00:00:02
Speaker 1: Welcome to Get Connected with Nina del Rio, a weekly conversation about fitness, health and happenings in our community on one Oho six point seven light FM.
00:00:14
Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to Get Connected. New York City's Ballet Hispanico is the nation's leading Hispanic Latine dance company, currently prepping their twenty twenty sixth season at New York City Center with performances April twenty third through twenty sixth. And for this fifty sixth season, artistic director Eduardo Volaro has brought together four choreographers whose work approaches dance as a way of thinking about the present. We'll drill down on that with Eduardo Vlaro. Welcome back to the show.
00:00:43
Speaker 3: Oh it's great to be back. Thank you so much for having me.
00:00:46
Speaker 2: You can find out more about the dates April twenty third through twenty sixth at Ballethispanico dot org. So the show is titled Moheres Women in Motion. You've curated an all female choreograph season for the second time.
00:01:01
Speaker 3: Actually this is for the third time.
00:01:03
Speaker 2: Oh okay, great, yeah, I.
00:01:05
Speaker 3: Mean we firmly believe and certainly I believe that you have to keep at something and so post pandemic. We realized how much work we need to do as a dance field to uplift women leadership. And this is just part of our continued mission and part of our vision for creating work and uplifting the voices of Latin Ae choreographers.
00:01:32
Speaker 2: I love that because if you don't know anything about the dance world, you will know that so many dancers are female and so many people in leadership or male. There's definitely a gap there. But those first two seasons, especially the first one, like what was different about it? Besides the fact that women, was the vibe different, the work different, the collaboration different.
00:01:53
Speaker 3: I think that the work is always different. You know, it's nuanced. I don't think race and gen or make something drastically different. It's just nuance. It's a way of looking at it. It's perspective, it's the way the work is organized. And the first two gave us a chance. The first two iterations of our all female programs gave us a chance to really put a stick in the ground for these artists. And I think this time around, first of all, the company dancers are so excited about it because they love that bit part of the vision and then the second of all, it's just because we're more used to it, we're we're taking the extra chances, right. So one of the first pieces that we're doing by Stephanie Martinez is on point, so again expanding the dancer's repertoire. Another work, Marianne La Boan's Antigona has is very theatrical, I mean, and it's again pushing the dancers. So I always like to think that I need to always push my dancers as well as my audience.
00:03:07
Speaker 2: The tagline for this show is also, as I mentioned in the intros, it's choreographers whose work approaches dance is a way of thinking about the present.
00:03:16
Speaker 3: Yes, what is that about? All artists think about the present, the past. They it's a reflection of life. But this one, I think this group, this grouping of choreographers are really looking at who we are now, what we're about. Marial ELA's Antigona has some references to immigration and that's a big topic right now in our world. Stephanie's and also we do have a reprise of Liniar Recta by Anabellopez Achoa. They speak about culture and how we're bringing our culture forward in either memory or in iconic representations and how they fold that into their work. And then you have Transa by Cassia Branchas from Brazil bringing in a whole total. I mean, Brazil is part of the Latina world, and so again the perspective of pushing to remove yourself from the boxes that culture might put you in.
00:04:21
Speaker 2: My guest is at Wardo Valaro. He's ar just a director and CEO of Ballet Hispanico. The company spring season at New York City Center is coming up soon April twenty third through twenty sixth. You can find out more and buy tickets at Ballehispanico dot org. You're listening to get connected on one O six point seven light FM. I'm Mina del rio. For people who've never seen the company, what is the mission?
00:04:45
Speaker 3: Well, the mission of the company is to celebrate, educate, and also honor the work of Latino artists and our traditions and cultures. It's about sharing, It's about inclusion, not exclusion. It's about bringing us together and witnessing the similarities the differences, and then taking that and moving that forward into everyday life.
