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“Tiborones” (“Sharks”), by international choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, is a new work that takes a look at Latinix representation in movies such as “West

Side Story.” PROMOTIONAL PHOTO

Ballet Hispánico celebrates 50+ years with program at The Hanover Theatre

Richard Duckett

Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

When Eduardo Vilaro came to this country with his parents from Cuba at the age of 6, dance was a way he could make discoveries, connect with people, and also find himself.

“I feel it was dance that helped me really grow into who I am as an American and rediscover my Latin self,” Vilaro said.

Ballet Hispánico continued the discovery. The New York City dance company’s founder and artistic director Tina Ramirez invited Vilaro to join it as a dancer. “I was recruited by Tina,” Vilaro said.

Now Vilaro is just the second artistic director in Ballet Hispánico’s history.

“We help young Latinos find their voices. It’s ongoing. It’s passing it on. It’s reciprocal,” he said.

It continues as Ballet Hispánico, which was founded in 1970, is back on tour after having to stop for a while because of the pandemic with “Noche de Oro (or “Golden Night”), 50th Anniversary Program,” dedicated to the company’s over 50-year legacy of elevating Latinx choreographers and dancers.

“Noche de Oro” will be performed May 22 at The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts in Worcester in an event presented by Music Worcester Inc.

In honor of the more than 50 years, 14 Ballet Hispánico company dancers will be “performing something old, something new, something looking at the future,” Vilaro said.

Three works will be staged. “Arabesque,” choreographed by Vicente Nebrada, is a relatively early piece in Ballet Hispánico’s history. It is a suite of danc-

Ballet Hispánico, which was founded in 1970, is back on tour after having to stop for a while because of the pandemic with “Noche de Oro (or “Golden Night”), 50th Anniversary Program,” dedicated to the company’s over 50 year legacy of elevating Latinx choreographers and dancers. PROMOTIONAL PHOTO

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es set to the music of Spanish composer Enrique Granados, with traces of Flamenco intertwined with lush balletic movement. “It’s a beautiful work, very neo classical in nature,” Vilaro said.

“Tiborones” (”Sharks”) by international choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa is a new work that takes a look at Latinix representation in movies such as “West Side Story” (the Sharks are a Puerto Rican gang in the film).

“It’s about how much the media looks at culture and how people develop stereotypes through the lens of the media. It’s fun, bittersweet, fun to watch,” Vilaro said.

Also new is “18+1” by Gustavo Ramírez Sansano, which celebrates his 19 years as a choreographer. The movement merges with the playful rhythms found in Pérez Prado’s 1950s mambo music.

“It’s just a very playful, contemporary work,” Vilaro said.

Ballet Hispánico is a dance company that has embraced traditional classical, Latino and folkloric dance in “new works that fuse all the elements,” Vilaro said.

“The work is about including everyone in the dialogue of all the Latinx cultures. There are more than 21 nations under the umbrella and we look like any other people from black to fair skin. That’s what I try to bring in — the beauty of the multi-dimensions of this culture,” he said.

Vilaro joined the company in 1985 and became principal dancer, working closely with Ramirez and originating roles in a range of works by choreographers. He was also an instructor in the company’s School of Dance.

He left for a while and in 1999 he founded Luna Negra Dance Theater in Chicago.

But in 2009 he rejoined Ballet Hispánico after Ramirez’s retirement. He also took on the role of CEO in 2015.

Tina Ramirez was born in Venezuela to a Mexican father and Puerto Rican mother and moved to New York City at the age of 6. She studied and trained in Spanish dance, classical ballet and modern dance, and danced professionally, including on Broadway.

Ballet Hispánico focused on providing a haven for Latinx youth and families seeking an artistic place and cultural sanctuary. From its grassroots origins as a dance school and communitybased performing arts troupe in 1970, Ballet Hispánico has been recognized as

Ballet Hispánico: ‘Noche de Oro, 50th Anniversary Program’ — presented by Music Worcester

When: 8 p.m. April 22 Where: The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester. Proof of vaccination and wearing of masks required. How much: $39, $49 and $59 depending on seat location. Student tickets $25. (877) 571-7469; www.thehanovertheatre.org

Ballet

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a catalyst for social change for over 50 years.

Under Ramirez’s guidance, Ballet Hispánico developed three main programs — its dance company, its dance school, and community arts partnerships — as a way to bring communities together to celebrate and explore Latino cultures.

“I think we’ve progressed like any other organization. We were the company — the little engine that could. Right now we are in such a position of leadership. I think we’re very grown up now,” Vilaro said.

“We’re set to grow more and reach audiences everywhere with this work.”

Ramirez, now in her 90s, is no longer involved with the organization and is enjoying her retirement, Vilaro said.

The Ballet Hispánico dance company has toured internationally, and has recently been presenting a new work choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa titled “Doña Perón” (”Mrs. Perón”). Following a performance at the beginning of the month at the New York City Center, one reviewer called it an “explosive and emotional retelling of the life of Eva “Evita” Perón ... Ballet Hispánico, has created a masterpiece to surpass any previous attempts to bring the iconic Latina figure to the stage.”

