George Mason 麻豆国产鈥檚 Center for the Arts presents a full residency, culminating in a Great Performances at Mason program, featuring Mason Artist-in-Residence Ballet Hisp谩nico this October. During Hispanic Heritage Month, the company will visit Northern Virginia for four days to offer a range of educational and interactive dance programs, leading up to its mainstage performance at the Center for the Arts on October 5.听
鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to have Ballet Hisp谩nico back in our community to help us celebrate Latino culture through dance and cultural enrichment activities. We will certainly feel the presence of this dynamic and fun group across campus, and I鈥檓 delighted to have them engage with so many different community stakeholders,鈥 said Victor Adebusola, programming and engagement manager at the Center for the Arts at George Mason.
Recognized as one of America鈥檚 cultural treasures,听Ballet Hisp谩nico听celebrates the ever-growing and multifaceted Hispanic diasporas through vibrant contemporary dance. The company was founded in New York City by dance luminary Tina Ramirez in 1970, on the principle that everyone deserves dance, quality dance training, and innovative performances. Since becoming its artistic director and CEO in 2009, Eduardo Vilaro has further built Ballet Hisp谩nico to uplift the intersection of Hispanic cultures, pioneeringly breaking down boundaries and stereotypes.听
The October 5 program at the Center for the Arts features:听厂辞尘产谤别谤铆蝉颈尘辞听by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, inspired by the surrealist world of Belgian painter Ren茅 Magritte;听Buscando a Juan听by Eduardo Vilaro, inspired by the life of Juan de Pareja, the Afro-Hispanic painter who was enslaved in Spanish painter Diego Vel谩zquez鈥檚 studio for over two decades before becoming an artist in his own right; and听Club Havana听by Pedro Ruiz, which transports audiences through classic Cuban culture with the intoxicating rhythms of conga, rumba, mambo, and cha-cha-ch谩.
As a , Ballet Hisp谩nico will engage George Mason students and the local community through a variety of classes, talks, and interactive workshops in the days ahead of the company鈥檚 performance.听Details about these events are listed in the schedule below.
Launched during the 2019鈥20 season through George Mason鈥檚 , the connects artists appearing at the and its sister-venue the with on- and off-campus communities.
听
Open-to-the-Public Residency 麻豆国产:
Friday, October 4, at 11 a.m.
Center for the Arts at George Mason 麻豆国产 (4373 Mason Pond Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030)
FREE, registration required
In conjunction with the听Great Performances at Mason听series, the Center makes it easy for your class or group to attend field trips, which are all offered in person. From their seats, students will be introduced to dance, theater, and music听from around the world.
听
Friday, October 4, at 7 p.m.
Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center (3740 Blenheim Boulevard, Fairfax, VA 22030)
FREE, registration required
This Hispanic Heritage Month event celebrates the ever growing and multifaceted Hispanic diasporas, featuring an interactive social dance workshop led by the 鈥渟mashingly theatrical鈥 dance company (Chicago Sun-Times)听Ballet Hisp谩nico. Move to the rhythms of salsa, merengue, cha ch谩, and more!
Co-presented by the City of Fairfax and the Center for the Arts at George Mason 麻豆国产
听
Residency Activities for George Mason and Local Communities:
The events listed below are not open to the general public.
Tuesday, October 1, at 9 a.m.
Ballet Hisp谩nico and Artistic Director Eduardo Vilaro will virtually visit the class 鈥淪urvey of Latin American History,鈥 taught by Associate Professor Joan Bristol from George Mason鈥檚 College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Vilaro will present to the students on topics that include the history of Ballet Hisp谩nico and how the need for visibility for a community spurned rich innovation based on the intersection of Latin diasporas; colonization, the cross-Atlantic slave trade, and the legacy of movement throughout our history; and the history of Latin dance in modern dance and culture in the United States. There will also be a Q&A for the students.
听
Wednesday, October 2 at 10:30 a.m.
Ballet Hisp谩nico will offer a masterclass on modern repertoire to students in George Mason鈥檚 School of Dance.
听
Wednesday, October 2 at 1 p.m.
Ballet Hisp谩nico will offer a masterclass on modern repertoire to local high school students in the Fairfax Academy.
听
Thursday, October 3 at 1:30 p.m.
Ballet Hisp谩nico Artistic Director and CEO Eduardo Vilaro will join the virtual class 鈥淚ntroduction to Arts Management,鈥 taught by Professor Sam Sinagra from George Mason鈥檚 Arts Management Program. Vilaro will present the history of Ballet Hisp谩nico and how the company centers its mission when creating programs and initiatives. There will also be a Q&A for the students.