00:05:10
Speaker 2: You have also, from what I have seen over the years, you have positioned Bala Hispanica really as a vehicle for amplifying Latin culture and experiences. How does that sit with you or what do you feel like the thing is at the moment, given kind of where the culture is right, there's a lot of pressure, there's a lot of thought about challenges. Yeah, yeah, that's the word.
00:05:33
Speaker 3: Yeah. I think this is when Ballet Hispanico shines the most. We all learn to persevere through our challenges. We make a statement every time we get on stage. We make a statement every time we teach a class. I'm currently in Wyoming doing a residency working with kids that are not East Coasters, that are not as diverse, but yet the language, the sharing is all important and they get something out of it. And so this is an opportune moment for this organization to continue to stand by its mission and vision and continue to be a beacon of diversity and conversations and curiosity.
00:06:24
Speaker 2: You've also just returned from a nationwide tour. How was that? How did that go this year?
00:06:30
Speaker 3: Oh? It was great, you know, audiences up on their feet at the end of the show. I think it has a lot to do with the artists of Vallet Hispanicle, the dancers, we work to make sure that the audience comes into the work and these dancers really reach out beyond that fourth wall and you feel like you know them. That's I always get that after the whole evening, an audience member will come back. God, I think I know them and I really want to out with them.
00:07:01
Speaker 2: Where do your dancers come from?
00:07:04
Speaker 3: That's a such a great question. My dancers come from all over. Some come from the universities of different and ballet schools as well conservatories. Some come from out of the country. We have two Brazilians now soon to be three. We have an Italian gentleman. It just speaks to that curiosity that brings people together, and I know for each of them, this mission and vision means something personal.
00:07:36
Speaker 2: There are so many amazing dancers technically you know, around the world, kinds of people. But what when you know, you meet them, you audition them. What makes them the right dancer for this company?
00:07:47
Speaker 3: Oh, my goodness, you there's so much. I mean, I think technique and work and movement comes. It comes with the work. For me. A dancer, a dancer's character, a dancer's openness. As soon as they walk into the audition, I know who's being vulnerable. Who's giving it there all, there are no walls around them, and that's important for the work we do.
00:08:12
Speaker 2: I also feel like you're going to be with them for years, so you know, got to be nice folks all the things.
00:08:16
Speaker 3: Right, Ain't that the truth?
00:08:17
Speaker 2: Yeah? So EDWARDO, just to change subject for a second because I'm nosy. In twenty twenty one, Mela Hispanica was one of several dance companies all minority letter I believe in New York to receive an unprecedented gift. You received ten million in unrestricted funds from Mackenzie Bezos. It was a big deal. Five years later, what have those funds made possible?
00:08:39
Speaker 3: Oh? What a great question, you know. I think those funds, I'll put it back to the question about today. I think those funds make it possible for us today to sit in our power to continue to show the beauty and the diversity that is the American landscape because we're not worrying about certain things. Right. Yes, we still have to fundraise, we still have to do the work. We still have to make sure our staff and artists are well taken care of. It's a little less tense in terms of finances and financial So getting that gift was very important because it gave us room to breathe. But at the same time it's a challenge. It's another challenge because once you work at this level, you have to maintain and sustain and that means that it has changed us in the way we're looking at the future and what is nessus, what is needed now at this point, and that's something that any gifts should give you an opportunity to assess and revisit your main mission and how you're going to sustain that for the future and future generations.
00:09:55
Speaker 2: So the opening night of the performances coming up at City Center are is your Gala? Tell me about the Gala.
00:10:03
Speaker 3: Yes, the Gala is one of the most favorite fun parties I think in New York. It starts with a performance at City Center, and we are honoring this year Annabello Pizetoa, who's done amazing work as our artists being honored, and we're honoring a corporate Don Verilli, who helped with the marriage equality laws while mister Obama was still president President Obama, and so these are two wonderful people that shine a light and that's what the gala is all about. Shining a light not only on the mission that Bally Espanaco does, but how people come together to support the company, but what they do themselves in the world.
