Artistic Director's Biography

EDUARDO VILARO joined Ballet Hispanico as Artistic Director in August 2009, following a ten-year record of achievement as Founder and Artistic Director of Luna Negra Dance Theater in Chicago. Building on Tina Ramirez’ founding vision for Ballet Hispanico, he brings with him a commitment to dance, to education, and to fostering a deeper understanding of the rich diversity within Latino cultures.

Mr. Vilaro is an accomplished choreographer, having created over 20 ballets for Luna Negra and others. He has worked in collaboration with major dance and design artists as well as musicians like Paquito D'Rivera and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. As a former principal dancer with Ballet Hispanico, he has performed throughout the United States, Europe, Central and South America. He has taught master classes and worked with Ms. Ramirez to create and conduct arts education and outreach programs for New York City children; he subsequently created a broad range of educational programming for the Chicago community.

Mr. Vilaro came to New York City at the age of six from his native Cuba, and began his dance training as a teenager on scholarship at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center; he also studied at the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance. He received a BFA in Dance from Adelphi University an MA in Interdisciplinary Art from Columbia College Chicago, where he served as Artist-in-Residence at The Dance Center.

Mr. Vilaro serves on the Board of Directors for Dance/USA, the national service organization for professional dance. He was selected as Chicagoan of the Year in 2007 and Alumni of the Year by Columbia College in 2008. He is the recipient of an NEA grant and the Ruth Page Award for his choreography.

Founder's Biography

TINA RAMIREZ created Ballet Hispanico in 1970. Under her direction, over 45 choreographers have created works for the Company, many of international stature and others in the early stages of their career. Ballet Hispanico’s repertory of over 95 works is set to a range of musical styles, complemented by production values from a roster of acclaimed designers. The result has been a brilliant mosaic, reflecting the many facets of Latino cultures from around the world and acclaimed in performance by audiences across three continents.

Ms. Ramirez was born in Venezuela, the daughter of a Mexican bullfighter and grandniece to a Puerto Rican educator who founded the island’s first secular school for girls. Her performing career included international touring with the Federico Rey Dance Company, the Broadway productions of Kismet and Lute Song and the television adaptation of Man of La Mancha.

In addition to the 2005 National Medal of Arts, Ms. Ramirez has received countless awards and honors in recognition of her work, including the Dance Magazine Award, the Hispanic Heritage Award for Education, Capezio Dance Award, NYS Governor's Arts Award, and the NYC Mayor’s Award of Honor for Arts & Culture.

Ms. Ramirez currently serves on the board of The New 42^nd Street, and was Co-Chair for the New York City Department of Education Dance Curriculum Blueprint Committee. She has served on numerous panels for the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts, as well as the board of the Association of Hispanic Arts