ABOUT THE COMPANY
A Legacy of Artistic Excellence
Ballet Hispánico is the nation’s leading Hispanic/Latine dance company and the largest cultural institution of its kind in the United States. For over five decades, it has been a beacon of artistic excellence, celebrated for its bold repertory and exceptional training programs. The Company has commissioned over 100 original works, performed on the world’s most prestigious stages, and inspired generations through performances, education, and community engagement. Recognized as one of America’s Cultural Treasures by the Ford Foundation, Ballet Hispánico continues to redefine what it means to be an American dance company.
At the helm is Artistic Director & CEO Eduardo Vilaro, a former Ballet Hispánico dancer and acclaimed choreographer who assumed leadership in 2009. Under his dynamic guidance, the Company has entered a new era—broadening its artistic scope, deepening its repertory, and elevating its distinctive movement language. Vilaro carries forward the founding vision of Tina Ramirez, who launched Ballet Hispánico in 1970 to celebrate the beauty of Latino cultures through dance. The Company has garnered widespread acclaim, with The New York Times noting, “Many companies pay lip service to nurturing talent, but Ballet Hispánico has devoted significant resources and care to cultivating emerging artists.” Today, Ballet Hispánico stands not only as a cultural institution, but as a movement—pushing the boundaries of performance while honoring the traditions that shaped its legacy.
LEADERSHIP
Eduardo Vilaro
Artistic Director & CEO
Eduardo Vilaro is the Artistic Director & CEO of Ballet Hispánico, leading the company with a vision that honors its legacy while embracing the evolution of contemporary dance. Named Artistic Director in 2009 and CEO in 2015, he is only the second person to helm the organization since its founding in 1970. His connection to Ballet Hispánico spans decades, beginning in 1985 as a dancer and educator before embarking on a distinguished ten-year tenure as Founder and Artistic Director of Luna Negra Dance Theater in Chicago.
Mr. Vilaro’s choreographic work reflects the depth and breadth of the Latin American experience, drawing from a range of cultural influences to create compelling, thought-provoking works. He has created more than 40 ballets, with commissions from esteemed institutions such as the Ravinia Festival, the Chicago Sinfonietta, the Grant Park Festival, the Lexington Ballet, and the Chicago Symphony.
Under his leadership, Ballet Hispánico continues to expand its repertory and artistic reach, ensuring that the company remains at the forefront of dance, preserving tradition while fostering innovation.
COMPANY STAFF
Anitra Keegan
Rehearsal Director
Anitra Keegan joined Ballet Hispánico as Ballet Mistress in August 2023, bringing over 25 years of experience in classical and contemporary ballet. She trained at prestigious institutions including the Royal Academy of Dance (UK), Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and The Rock School for Dance Education. An accomplished performer, she has danced with BalletX, Ohio Ballet, American Repertory Ballet, and Philadelphia Ballet (formerly Pennsylvania Ballet). Beyond performing, Ms. Keegan has taught as adjunct ballet faculty at universities such as the University of the Arts, Drexel, Temple, and Princeton. She holds a BFA in Dance from Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University, and an Associate degree in Business Management.
From 2012 to 2018, she served as Capezio’s Master Pointe Specialist and Brand Ambassador, designing custom pointe shoes for leading ballet companies and supporting Youth America Grand Prix events. She later joined Nimbus Dance Company, where she advanced from Marketing Associate/Company Manager to Associate Artistic Director. Ms. Keegan is thrilled to contribute her extensive expertise to Ballet Hispánico's artistic vision.
Nicole Duffy
Rehearsal Director
Nicole Duffy brings decades of experience as a dancer, director, and educator to her work with Ballet Hispánico, where she began as a guest teacher and later served as School faculty and Program Advisor. A former dancer with the Joffrey Ballet in New York and Chicago, she is a repetiteur for the Gerald Arpino Foundation and has staged works for American Ballet Theatre Studio Company, Ballet Hispánico’s Pa’lante Scholars, and Barnard College. She also served as assistant curator for the NYPL’s The Joffrey + Ballet in the US exhibition.
Raised in Puerto Rico, she trained at Ballets de San Juan and performed 19th-century classics and Balanchine works from an early age. At the Joffrey, she danced principal roles in works by Joffrey, Arpino, Balanchine, Ashton, Cranko, de Mille, Limón, and others, and originated roles in Billboards, set to music by Prince. She has restaged Alberto Alonso’s Carmen, co-founded NYDP (a training company), and directed performances at venues including New York Live Arts, Symphony Space, and the Florence Dance Festival.
Duffy holds degrees from Columbia University and NYU, and is honored to join Ballet Hispánico’s artistic staff in support of its transformative mission.
Karl Watson
Company Manager
Karl Watson is a seasoned dance professional and arts administrator. Formerly the Company Manager and Director of Education of Whim W'Him Seattle Contemproary Dance, Karl has played a key role in the company’s strategic growth, including the development of the Whim W’Him Contemporary Dance Center.