00:10:49
Speaker 2: You know what I love about what you're saying is so many people have put a pause or put a hold on things like diversity and inclusion talking about the implementing those and you are not. You are just going straight at it.
00:11:05
Speaker 3: I love that you said that, but I will just counter that we just never stopped. It's part of who we are and so we can't change. I will not change myself and as a director, as a focus, we've set a table and now we just have to continue to delight in everything that we bring forward.
00:11:27
Speaker 2: Along with the performance that's coming up on April twenty third through twenty six is the end Familiar matinee for Kids by You Can you talk about that it's.
00:11:36
Speaker 3: My favorite performance, well, because I'm a performer and I don't dance the way I used to like they dance now. But I get to come out and share my passion for the work we do and the culture as well. So it is in between the works, I come out and talk a little bit about what you should be looking at or what actually giving you cues to certain certain things in the work, and then we might do some some exercises, some movement exercises, and everyone gets up by the end of the show.
00:12:06
Speaker 2: So these tickets, by the way, are really affordable. Are only twenty five dollars each. Performances at City Center April twenty third through twenty six. As we have this conversation, we're a little less than two weeks away. What is the preparation, Like two weeks out? What is going on backstage and on stage?
00:12:23
Speaker 3: Oh my goodness, there's like running around, right, So we're running around to put one of our biggest parties of the year, if not the biggest and the season. So the staff is really busy, and the dancers are perfect right now. I think I think they're in the perfect place because we have worked so hard to maintain the new works. They are ready. So when we start back on Monday, we're just doing run throughs of the work. We're talking about it, we're giving notes. It really is. The preparation is lovely. And of course there's still costume changes and a choreographer here or there who wants to change something. And I'm like, I think it's a little too late right now.
00:13:05
Speaker 2: Once the show is on stage, then it's really up to the dancers, right What is your favorite part of that.
00:13:12
Speaker 3: Portion of the dancers taking it over. Yeah, at that part that they take it over, and I think it's already theirs. It's in their bones, it's in there they're thinking. What I love to see is how and I've been watching this during tour, so thank you for talking about tour. Is that I'm watching them open themselves up to be even more curious about what they do on stage, and they take chances and they change their intentions when they go out into stage, and you could see it, and it's a beautiful, beautiful thing for an artistic director.
00:13:47
Speaker 2: The performances of Ballet Hispanico at New York City Center are April twenty third through twenty sixth. Definitely find out more and buy your tickets at Ballethispanico dot org. Edwardovolaro, always a pleasure to speak with you, and I hope you have a great season at City Center.
00:14:02
Speaker 3: Thank you, always the pleasure to be here with you.
00:14:05
Speaker 1: This has been get connected with Nina del Rio on one oh six point seven Light FM. The views and opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the station. If you missed any part of our show or want to share it, visit our website for downloads and podcasts at one oh six to seven lightfm dot com. Thanks for listening.
Speaker 1: Welcome to Get Connected with Nina del Rio, a weekly conversation about fitness, health and happenings in our community on one Oho six point seven light FM.
00:00:14
Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to Get Connected. New York City's Ballet Hispanico is the nation's leading Hispanic Latine dance company, currently prepping their twenty twenty sixth season at New York City Center with performances April twenty third through twenty sixth. And for this fifty sixth season, artistic director Eduardo Volaro has brought together four choreographers whose work approaches dance as a way of thinking about the present. We'll drill down on that with Eduardo Vlaro. Welcome back to the show.
00:00:43
Speaker 3: Oh it's great to be back. Thank you so much for having me.
00:00:46
Speaker 2: You can find out more about the dates April twenty third through twenty sixth at Ballethispanico dot org. So the show is titled Moheres Women in Motion. You've curated an all female choreograph season for the second time.
00:01:01
Speaker 3: Actually this is for the third time.
00:01:03
Speaker 2: Oh okay, great, yeah, I.
00:01:05
Speaker 3: Mean we firmly believe and certainly I believe that you have to keep at something and so post pandemic. We realized how much work we need to do as a dance field to uplift women leadership. And this is just part of our continued mission and part of our vision for creating work and uplifting the voices of Latin Ae choreographers.
