Ballet Hispánico’s Company has received national and international praise, performing to ovations around the world. The School of Dance, located in the same building where Ms. Ramirez began her mission, is thriving and widely respected. Ballet Hispánico’s community arts partnerships have transformed the lives of thousands of young people in New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, New

Eduardo Vilaro joined Ballet Hispánico as Artistic Director in August 2009, becoming only the second person to head the company since it was founded in 1970. In 2015, Mr. Vilaro took on the additional role of Chief Executive Officer of Ballet Hispánico. He has been part of the Ballet Hispánico family since 1985 as a dancer and educator, after which he began a ten-year record of achievement as founder and Artistic Director of Luna Negra Dance Theater in Chicago. Mr. Vilaro has infused Ballet Hispánico’s legacy with a bold and eclectic brand of contemporary dance that reflects America’s changing cultural landscape. Born in Cuba and raised in New York from the age of six, he is a frequent speaker on the merits of cultural diversity and dance education.

Mr. Vilaro’s own choreography is devoted to capturing the spiritual, sensual and historical essence of the Latino cultures.

He created over 20 ballets for Luna Negra and has received commissions from the Ravinia Festival, the Chicago Sinfonietta, the Grant Park Festival, the Lexington Ballet and the Chicago Symphony. In 2001, he was a recipient of a Ruth Page Award for choreography, and in 2003, he was honored for his choreographic work at Panama’s II International Festival of Ballet. Mr. Vilaro was also inducted into the Bronx Walk of Fame in 2016 and was awarded Hombre Magazine’s 2017 Arts & Culture Trailblazer of the Year.

BALLET HISPÁNICO

Ballet Hispánico in Línea Recta. Photo © Paula Lobo

Artistic Director & CEO Eduardo Vilaro Founder Tina Ramirez The Company Chris Bloom Jared Bogart Shelby Colona Omar Román De Jesús Nick Fearon Melissa Fernandez Mark Gieringer Jenna Marie Gabrielle Sprauve Eila Valls Dandara Veiga Lyvan Verdecia Diana Winfree Company General Manager Joshua Preston Rehearsal Director Johan Rivera Méndez Wardrobe Director Diana Ruettiger Production Stage Manager Nathan K. Claus Lighting Supervisor Bob Franklin

Ballet Hispánico salutes Jody and John Arnhold for their visionary leadership and support. Through the generosity of the Arnhold family, Ballet Hispánico will continue to inspire communities around the world for years to come.

MetLife Foundation is the Official Tour Sponsor of Ballet Hispánico.

BalletHispánico.org Production Copyright 2018, Ballet Hispánico of New York, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The taking of video, audio and photographs is strictly prohibited.

Dancers’ Biographies CHRIS BLOOM is from Fredrick County, VA where he began dancing at the Blue Ridge Studio for the Performing Arts and the Vostrikov Academy of Ballet. Chris graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program in 2012. In 2011, he joined Parsons Dance as an apprentice and continued to perform with Parsons as a guest artist for two years while also dancing with Lydia Johnson Dance, Thang Dao Dance Company, VonUssar DanceWorks, 360° Dance Theatre and the Peridance Contemporary Dance Company.

Chris joined Ballet Hispánico in 2013 and has had the pleasure of originating roles in new works by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Edgar Zendejas, Miguel Mancillas, Fernando Melo, Michelle Manzanales, Gustavo Ramírez Sansano, and Eduardo Vilaro. Additionally, he has performed in Nacho Duato’s Jardi Tancat and as Don José in Gustavo Ramírez Sansano’s CARMEN.maquia.

JARED BOGART is originally from Crystal River FL, and recently graduated with a BFA in Dance from Jacksonville University. He spent his early years training at his parents’ dance school in Crystal River, FL. He trained during the summers at the Orlando Ballet School, Archcore40, Florida Dance Masters, and Florida Dance Festival. While in Jacksonville, Jared worked with artists such as Jennifer Muller, Robert Moses, Jennifer Archibald, and Stephanie Martinez.

SHELBY COLONA is a 2013 graduate of The Ailey School’s Certificate Program. In 2011, she graduated from The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA) in Houston, TX. Shelby has had further training with Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Perry-Mansfield, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. She has performed works by Robert Battle, Benoit-Swan Pouffer, Peter Chu, Nicholas Villeneuve, Billy Bell, Loni Landon, and performed with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Lunge Dance Collective, and BHdos before joining Ballet Hispánico.

