MISSION
Ballet Hispánico brings communities together to celebrate and explore Latino cultures through innovative dance productions, transformative dance training, and community engagement.
HISTORY
Starting in 1970, Tina Ramirez established Ballet Hispánico following the post-war civil rights movements, creating a space for people of color to congregate, express themselves, and access opportunities in the arts. She viewed education as a vital component to the growth of the organization, extending its reach internationally. In 2009, Eduardo Vilaro, former company member from 1988 to 1996, stepped in as the Artistic Director, reigning in a new era of Ballet Hispánico. Today, Eduardo Vilaro spearheads the vision that Tina began, representing the power and freedom of dance through education and artistic prestige.
With an ongoing tenure of fifty five years, Ballet Hispánico has evolved into the largest Latino cultural organization in the United States and heralded as one of America’s Cultural Treasures by the Ford Foundation. Exploring Latino cultures through innovative dance productions and transformative training, it is the leading voice intersecting artistic excellence, high caliber dance education, and advocacy - planted by the virtuous mission inculcated by Tina Ramirez and boldly driven by Artistic Director & CEO, Eduardo Vilaro today.
Throughout the years, Ballet Hispánico has expanded across the globe, boasting over 100 repertory pieces. These dance works are an impactful, vibrant gamut of choreographies and styles showcased throughout decorated, prestigious venues across the world. This global presence is a testament to the deep cultural resonance that colors the arts and dance landscape worldwide.
IMPACT
Since its founding, Ballet Hispánico has redefined what it means to inspire through dance, connecting with 2.3 million audience members, awarding $5.5 million in scholarships, training 20,000 students, and serving 750,000 New Yorkers through vibrant community programs.
In 2024 alone, Ballet Hispánico reached 24 million people globally through media and engagement and impacted 330,000 individuals across the U.S. and beyond. With over 60% of its board and staff identifying as BIPOC, the organization continues to lead with inclusivity at its core.
The Company captivated audiences nationwide with 60 performances, drawing 38,000 attendees, including 6,000 in New York City. Meanwhile, the School of Dance awarded $450,000 in scholarships, provided 118 weekly classes to over 1,000 students, and achieved a 96% employment rate for its Professional Studies graduates.
Through its Community Arts Partnerships, Ballet Hispánico reached 30,000 community members via 200+ educational programs, offering 1,100 free tickets to NYC performances. With 75% of participating students from Title I schools and 90% identifying as BIPOC, the organization continues to champion access, equity, and cultural celebration in every step it takes.
Ballet Hispánico is not just an arts organization; it is a movement dedicated to bridging cultures, nurturing talent, and advancing equity through the arts.
LEADERSHIP & STAFF
Eduardo Vilaro
Artistic Director & CEO
We remember our fearless founder Tina Ramírez and the spearheading work that ignited Ballet Hispánico. Learn more about Tina here.
Staff
Patrick Muhlen
Chief Managing Director
Michelle Manzanales
Director of the School of Dance
Veronica Villalpando
Senior Director of Marketing and Communications
Amy Shaw
Director of Development
Executive
EDUARDO VILARO, Artistic Director & CEO
Patrick Muhlen, Chief Managing Director
Benjamin Woollcott, Executive Assistant
Company
Anitra Keegan, Ballet Mistress
Aholibama Castañeda González, Production Director
Andrea Mejuto, Wardrobe Director
Dominick Riches, Lighting Supervisor
Alexis Hinman, Stage Manager
School of Dance
Michelle Manzanales, Director, School of Dance
Cecilia L. Cáceres-Ntiamoah, Associate School Director
Rodney Hamilton, Associate School Director
Nicole Duffy, Programs Advisor, Pre-Professional Upper Division & Professional Studies
Melissa Castañeda, Programs Advisor, Pre-Professional Lower Division, Adult and Enrichment Programs
Georgina Greenleaf, Programs Advisor, Early Childhood & Open Program
Brianna Figueroa, Registrar
Jalyn Gill, Administrative Assistant
Oceana Hinds-Zemanian, Administrative Assistant
Stephanie Echevarria, Education Wardrobe Supervisor
Community Arts Partnerships
Natalia Mesa, Community Engagement Director
Development
Amy Shaw, Director of Development
Donna Lieberman, Development Consultant
Kaitlin Overton, Associate Director, Institutional Advancement
Jessica Ventura, Development Manager
Marketing
Veronica Villalpando, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications
Martín Acuña, Marketing Manager
Milo Mohamed, Marketing Manager, CRM
Finance
Nora Perez, Finance Manager
Jessie Zhao, Assistant Finance Manager
Human Resources
Divanna Cedeno, Human Resources Manager
Operations
Richard Felipe, Director of Operations
Lynn Shipley, Operations Associate
Kaysha Smith, Front Desk Receptionist
Lauren Luspo, Front Desk Receptionist
Marisabel Adon, Front Dest Receptionist
Daniel Chico, Handyman - Day Shift
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kate Lear, Chair
Producer/Trustee, Frances Lear Foundation
Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, President
CEO, MCC Productions
Jody Gottfried Arnhold, Honorary Chair
Founder, Dance Education Laboratory
Jose Tolosa, Vice President
CEO, Meow Wolf Inc.