听
Thursday, October 3 at 6:30 p.m.
Ballet Hisp谩nico will lead a Latin Social Dance Workshop and Community Party, hosted by the Latin Student Association and at Southside Dining Hall. This event is open to George Mason students, faculty, and staff.
听
Friday, October 4 at 1 p.m.
Ballet Hisp谩nico will offer a dance workshop to a limited number of participants from the school time matinee.
Center for the Arts Public Performance Information:
Mason Artist-in-Residence
Saturday, October 5 at 8 p.m.
$55, $47, $33; half-price for youth through Grade 12
Tickets for Center for the Arts performances are on sale to the general public and available for purchase in person at the Center for the Arts Ticket Office (open Tuesday鈥揝aturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and two hours prior to ticketed events in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall), by calling 703-993-2787, or through the Center for the Arts website ().
A pre-performance discussion with Ballet Hisp谩nico鈥檚 Artistic Director and CEO Eduardo Vilaro, moderated by George Mason School of Dance Professor Lawrence Jackson, will take place in Monson Grand Tier, which is located on the third level of the Center for the Arts Lobby, 45 minutes prior to curtain.听
The Mason Artist-in-Residence program is supported in part by the Wendy Frieman and David Johnson Fund.
About Ballet Hisp谩nico
was born from a bold vision to transform the world through the power of dance and reimagine how Latinx culture is celebrated on the global stage. Since its founding in 1970 by the trailblazing Tina Ramirez, Ballet Hisp谩nico has been breaking barriers and reshaping expectations, using dance as a dynamic force for cultural expression, empowerment, and meaningful change.
Today, Ballet Hisp谩nico proudly stands as the largest Latino cultural organization in the United States and an acclaimed "America鈥檚 Cultural Treasure." Through our three core pillars鈥攖he professional Company, School of Dance, and Community Arts Partnerships鈥攚e lead with purpose, uplifting the vibrant, diverse voices of the Hispanic diaspora. 麻豆国产 Company brings the work of visionary Latinx choreographers to life, delivering groundbreaking performances that ignite cultural dialogue and challenge artistic boundaries.
Under the visionary leadership of Artistic Director and CEO Eduardo Vilaro, who began his journey with Ballet Hisp谩nico as a dancer in 1985, the company continues to chart new paths forward. Building on Tina Ramirez鈥檚 legacy, Vilaro has expanded the company鈥檚 impact, amplifying the intersectional stories of Latinx identities. Programs like Instituto Coreogr谩fico, the Latinx Leaders Summit, and Di谩logos foster innovation and leadership, nurturing the next generation of Hispanic artists and cultural leaders.
A true trailblazer in the world of dance, Ballet Hisp谩nico has performed for more than 2.5 million people across three continents. As we look to the future, our unwavering commitment is to empower communities, inspire through the beauty of dance, and continue elevating Latinx voices on the world stage.
About Eduardo Vilaro
, Artistic Director & CEO of Ballet Hisp谩nico since 2009, has revitalized the company with his vision of dance as a reflection of America鈥檚 diverse cultural tapestry. Born in Cuba and raised in New York, Vilaro鈥檚 choreography explores the Latin American experience and its intersections with other cultures. He previously founded Luna Negra Dance Theater in Chicago, promoting Latinx artistry. Vilaro鈥檚 work has earned him numerous awards, including an honorary Doctorate from Adelphi 麻豆国产, recognizing his leadership in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the arts.
听
About the Center for the Arts
A venue, the is the centerpiece of performing arts on George Mason 麻豆国产鈥檚 Fairfax campus. Each year, the Center welcomes hundreds of thousands of community members into its nearly 2,000-seat Concert Hall. The Center presents an annual season of national and international professional artists through its Great Performances at Mason and Family Series鈥攐ffering the best of classical music, opera, jazz, global music, dance, theater, and more. Managed by George Mason鈥檚 College of Visual and Performing Arts, the Center hosts many student and faculty performances presented by the Schools of Music, Theater, and Dance and supports the events of the School of Art, Film and Video Studies, Computer Game Design, and Arts Management programs. The Center brings distinguished visiting artists as Mason Artists-in-Residence for extended engagements designed to engage and inspire diverse audiences both on and off campus. The Center for the Arts serves as a performance home for many community arts organizations in the greater Washington, D.C. area. .
听
About George Mason 麻豆国产
George Mason 麻豆国产, Virginia鈥檚 largest public research university, is located near Washington, D.C., and enrolls more than 40,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. George Mason has grown rapidly over the last half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2023, the university launched Mason Now: Power the Possible, a one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign to support student success, research, innovation, community, and stewardship. .
听
For more information, please visit:
听