OMAR ROMÁN DE JESÚS began his formal training at School for the Performing Arts in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Omar was a member of Balleteatro Nacional de Puerto Rico from 20062011 and during this period, he won the Championship Cup and Gold Medal at the National Dance Competition in Puerto Rico. Omar’s choreography has been recognized for its originality, and he has been praised for his ability to craft an emotional arc. He has presented his choreography at Baruch Performing Arts Center, Peridance Capezio Center, Sala Sinfónica Pablo Casals, Ailey Citigroup Theater, the 14 Street Y, The Joyce Theater and others. Omar has received awards from The Dance Gallery Festival and Reverb Dance Festival, and is thrilled to be a winning choreographer for the Joffrey Academy of Dance’s 8th annual Winning Works

Choreographic Competition. He has been commissioned by Steps Repertory Ensemble, Instituto de Cultura de Puerto Rico, and recently, his new work, DANIEL, was commissioned

by Parsons Dance for the company's 2017 Joyce season as part of its initiative to support emerging choreographers through David Parsons' GenerationNow Fellowship.

NICK FEARON began dancing at 10 in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas. Nick recently graduated from Point Park University earning his BFA in dance. At Point Park, Nick had the opportunity to perform works by David Parsons, Lar Lubovitch, Mark Morris, and Jose Limón. Since graduation, Nick was seen at Digifest dancing for Frankie Grande and has also danced professionally with Parsons Dance, Texture Contemporary Ballet, and Ballet Hispánico’s BHdos.

MELISSA FERNANDEZ is from Miami, FL and received her early training from Mencia-Pikieris School of Dance and New World School of the Arts where she graduated summa cum laude in 2008. In 2012, Melissa went on to earn her BFA in dance from The Juilliard School. Melissa has attended programs at American Ballet Theatre, Miami City Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and Netherlands Dans Theater 2011, among others. In 2008, Melissa was selected as a modern dance Finalist in the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA) YoungARTS competition.

She was also featured in the HBO series “Master Class.”

Melissa is in her fifth season with Ballet Hispánico in New York City with whom she performs internationally as well as teaches workshops. Melissa has also choreographed for and performed with the Peter London Global Dance Company in Miami, FL. MARK GIERINGER began dancing at the age of 16 in Bellevue, NE. He graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri – Kansas City with a dual-emphasis BFA in ballet and modern. He attended Joffrey - New York & Kansas City Ballet’s Summer Intensives on full scholarship. Mark has performed works by K.T Nelson, Josh Beamish, Bernard Gaddis, Gary Abbott and Ray Mercer. He performed principal roles in Antony Tudor’s Dark Elegies and Continuo. Other roles include: Elegy Man in George Balanchine’s Serenade, and Puck in Benjamin Britten’s operatic setting of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Mark has performed professionally with Seamless Dance Theater and Owen/Cox Dance Group in Kansas City.

JENNA MARIE began her dance training at Olga Kresin’s Ballet School in Philadelphia, PA and later attended the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. She trained at The Ailey School as a scholarship student and was a member of the dance company Eleone Connections. Ms. Marie has participated in a number of dance

competitions including the Youth America Grand Prix (where she was featured in the documentary First Position), the Barcelona International Dance Competition, and the Tanzolymp Danz Festival. She was a member of Ailey II, Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, Zest Collective, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, The Metropolitan Opera and MOMIX. GABRIELLE SPRAUVE was born in Queens, New York and raised in Savannah, Georgia. She is a recent graduate of Marymount Manhattan College, where she earned her BFA in dance under the direction of Katie Langan. Gabrielle has performed works by Larry Keigwin, Alexandra Damiani, Norbert De La Cruz, Paul Taylor, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Adam Barruch and Jo Strømgren. She has also performed at the American Dance Guild, the 92nd Street Y’s Fridays at Noon Series, and The Martha Graham Company’s University Partners Showcase.

EILA VALLS is originally from Spain and graduated from RCPD Mariemma (Madrid, Spain) in 2010. She is the winner of the “Virginia Valero” extraordinary award in Madrid and the first place winner of the international competition “Certamen de Danza Ciutat de Barcelona”, through which she was awarded a full scholarship to the Peridance Certificate Program (NYC) and Joffrey Ballet (Chicago). Since she moved to New York in 2011, she’s had the privilege to work with Peridance Contemporary Dance Company, where she has performed repertory from choreographers such as Igal Perry, Dwight Rhoden, Ohad Naharin, and Sidra Bell, among others.

