Upcoming Performances in New York City
City Center Dance Festival
New York City Center
April 1-3, 2022
Ballet Hispánico presents Doña Perón, the organization’s first evening-length commissioned work. It will make its world premiere at New York City Center, April 1-3, 2022, as the concluding performances of the 50th Anniversary Celebration and part of the City Center Dance Festival.
The Work
Doña Perón marks her first evening-length work for the Company and reclaims the narrative of the iconic Latina figure by a Latina choreographer. This will be a seminal work for Ballet Hispánico as the organization moves beyond our 50th Anniversary and continues centering the voices of Latinx artists.
From Annabelle Lopez Ochoa:
"She's not a fairytale character, she's not a literary character. She's a real woman, and for me, it's interesting to put her on stage because she's difficult to pin point."
"I want to give female dancers real roles, not always the nice roles. Women are complex and it's nice to show all of these facets. I'm very grateful that I can put this woman, Evita Perón, on stage as a female choreographer."
The Creative Team
ANNABELLE LOPEZ OCHOA
CHOREOGRAPHER
Annabelle Lopez Ochoa has been choreographing since 2003 following a twelve-year dance career in various contemporary dance companies throughout Europe. She has created works for sixty dance companies worldwide including Ballet Hispánico, Atlanta Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Compañia Nacíonal de Danza, Dutch National Ballet, Finnish National Ballet, Royal Ballet of Flanders, Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève, Göteborg Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, BJM-Danse Montréal, New York City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, English National Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, to name a few. In 2012, her first full length work, A Streetcar Named Desire, originally created for the Scottish Ballet, received the Critics' Circle National Dance Award for "Best Classical Choreography" and was nominated for a prestigious Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production the following year. Annabelle was the recipient of the Jacob's Pillow Dance Award in 2019.
NANCY MECKLER
ARTISTIC COLLABORATOR
Nancy Meckler is a director known for her work in the United Kingdom with Shared Experience, where she was a joint Artistic Director alongside Polly Teale. Meckler has directed a production of I.D. She was a member of London-based collective the Freehold Theatre Company (1969-1973), where she eventually became Director. The group employed devising methodology to create work, and was the first company to receive the John Whiting Award for "new and distinctive development in dramatic writing," traditionally given to playwrights.
PETER SALEM
MUSIC
Very much in demand as a ballet composer, Salem has recently completed his third ballet, Broken Wings for the English National Ballet , which opened to huge critical and popular success in April 2016. His media work is also internationally renowned, principally his music for Call the Midwife, which won the Best Television Programme Music category at the Music and Sound Awards 2016, as well as other high profile productions. His extensive theatre work includes many.
MARK ERIC
COSTUME DESIGN
Mark Eric is a costume and fashion designer based in New York City, where he trained at the Fashion Institute of Technology. After designing for several New York City fashion houses, he discovered his passion for costuming for the stage. He enjoys bringing his couture fashion sensibility to his design, often employing artisanal techniques when creating his signature costumes. He has designed costumes for: Robert Battle, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Rennie Harris, Robbie Fairchild, Stefanie Batten Bland, Andrew McNicol, and Marguerite Donlon to name a few. He has costumed works for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theater, BalletX, Ballet Hispanico, Ailey II, among others. Instagram @MARKERICdesign.
CHRISTOPHER ASH
LIGHTING, SET, AND VIDEO DESIGN
Philadelphia-based Designer and Filmmaker, Christopher Ash’s work has been seen in 13 countries and been recognized for 15 awards. Equally at home designing projections, scenery or lighting for theatre, opera, and dance as well as direction and cinematography for film. Christopher is currently involved in a multi-phase Guggenheim Works and Process commission with artist John Jarboe. He is also co-creator of an ongoing multi-sensory performance piece “Body Language” with Dublin based dance artist David Bolger and CoisCéim Dance Theatre.