“It was remarkable,” Vilaro said of the production. He said his focus as curator of new works for the company is “telling new stories and reclaiming stories from the point of giving new insights.”

Meanwhile, Vilaro said the dance school has 1,000 students during the school year and 500 more during summer programs. The community programs involve more than 3,000 students a year, he said.

Ballet Hispánico has been named an American Cultural Treasure by the Ford Foundation and recently was the recipient of a $10 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott and her husband, Dan Jewett.

Vilaro will be coming with Ballet Hispánico to Worcester on May 22 where he said he has a couple of good friends. But he could not recall the company performing here before.

“Not to my knowledge,” he said.

Music Worcester is bringing Ballet Hispánico to Worcester.

Adrien C. Finlay, Music Worcester’s executive director, said, “I saw Ballet Hispánico for the first time last summer at Jacob’s Pillow and immediately started working on engaging them to come to Music Worcester. The sheer enthusiasm they bring to performance is riveting, and I was also taken with their story as a company — how they started, what they have become, and their record of commissioning and developing new works with choreographers. We are incredibly proud to be a stop for Ballet Hispánico during their 50th anniversary celebrations, and we know all who attend will leave The Hanover Theatre on April 22 wanting to see them again.”

Ballet Hispánico has also had many ongoing challenges over the years.

In 2016 the ballet company’s costumes and floors were ravaged when a major water main burst on Amsterdam Avenue and flooded the studio. The cost of renovations was estimated at $500,00 and Ballet Hispánico launched an appeal for donations.

Most recently, the pandemic shut down the touring company and classes for quite a while.

“We started a visual platform,” Vilaro said. The social media and video platforms have included online classes and the showing of previous performances by the company.

“It was exhaustive and exhausting. We became quite a leader,” Vilaro said. That continues as Ballet Hispánico seeks to instill a sense of community and to explore dance and Latino cultures online.

But the biggest challenge of all has always been in appealing to youth who will make up the company’s dancers and current and future audiences.

“Dance is very specific art form that needs to build young audiences,” Vilaro said.

For over 50 years, “we’ve been able to attract them by the hundreds of thousands,” Vilaro said of youth across the country and around the world.

Encouragingly, Vilaro said that at the end of performances of “Doña Perón,” “when I looked out in our audiences I saw a young and diverse audience.”

Ballet Hispánico will perform at the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts. One of the pieces being performed, “Arabesque,” choreographed by Vicente Nebrada, is a relatively early piece in Ballet Hispánico’s history. PROMOTIONAL PHOTO

The Schizophonics. PHOTO

COURTESY JENNIFER MCCARTHY

The Schizophonics ready to rip up Ralph’s

Robert Duguay

Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Since 2009, The Schizophonics from San Diego have been bringing their soulful, bombastic rock and roll sound all over North America and even across the Atlantic. They’ve gained a reputation as being one of the wildest live acts to check out through their energetic performances. These experiences usually make the audience dance and move around with an equal exchange of vitality and vibrancy being apparent between the band and the crowd.

On April 16 at Ralph’s Rock Diner on 148 Grove St., this exciting act will be taking the stage to show what the fuss is all about. Boston garage rock trio ZipTie Handcuffs and local indie rockers Sapling are going to be rounding the electrifying evening.

For anyone who is unfamiliar with their sound, the trio of guitarist and vocalist Pat Beers, his wife, Lety, on drums and a revolving cast of bassists exude music similar to the soul-punk of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. Acts like The MC5, The Stooges and even James Brown have a noticeable influence and this incarnation from the band came from a way bigger act in terms of membership.

“We’ve always been really into The MC5, Stooges and all that stuff but I think the soul element kind of came about organically and seeped into the music,” Pat says. “We had another version of the band which was kind of like a James Brown style soul band which had 11 people in it and it was really fun. A lot of elements from that made its way into the three-piece rock band along with

EYES ON THE SKIES

Mass Audubon adds bus service for participants in annual birdathon

Veer Mudambi

Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Martha Gach of Broadmeadow Brook Sanctuary is hoping to see a blue-gray gnatcatcher.

“Not many people know about them, but they migrate through the area at this time,” she said. “They look like miniature catbirds with long tails, and I’ve only seen them two or three times ever and only once at Broadmeadow.”

The Mass Audubon Annual Birdathon, which takes place May 13 and 14, will be a good opportunity to try. Last year, birdwatchers saw 274 species throughout Massachusetts. Every Audubon sanctuary hosts a team that competes with other sanctuary teams to see who can spot the most bird species and who can raise the most money, within a 24-hour period, beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, May 13. The teams can go anywhere in the state and are not limited to sanctuaries. You can do it on your own, with a friend or even other groups, and it is all coordinated at the sanctuary level.

Lisa Mattson, operations manager for the Mass Audubon Central Region and coordinator of special events, explained that they made adjustments during 2020 and 2021 and mostly backed off on in-person events.