She has also danced under the direction of Manuel Vignoulle, Brice Mousset and Yesid Lopez and has worked as a dancer/model for Adidas, Nike and Under Armour.

DANDARA VEIGA was a scholarship student at The Ailey School in 2016/2017. She started her dance training at Projeto Social Primeiros Passos (Brazil), before training as a scholarship student at Escola de dança Ballerina (Brazil), Studio Margarita Fernandez (Argentina), Opus Ballet (Italy), and Annarella Academia Dr Ballet e Dança (Portugal). Dandara has participated in dance festivals all around the world and received scholarships with San Francisco Ballet and Ballet West. She has performed at Vibe Competition (Montana/US), Assamblé International (Toronto/Canada), Harlem Arts Festival, and the Ailey Spirit Gala (New York/US). She has had the opportunity to work with Charla Gen, Robert Battle, Caridad Martinez, Claudia Zaccari, Jean Emille, Ray Mercer, Raul Candal, and Melanie Futorian.

LYVAN VERDECIA was born in Havana, Cuba. He graduated from the National Ballet School of Cuba in 2013 and joined the ranks of the National Ballet of Cuba through December 2014, where he developed as a dancer and choreographer.

He has won gold and bronze medals at international competitions. He has shared the stage with Carlos Acosta in his Tocororo and with Viengsay Valdes in Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Celeste. In 2017, Verdecia was awarded a Princess Grace Award in Dance.

DIANA WINFREE grew up in Southlake, TX. She received her BFA from the University of Oklahoma, where she performed repertory by choreographers including Robert Battle, Martha Graham, and Alvin Ailey. Upon graduation, Diana danced three seasons with Thodos Dance Chicago where she premiered and toured works by KT Nelson, Lucas Crandall, and Anne Reinking. She most recently performed with local Chicago companies and artists such as LevelDance, Kristina Isabelle Dance Company, and Dance for Life Chicago.

Creatives’ Biographies ANNABELLE LOPEZ OCHOA (Choreographer) The Colombian-Belgian Annabelle Lopez Ochoa has been choreographing since 2003 following a twelve-year dance career in various contemporary dance companies throughout Europe. She has created works on fifty companies worldwide including Ballet Hispánico, Atlanta Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Compania Nacional de Danza, Dutch National Ballet, Finnish National Ballet, Royal Ballet of Flanders, Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève, Göteborg Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, BJMDanse Montréal, New York City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, San Francisco Ballet

and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, to name a few.

Annabelle’s works have received numerous awards and accolades throughout Europe and the United States. In her first year as a full-time choreographer, she was described as a “rising star of the Dutch dance scene” (NRC Handelsblad).

Only seven years later, the Temecula Performing Arts Examiner wrote, “Ochoa is truly a masterful choreographer with an edge for what dance can and should be in this constantly changing industry.” In 2012, her first full-length work, A Streetcar Named Desire, originally created for

Creatives’ Biographies (cont’d) Scottish Ballet, received the Critics’ Circle National Dance Award for “Best Classical Choreography” and was nominated for the prestigious Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production. Sombrerisimo, a piece commissioned by New York City Center’s “Fall for Dance” for Ballet Hispánico, was included in Dance Magazine’s “Best of 2013”. She also received critical acclaim for her original work, Broken Wings, created on English National Ballet, being listed as one of the best premieres of 2016 by Dance Europe, Pointe Magazine, and The Guardian.

MICHELLE MANZANALES (Choreographer) is a choreographer and dance educator originally from Houston, TX. She began working with Eduardo Vilaro in 2003 as a dancer for his company Luna Negra Dance Theater of Chicago, where she later became Rehearsal Director in 2006 and served as Interim Artistic Director 2009-2010. In 2007, Manzanales created Sugar in the Raw (Azucar Cruda) for LNDT which was applauded by the Chicago Sun-Times as “a staggering, beautiful, accomplished new work.” In 2010, her homage to Frida Kahlo, Paloma Querida, was hailed as a “visual masterpiece” by Lucia Mauro of the Chicago Tribune and was described by the Sun-Times as a “gorgeously designed, richly hallucinatory, multi-faceted vision of the artist…”. This dance isn’t just about one girl’s experience; it applies to everyone, of any gender, and of any culture,” said CriticalDance of Manzanales’s Con Brazos Abiertos (2017).