Rita E. Rodriguez, Secretary
Executive Vice President, Omnicom Group
Charles J. Wortman, Tresurer
Managing Director, J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc.
Dhuanne S. Tansill, Chair Emerita
Philanthropist
Melissa Alvarez-Downing, Surgeon, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Auri Fenouil, Assurance Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers
Matthew Ford, Managing Director, Wealth Management and Private Banking,
Popular Bank
Hiroko Ito, Senior Managing Associate, Sidley Austin
Robert D. Kartheiser, Jr., Chief Business Officer, TerraCO2 Technology
Sara Lange, Major Gifts Officer, Building Bridges Across the River
Juana Maloof, Artist
David Pérez, Managing Partner, Avance Investment Management
Brett Perlmutter, Investor & Advisor
Francisco Ramírez-Valle, Senior Vice President, Immunology Research,
Lilly
Alison Ritz, Commercial Real Estate Finance & Investing
Ronald Shechtman, Partner, Pryor Cashman
Scott Tegethoff, President NY Global Accounts at OMD
Marcos A. Torres, Managing Director, RBC Capital Markets
Sergio Trujillo, Theater Director and Choreographer
Danays Vichot, Sr. Director, Operations, TelevisaUnivision, Inc.
Joseph Wayland, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Chubb
GOOGLE ARTS & CULTURE EXHIBIT
Discover more about our history through this Google Arts & Culture digital collection.
PRESS
News
Ballet Hispánico Celebrates 150 Years Of Bizet's Classic Opera with CARMEN.MAQUIA
Broadway World
January 13th, 2025 - Read more
Ballet Hispánico Announces Spring 2025 Tour
Broadway World
January 9th, 2025 - Read more
Ballet Hispánico Review: Opening ADF’s 2024 Season with Style and a Blend of Influences
The Ballet Herald
June 15th, 2024 - Read more
Press Releases
Ballet Hispánico Brings Dance and Color to Life as part of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s Winter Recess: Color Our World with Creativity
January 29th, 2025 - Read more
Ballet Hispánico Announces a Groundbreaking Evening of Tango Works & Process at the Guggenheim
January 22nd, 2025 - Read more
Ballet Hispánico School of Dance Announces Los Pasitos/Little Steps Program For Children Ages 2-5
January 17th, 2025 - Read more
Ballet Hispánico celebrates 150 years of Bizet’s Carmen, an ever-relevant symbol of strength and defiance
January 13th, 2025 - Read more
Ballet Hispánico Announces Spring 2025 Tour, Shares the Power of Dance with Audiences Across the United States and Beyond
January 9th, 2025 - Read more
ANNUAL REPORTS
FY 24 Impact Report
Our latest Impact Report highlights the many accomplishments of Ballet Hispánico’s Company, School of Dance, and Community Arts Partnerships during our most recent fiscal year (July 2023-June 2024).
2024 - 2028 Strategic Plan
Our four-year strategic plan aims to elevate our dance company and school by fostering artistic excellence, expanding our educational programs, enhancing community engagement, and ensuring financial sustainability.
Financial Statements
JOBS
If you're seeking an environment filled with passion and excellence, Ballet Hispánico is your ideal destination.
Joining Ballet Hispánico means becoming part of a vibrant community of dedicated professionals. Here, you will contribute to transformative performances and educational endeavors that celebrate and elevate Latinx culture. Our work not only mirrors but also honors diverse communities, making a significant impact both locally and globally.
At Ballet Hispánico, you will have the opportunity to craft extraordinary experiences in a supportive and collaborative environment that values each member’s contribution.
Current Openings
STUDIO RENTALS
Host Your Next Event at Ballet Hispánico
Ballet Hispánico’s headquarters offer versatile, state-of-the-art studio spaces designed to accommodate a wide range of creative and professional needs. Whether you're planning dance or theater rehearsals, auditions, intimate studio showings, film and TV productions, screenings, or even stylish cocktail receptions, our studios we can accommodate groups of all sizes.