“But we’re very excited this year that things can return to pre-COVID conditions.” The teams are formed by interest and registration. “Some people have been participating for 20-plus years. We just want to focus on the participation and getting folks excited about

See BIRDATHON, Page 9

David Mitchell, of Worcester, and his daughters, Lucy, left, and Anna, are on the lookout for different species of birds at the Mass Audubon's Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center and Wildlife Sanctuary's birdathon in 2018. STEVE LANAVA/T&G FILE

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birds and bird conservation.”

She acknowledged that the word “birder” might feel overwhelming to some who don’t know how to get started but it’s often a question of just getting out there and observing birds.

“We want to meet people at whatever birding level they’re at.”

So this year, they have a new initiative called Birding by Bus and are working with WRTA to take advantage of zero fare.

“Bussing is part of the accessibility aspect and this year, we thought, how can we make this accessible? … You don’t need to be in the countryside to bird or an expert birdwatcher, you can just step outside to bird, wherever you are.”

So she asked, why not hop on the bus and take it to one of the 60 parks in the city or a cemetery which is a good birding spot, where a birding instructor will be on site to help?

Individuals who are part of a team reach out to friends and acquaintances to find sponsors for their efforts; if your team raises more than $125, members win a birdathon T-shirt.

Gach said they have a regional goal of $15,000, and funds raised by the sanctuary stay at that particular sanctuary. Knowing that their money goes to work in their local area, people who donate are participating in a “no overhead, very direct fundraiser.” Such fundraisers are used for anything from scholarships for summer camps, to planting flowers in pollinator gardens, to keeping the fencing in good repair, or the purchase of new equipment like a tractor. Broad Meadow, in particular, is focused on equitable access to nature so they will invest funds in education programs, such as camps, etc.

Gach said there is a lot of coordination that goes into the birdathon: gathering support, creating a team, finding sponsors, getting the word out about individual fundraising, making people aware of the different ways they can participate. There is also guidelines on the ethics of birding — one shouldn’t disturb the bird or distract them. And there are various activities that make it a celebration of birds. For example, Wachusett Meadow is doing a Birds and Breakfast, featuring a bird walk followed by an outdoor pancake breakfast.

She remembers the first year of the pandemic when everyone was in lockdown and they pivoted to a climate change focus and sustainable birdathon, where they asked participants to bird just where they could get by walking or biking, without burning any fossil fuels.

Some walked 13 miles that day in search of birds. “People really put out an amazing effort,” she said. The anecdotal stories from birders of “finding a particular bird at the last minute” before time runs out, or “spotting the green heron at 10 minutes to six on Saturday making it your 99th species” are what Gach and Mattson treasure most.

Both emphasized the number of amazing birds in downtown Worcester and hope that the birdathon event gives people a sense of awe about how many birds live in this urban area. They are especially keen that people have a chance to really learn about what birds are doing — if they follow that bluejay for five minutes and get a peek into the private life of a bird.

As Mattson drives through the city every day, she sees most birds around 290 and she participates in the birdathon every year. From barred owls establishing their territory this time of year residents may have heard them at night, the “who cooks for you” noise is the male marking his territory, to the small everyday birds (though she added they’re important too), cooper’s hawks, red shouldered hawks and peregrine falcons.

“What we try to do is bring together supporters from across the state to raise essential funds for bird education and advocacy.” For months leading up to the event, they spend enormous amounts of time “getting the word out to past participants, encouraging future participation, doing our planning for side events and what that 24-hour period will look like.”

Ultimately it’s meant to be a fun and rewarding event for participants.

“Get out and just enjoy nature,” Mattson advises. “It really feeds your soul and you don’t have to do it in the country, you can use a city park or your own backyard.”

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some of the kind of stage stuff we would do with that band and also some of the songwriting too. We were doing soul covers with the prior project so it was sort of like taking that mentality and applying it to rock and roll.”

Pat recently designed the art for a fuzz pedal called the Crystal Machine made by LoFiMind EffectZz] out of Spain, which you can check out on The Schizophonics’ social media pages. With live music being relatively absent during the COVID-19 pandemic, he decided to take up doing some art and the company reached out to him about designing a pedal.

“During COVID-19, Pat started doing artwork and I don’t know how but they started following the art page and we got a message out of the blue,” Lety says. “We do have some friends in common out there in Spain so we were like ‘Yeah, Pat will do it.’”

“They just told me to kind of do whatever,” Pat adds. “I took it because I figured I could get a few free pedals out of the deal and they sent me a demo of it, it sounds amazing. I’m excited to actually use the pedal itself and it was a really cool project to be part of.”

The Schizophonics have a new album called “Hoof It” that’s due out later this year to follow up their previous release, “People In The Sky,” that came out in 2019. The major holdup has been issues in supply chains worldwide which has greatly affected vinyl records

“Our record should have been out months ago but the pressing plants are super backed up,” Lety says. “The album’s done, we’re just waiting on the vinyl just like everyone else. There’s been a crazy manufacturing holdup with vinyl manufacturing.”

“It was recorded back in February of 2021 so it was still kind of during the pandemic, the recording process was just me, Lety and the engineer,” Pat says. “There weren’t many people in the studio and the album kind of reflects that a bit. We never got to play the songs live until after the whole thing was recorded so we won’t have it for this tour but we’ll be performing a bunch of the new songs on stage.”

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