TANIA PÉREZ-SALAS (Choreographer) was born in Mexico City. She obtained her first significant recognition in 1993, when she received the award for best female performer in the National Dance Competition of Mexico. Since then, she has won national and international recognition as both a dancer and choreographer, including the National and Continental Prizes for Choreography in Mexico and the sixth Paris International Dance Competition, among others. In 1994 Pérez-Salas founded the Tania Pérez-Salas Compañía de Danza. The company has been invited to perform her work in some of the most important theatres and festivals in Mexico, the United States, Canada, South America, China, the Middle East, and Europe. Her work is based on universal themes, which she presents from unique angles. For example, a satire on technology, informs Biography of Desire (Biografia del Deseo); the dimensions of death and life are inherent in Visitor (Visitante); femininity in The Hours (Las Horas); love and sensuality in Anabiosis; water, with its infinite power of conveying metaphors and images in The Waters of Forgetfulness (Las Aguas del Olvido); or reviving literary texts as in Clodia, the Impudent (Clodia la Impúdica).

She has been awarded multiple contemporary dance fellowships, both as a dancer and as a choreographer from

the Mexican National Fund for Culture and the Arts (FONCA).

She has also obtained recognition and support from several other cultural institutions in Mexico, as well as support from private enterprises. Pérez-Salas has lectured in Mexico and abroad, served as a juror for prestigious arts awards in Mexico, and with her company represented Mexico in the CINARS 2002 conference in Montreal and at Gateway to the Americas conferences in Mexico City, in 2003 and 2004.

Since 2008, Ms. Perez-Salas has been the host and a member of the creative team for Juego de Cuerpos (Body Games), a television series featuring dance that is airing for its third season, now under the title Pasión en Movimiento (Movement in Passion) on Mexico’s Channel 22.

RAY DOÑES (Artistic Collaborator) graduated from Houston’s High School for the Performing & Visual Arts, as MUSICFEST’s 1st place scholarship winner for Dance, while studying extensively at the Houston Ballet Academy and the School of American Ballet (NYC). He then went on to attend Southern Methodist University on a full dance scholarship.

Ray continued his studies and career in New York City, where he performed with A Few Good Men…Dancing! under the direction of Jeff Amsden, Jason Parsons Project, The Wes Veldink Movement and as guest artist for Poz Dance Theatre in Seoul, Korea. In 2003, Ray was the recipient of the Leo’s Silver Award for choreography at the Jazz Dance World Congress. Since then, Ray has performed with the Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, also serving as choreographer, the Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet, Hope Stone Dance Company, LeJazz Dance Company (Shreveport, Louisiana), Chorpus Christi Ballet (Texas), and Cecelia Marta Dance Company (New York City). In addition, Ray has taught and choreographed throughout the country and abroad in Italy, Mexico, Canada, Austria, and Korea. He is also a master teacher for the Youth American Grand Prix (Cordoba, Mexico) and served many years on faculty for Ben Stevenson’s Houston Ballet Academy, as well as choreographer of Houston Ballet II. Ray now resides in Chicago, where his most recent professional dance experience was with Thodos Dance Chicago and Luna Negra Dance Theater.

AMANDA GLADU (Costume Designer) is a New York City based costume designer. She recently received her MFA in Stage (Costume) Design from Northwestern University in Chicago, IL. Originally from Texas, Amanda holds dual BA degrees in Dance and Art History from the University of Texas at Austin. Designs at Northwestern University include Equivocation, Anna in the Tropics, Sweet Charity, selected pieces in Danceworks and Danceworks: Current Rhythms, and Stick Fly. Other design credits include Thrones! The Musical Parody at the Apollo Theatre in Chicago and the Hudson Theatre in Los Angeles. Recent work with Ballet

Hispánico includes 3.Catorce Dieciséis, choreographed by Tania Pérez-Salas. Amanda received the 2017 Michael Merritt Academic Award for Collaborative Design for Northwestern University. She lives in Brooklyn with her partner, Logan, and her chihuahua, Daisy.