From 2016 to 2023, Karl performed with Whim W’Him in over 50 original works, following earlier roles with Visceral Dance Chicago—where he also served as Associate Director of the Studio Company—and Luna Negra Dance Theater under Gustavo Ramírez Sansano.
A Cleveland native, Karl earned his B.F.A. in Dance Performance, cum laude, from Butler University. He has also taught at leading institutions nationwide, including Pacific Northwest Ballet, Lou Conte Dance Studio, and George Mason University. He now joins Ballet Hispánico as Company Manager, committed to supporting its vibrant artistic mission.
Aholibama Castañeda-González
Production Director
Aholibama Castañeda González (they/them) is an experienced professional in production, technical direction, and safety for the performing arts. They currently lead Ballet Hispánico’s Production Department, managing international tours, overseeing large-scale productions, and ensuring dancer safety. In the United States, Aholibama has worked at Lincoln Center as an assistant technical director, supporting the load in and load out for the Summer for the City Festival and creating a portfolio of technical drawings. In Mexico City, they managed technical production for 200+ theater companies at the Centro Cultural del Bosque and coordinated logistics for 40+ international groups at the Festival Internacional Cervantino.
Aholibama holds a Master’s in Technical Design and Production from the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University, becoming the first Mexican to graduate from this prestigious program. They also have a Bachelor’s in Performing Arts from the Universidad de Guadalajara and are a certified Paramedic with Guadalajara’s Green Cross.
DANCERS
Amanda Bacallao
Amir J. Baldwin
Mia Bermudez
Thierry Blannchard
Maya Canestaro
Antonio Cangiano
Francesca Levita
Matthew Mancuso
Dylan Dias McIntyre
Andrea Mish
Kevin Ortiz Lemus
Amanda Ostuni
Daniel Palladino
Olivia Winston
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
Ballet Hispánico's Instituto Coreográfico (New York City, NY - Ballet Hispánico Headquarters)
December 18, 2025
Ballet Hispánico Headquarters
167 W. 89th Street, New York, NY 10024
Ballet Hispánico Performance (Houston, TX)
January 16, 2026
Cullen Theater, Wortham Center
559-575 Prairie St, Houston, TX 77002
Ballet Hispánico Performance (Houston, TX)
January 17, 2026
Cullen Theater, Wortham Center
559-575 Prairie St, Houston, TX 77002
Ballet Hispánico Performance (Brookville, NY)
January 23, 2026
Concert Hall at Tilles Center
720 Northern Blvd, Greenvale, NY 11548
Ballet Hispánico Performance (Scottsdale, AZ)
January 31, 2026
Virginia G. Piper Theater, Center For The Performing Arts
7380 E 2nd St, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
2026 NEW YORK CITY SPRING SEASON
MUJERES: Women in Motion
2026 Spring Season
April 23 - 26, 2025
MUJERES: Women in Motion is a bold celebration of Latina women shaping the future of contemporary dance. This dynamic program showcases choreographers whose artistic voices are as distinct as they are visionary—pushing boundaries, embracing innovation, and reclaiming narrative space. It honors the enduring influence of madres, abuelas, tías, and hermanas—the women whose creativity and strength have long powered our cultural imagination.
Meet the Choreographers
CASSI ABRANCHES
Born in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1974, Cassi Abranches began her formal dance training at Escola Municipal de Bailados at the age of eight. As a distinguished performer, she danced with prominent companies including Raça Cia de Dança, Balé do Teatro Castro Alves, and Balé do Teatro Guaíra before joining Grupo Corpo in 2001, where she remained a principal dancer until 2013.
Cassi’s visionary choreography has shaped the repertoires of Brazil’s most prestigious companies, notably São Paulo Companhia de Dança and Balé da Cidade de São Paulo, where she served as Artistic Director from 2021 to 2023. In 2024, she returned to Grupo Corpo as Resident Choreographer, continuing her profound influence on Brazil’s contemporary dance landscape.
Her work resonates internationally, having created pieces for renowned companies such as Birmingham Royal Ballet and Ballet Nacional Chileno, alongside creative contributions to film, commercials, and music videos. Notably, Cassi was the Director of Movement and Choreographer for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony, exemplifying her ability to blend artistic innovation with grand-scale productions.
MARIANELA BOÁN
Marianela Boán is an internationally acclaimed choreographer and a leading figure in the Cuban and Latin American dance avant-garde. Known for her innovative “Contaminated Dance” style, she blends multiple art forms to create bold, expressive performances. Over her career, she has created more than 50 works for dance, theater, film, and television, and has founded and directed influential companies in Cuba, the U.S., the Dominican Republic, and Portugal.
