Ballet Hispánico Brings Vibrant Hispanic Culture To Abu Dhabi In Historic Arab World Debut

Ballet Hispanico of New York made its Arab world debut last Friday at the Cultural Foundation Abu Dhabi auditorium. The performance celebrated the fusion of diversity, heritage, and Hispanic culture. Eduardo Vilaro, the Cuban Artistic Director and CEO of Ballet Hispanico, expressed his excitement about bringing the show to this region.

"The arts serve as a bridge to humanity," Vilaro said, adding that they love to showcase the many facets of being Latino. The auditorium saw 90 percent attendance over the two-day programme, with 1,500 attendees enjoying a contemporary show that celebrated different Latin cultures through various dance movements like classical ballet, jazz, and modern forms.

The programme began with Pedro Rodriguez's 'Club Havana', an homage to Cuban culture with West African influences through Mambo, Cha cha cha, and Rhumba. Big band music, gorgeous costumes, and the story of six couples visiting a club transported the audience to Cuba in the 1950s.

The performance continued with 'Sombrerísimo' by Annabelle López, a mysterious and playful work exploring the cultural significance of a hat. The final performance, titled '18+1', was choreographed by Gustavo Ramírez Sansano. It featured music by Pérez Prado and presented different rhythms of Latin America with a humorous dance.

Commitment to Diversity

Ballet Hispanico was founded in 1970 by dancer and educator Tina Ramirez in New York. The organisation aimed to provide opportunities for Latino youth and artists when access to the arts was limited for the community. Vilaro emphasised the company's commitment to diversity and multiculturalism.

"As Latinos, we are a fusion of cultures such as African, Spanish, Asian, and others," Vilaro said. He highlighted that multiculturalism teaches us how to be better humans and is essential for unity. "If we can be good neighbours in a city, then we should be good neighbours in the world," he added.

Global Reach

In partnership with the US Embassy, Ballet Hispanico has performed throughout the Americas and the Caribbean, Europe, and now the Middle East. The Abu Dhabi performance was attended by several diplomats and officials including US Ambassador to the UAE Martina Strong; Costa Rican Ambassador Francisco J. Chacón Hernández; Spanish Ambassador Iñigo de Palacio España; and French Ambassador Nicolas Niemtchinow.

With inputs from WAM