DANIELLE TRUSS (Costume Designer) is a freelance costume designer, seamstress, and tailor, originally from London, England. Danielle Truss is trained in Tailoring, Fashion, and Textiles and did an apprenticeship placement on Saville Row. She created costumes for Dangerous Liaisons at Grand Rapids Ballet and Bonzi at BalletX. MICHAEL MAZZOLA (Lighting Designer) Michael Mazzola’s critically acclaimed lighting and scenery has been seen in venues all over the U.S., Europe and Asia, ranging from opera houses to amphitheaters to circus tents to hay barns. The three-time New York Dance and Performance Award winner has designed lighting and scenery for many arts organizations, including Oregon Ballet Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet. For the National Young Arts Foundation, Michael has designed scenery and lighting for their Miami Galas since 2015. For the 2015 through 2017 Presidential Scholars | Young Arts Awards he designed lighting and created media content at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Recent tours saw him off to Italy for a whirlwind tour with Tulsa Ballet and Cuba for his second world premiere with Ballet Nacional de Cuba for Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. Earlier this year, Mr. Mazzola designed the world premiere of a full-length ballet with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet

by James Kudelka, then down south to Chicago for a new Giselle by the Joffrey Ballet among many others. Upcoming works include a reprise of Rachel Tess’ Souvenir at the Wanås Konst Sculpture Park in Knislinge, Sweden, a full-length ballet for Penny Saunders for Grand Rapids Ballet and a world premiere of a Nicolo Fonte ballet for Astana Ballet in Kazakhstan. Michael has been Senior Scenic Designer on Comedy Central Celebrity Roasts as well as the 2015 Lincoln Awards at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall for Uplight, Inc., based in NYC. His performance photography has been published in Liz Lerman’s book Hiking the Horizontal, as well on the websites and marketing materials for Bebe Miller Company, The Pew Center for The Arts & Heritage Online Text and Image Glossary, and Rachel Tess Dance.

JOHAN RIVERA MÉNDEZ (Rehearsal Director) was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He began his dance training at the School for the Performing Arts, PR under the direction of Waldo Gonzalez. Johan graduated Magna Cum Laude with his BFA from the New World School of the Arts in 2013. While there, he had the opportunity to perform the works of Robert Battle, Kyle Abraham, Peter London, Daniel Lewis, Merce

Cunningham and Doris Humphrey as well as simultaneously working with local dance companies in Miami, Florida. During his tenure with the Ballet Hispánico Company, Johan had the pleasure of performing the ballets of choreographers such as Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Gustavo Ramírez Sansano, Pedro Ruiz, and Eduardo Vilaro. In addition, he was a vital member of Ballet Hispánico’s Education & Outreach teaching team while on tour and at home in NYC. Johan had the honuor of mentoring and directing second company BHdosfor the fall of 2016 before taking over as Rehearsal Director for Ballet Hispánico’s main company. Johan holds a MA in Executive Leadership from Liberty University.

JOSHUA PRESTON (Company Manager, Lighting Designer) hails from the verdant hills of Lexington, KT where he began his training in design, management and bourbon. Josh has had the pleasure of working with Ballet Hispánico for six years and is proud to call his colleagues family. Josh met Eduardo Vilaro on the windy stages of Chicago and has followed his remarkable vision ever since. Josh is eternally grateful to Eduardo for shepherding him as a designer and as a person. Josh has designed lighting for dance, theater, opera and his apartment. Josh also serves as a trophy artist/husband to his ever patient wife, Chloe.

DIANA RUETTIGER (Wardrobe Director, Costume Designer) has served as wardrobe supervisor for Luna Negra Dance Theater and Costume Designer for Dance for Life Chicago, Columbia College, and The Chicago Academy for the Arts.

She has worked as stitcher and crew for the Joffrey Ballet and numerous Broadway touring shows. Ms. Ruettiger owned and operated a costume shop for 25 years before moving to New York to begin her tenure supervising wardrobe for Ballet Hispánico.

NATHAN K. CLAUS (Production Stage Manager) is in his fifth season as the stage manager for Ballet Hispánico. He has previously worked on Broadway with the productions of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, God of Carnage, The Norman Conquests and David Mamet’s November, and has worked with several other dance companies, including tours with Jennifer Muller/The Works. Hailing from Fargo, North Dakota, Nathan began studying ballet at Dancenter North in Libertyville, IL before obtaining a B.A. in Theatre from Millikin University in Decatur, IL, where he also studied dance, music, and education.

BOB FRANKLIN (Lighting Designer & Supervisor) is a lighting designer for theatre and dance. Dance work includes Ballet Hispánico, Pilobolus, Kate Weare Company, and others.

Associate/Assistant credits: The Color Purple, Noises Off! (Broadway). Peer Gynt, Men on Boats (Off-Broadway). Man of La Mancha, Luna Gale, Angels in America (Seattle).

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