Each space features professional-grade sprung floors, mirrors, sound systems, and ample natural light, ensuring a premium experience for artists, performers, and event organizers alike.
Our studios' amenities include:
- Hardwood and Marley flooring
- High ceilings and full-length mirrors
- Central air/heating, telephones, sound system, & WiFi
- Food and beverages allowed**
- Close to parking garages
- Multiple restrooms and changing rooms
- Numerous local restaurants
- Pianos, furniture and equipment*
- On-site production company*
- Ballet Hispánico is ADA compliant
*Available at additional cost.
**With floor protection (that we provide).
Virtual Tour
STUDIO RENTAL HOURLY RATES
REHEARSAL & LOCKOUT*
Studio
Commercial
Non-Profit
Studio 1
Tansill Studio & Studio 3
Arnhold Studio
Studio 8 & Studio 9
Penthouse Studio
$50.00
$60.00
$70.00
$90.00
$110.00
$35.00
$45.00
$50.00
$55.00
$70.00
*Lockout calculated at 10hrs per day
CLASSES, WORKSHOPS & AUDITIONS
Studio
Commerical
Non-Profit
Studio 1
Tansill Studio & Studio 3
Arnhold Studio
Studio 8 & Studio 9
Penthouse Studio
$60.00
$75.00
$80.00
$100.00
$135.00
$40.00
$55.00
$60.00
$85.00
$100.00
EVENTS AT 4-HOUR MINIMUM
Studio
Commercial
Non-Profit
Studio 1
Tansill Studio & Studio 3
Arnhold Studio
Studio 8 & Studio 9
Penthouse Studio
$200.00
$230.00
$240.00
$260.00
$300.00
$140.00
$160.00
$175.00
$200.00
$250.00
THE STUDIOS
Studio 10
Dimensions: L: 53'-0”, W: 35'-0” (1,855 sq. ft.); Ht.: 17’-0”
Flooring: sprung, permanent Marley floor
Event Space: Holds up to 165 attendees for workshops, presentations, receptions
Studio 9
Dimensions: L: 53'-0”, W: 27'-0” (1,431 sq. ft.); Ht.: 13’-0”
Flooring: sprung, permanent Marley floor
Physical Features: column-free, mirrors, wall-mounted barres, windows, a/c
Identical to Studio 8 with added 2' in height
Studio 8
Dimensions: L: 53'-0”, W: 27'-0” (1,431 sq. ft.); Ht.: 11’-0”
Flooring: sprung, permanent Marley floor
Physical Features: column-free, mirrors, wall-mounted barres, windows, a/c
Identical to Studio 9 minus 2' in height.
Studio 4 - Arnhold
Dimensions: L: 53'-0”, W: 21'-0” (1,113 sq. ft.), Ht.: 11’-0”
Flooring: sprung, permanent Marley floor
Physical Features: column-free, mirrors, wall-mounted barres, windows, a/c
Studio 3
Dimensions: L: 33'-0”, W: 23'-0”, (759 sq. ft.); Ht.: 11’-0”
Flooring: sprung, hardwood (maple) floor
Physical Features: column-free, mirrors, wall-mounted barres, windows, a/c
Studio 2 - Tansill
Dimensions: L: 35-0”, W: 22’-6”, (791 sq. ft.), Ht.: 10’-6”
Flooring: sprung, permanent hardwood (maple) floor
Physical Features: column-free, mirrors, wall-mounted barres, windows, a/c
Studio 1
Dimensions: L: 28’-6”, W: 22’-6” (641 sq. ft.), Ht.: 10’-6”
Flooring: sprung, permanent Marley floor
Physical Features: column-free, mirrors, wall-mounted barres, windows, a/c
SUBSIDIZED RENTAL RATES
If you are a nonprofit dance company that is interested in renting the space at a subsidized rate, please contact Lynn Shipley at 212-362-6710, ext. 813. Click here for the Subsidized Rental Application.
Subsidized rehearsal space at Ballet Hispánico is made possible by the generous support of:
- The New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
- Dance/NYC’s New York City Dance Rehearsal Space Subsidy Program, made possible by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
- And The Mertz Gilmore Foundation.
RENTAL POLICY
We have a first-come, first-serve policy. Please allow us a 48-hour turnaround for requests submitted during business hours. If you are not contacted within 48 hours of your request, please feel free to contact us.
CONTACT
For availability and booking inquiries please contact Lynn Shipley at lshipley@ballethispanico.org or 212-362-6710, ext. 813; or Richard Felipe at Rfelipe@ballethispanico.org 212-362-6710, ext. 896.