Her work has been presented at major festivals and venues worldwide, including Madrid en Danza, Chaillot Theatre, The Place London, and Edinburgh Fringe. An esteemed educator with advanced degrees from Temple University and the University of Havana, Boán has shaped generations of dancers across the Americas and Europe, earning numerous awards for her contributions to the arts.
Now based in Santo Domingo, Boán leads Marianela Boán Danza and continues to innovate with projects like Reactor Antígona on international tour. She has also expanded her creative reach through digital choreoVideos and virtual teaching, solidifying her role as a dynamic force in contemporary dance.
STEPHANIE MARTÍNEZ
Stephanie Martinez, a visionary choreographer based in Chicago, captivates audiences through compelling works that pulse with dynamic energy and innovative movement. With a distinguished career spanning over 15 years, her award-winning choreography has been commissioned by leading companies such as Joffrey Ballet, Ballet Hispánico, BalletX, Bruce Wood Dance, Kansas City Ballet, South Chicago Dance Theatre, Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami, and Milwaukee Ballet. Her artistry extends beyond dance companies, with notable collaborations at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and American Repertory Theatre.
Renowned for her bold and contemporary approach, Martinez continually redefines the boundaries of ballet, having crafted more than 70 works for professional and collegiate ensembles across the country. Celebrated as a transformative female artist of color, she has garnered prestigious grants and critical acclaim, including recognition by the Chicago Tribune as a “chameleon” of choreography for her versatile and adaptive creative vision.
In 2020, Martinez founded PARA.MAR Dance Theatre, where she serves as artistic director, further advancing her commitment to pioneering dance narratives and expanding artistic horizons.
INSTITUTO COREOGRÁFICO
Over the past decade, Ballet Hispánico’s Choreographic Institute has emerged as a beacon of artistic exploration, empowering choreographers to break through traditional boundaries and redefine the language of dance. In an environment that fosters collaboration and experimentation, these visionaries have been given the freedom to delve into their creative processes, weaving personal narratives with bold artistic expression.
LEARN MORE
2025 INSTITUTO COREOGRÁFICO CHOREOGRAPHERS
Marianela Boán - Fall
Marianela Boán is an internationally acclaimed choreographer and a leading figure in the Cuban and Latin American dance avant-garde. Known for her innovative “Contaminated Dance” style, she blends multiple art forms to create bold, expressive performances. Over her career, she has created more than 50 works for dance, theater, film, and television, and has founded and directed influential companies in Cuba, the U.S., the Dominican Republic, and Portugal.
Her work has been presented at major festivals and venues worldwide, including Madrid en Danza, Chaillot Theatre, The Place London, and Edinburgh Fringe. An esteemed educator with advanced degrees from Temple University and the University of Havana, Boán has shaped generations of dancers across the Americas and Europe, earning numerous awards for her contributions to the arts.
Now based in Santo Domingo, Boán leads Marianela Boán Danza and continues to innovate with projects like Reactor Antígona on international tour. She has also expanded her creative reach through digital choreoVideos and virtual teaching, solidifying her role as a dynamic force in contemporary dance.
Phil Chan - Spring
Phil Chan is a co-founder of Final Bow for Yellowface and the President of the Gold Standard Arts Foundation. He is a graduate of Carleton College and an alumnus of the Ailey School. He has held fellowships with Dance/USA, Drexel University, Jacob’s Pillow, Harvard University, the Manhattan School of Music, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, NYU, and the Institut National d'Histoire de l'Art in Paris.
As a writer, he is the author of Final Bow for Yellowface: Dancing between Intention and Impact and Banishing Orientalism, and has served as the Executive Editor for FLATT Magazine and contributed to Dance Europe Magazine, Dance Magazine, Dance Australia, and the Huffington Post, and currently serves on the Advisory Board of Dance Magazine. He served multiple years on the National Endowment for the Arts dance panel, the Jadin Wong Award panel presented by the Asian American Arts Alliance, and is currently on the advisory council for the Dance Data Project.
He has taught at Harvard University, Carleton College, and was named a Next 50 Arts Leader by the Kennedy Center. Phil's most current projects include directing “Madama Butterfly” for Boston Lyric Opera, staging a newly reimagined “La Bayadere” for Indiana University, and producing a series of 10,000 Dreams Asian Choreography Festivals.
GLOBAL PRESENTER PORTAL
We are thrilled to partner with you in bringing the artistry of Ballet Hispánico to your venue.
To promote the performance, we have created a custom Presenter Portal where you will find a curated collection of marketing materials.
If you need any additional resources or assistance, we are delighted to assist. Please don’t hesitate to contact Martín Acuña, Senior Marketing Manager, at macuna@ballethispanico.org.
It is an honor to share this experience with your audience.
COMPANY AUDITIONS
Our next audition is in February 2026. Applicants must have a strong command of current concert dance genres, ballet, and contemporary styles.
All auditions are by invitation only. Invitation email will be sent two weeks after submission.