00:01:32
Speaker 2: I love that because if you don't know anything about the dance world, you will know that so many dancers are female and so many people in leadership or male. There's definitely a gap there. But those first two seasons, especially the first one, like what was different about it? Besides the fact that women, was the vibe different, the work different, the collaboration different.
00:01:53
Speaker 3: I think that the work is always different. You know, it's nuanced. I don't think race and gen or make something drastically different. It's just nuance. It's a way of looking at it. It's perspective, it's the way the work is organized. And the first two gave us a chance. The first two iterations of our all female programs gave us a chance to really put a stick in the ground for these artists. And I think this time around, first of all, the company dancers are so excited about it because they love that bit part of the vision and then the second of all, it's just because we're more used to it, we're we're taking the extra chances, right. So one of the first pieces that we're doing by Stephanie Martinez is on point, so again expanding the dancer's repertoire. Another work, Marianne La Boan's Antigona has is very theatrical, I mean, and it's again pushing the dancers. So I always like to think that I need to always push my dancers as well as my audience.
00:03:07
Speaker 2: The tagline for this show is also, as I mentioned in the intros, it's choreographers whose work approaches dance is a way of thinking about the present.
00:03:16
Speaker 3: Yes, what is that about? All artists think about the present, the past. They it's a reflection of life. But this one, I think this group, this grouping of choreographers are really looking at who we are now, what we're about. Marial ELA's Antigona has some references to immigration and that's a big topic right now in our world. Stephanie's and also we do have a reprise of Liniar Recta by Anabellopez Achoa. They speak about culture and how we're bringing our culture forward in either memory or in iconic representations and how they fold that into their work. And then you have Transa by Cassia Branchas from Brazil bringing in a whole total. I mean, Brazil is part of the Latina world, and so again the perspective of pushing to remove yourself from the boxes that culture might put you in.
00:04:21
Speaker 2: My guest is at Wardo Valaro. He's ar just a director and CEO of Ballet Hispanico. The company spring season at New York City Center is coming up soon April twenty third through twenty sixth. You can find out more and buy tickets at Ballehispanico dot org. You're listening to get connected on one O six point seven light FM. I'm Mina del rio. For people who've never seen the company, what is the mission?
00:04:45
Speaker 3: Well, the mission of the company is to celebrate, educate, and also honor the work of Latino artists and our traditions and cultures. It's about sharing, It's about inclusion, not exclusion. It's about bringing us together and witnessing the similarities the differences, and then taking that and moving that forward into everyday life.
00:05:10
Speaker 2: You have also, from what I have seen over the years, you have positioned Bala Hispanica really as a vehicle for amplifying Latin culture and experiences. How does that sit with you or what do you feel like the thing is at the moment, given kind of where the culture is right, there's a lot of pressure, there's a lot of thought about challenges. Yeah, yeah, that's the word.
00:05:33
Speaker 3: Yeah. I think this is when Ballet Hispanico shines the most. We all learn to persevere through our challenges. We make a statement every time we get on stage. We make a statement every time we teach a class. I'm currently in Wyoming doing a residency working with kids that are not East Coasters, that are not as diverse, but yet the language, the sharing is all important and they get something out of it. And so this is an opportune moment for this organization to continue to stand by its mission and vision and continue to be a beacon of diversity and conversations and curiosity.
00:06:24
Speaker 2: You've also just returned from a nationwide tour. How was that? How did that go this year?
00:06:30
Speaker 3: Oh? It was great, you know, audiences up on their feet at the end of the show. I think it has a lot to do with the artists of Vallet Hispanicle, the dancers, we work to make sure that the audience comes into the work and these dancers really reach out beyond that fourth wall and you feel like you know them. That's I always get that after the whole evening, an audience member will come back. God, I think I know them and I really want to out with them.
00:07:01
Speaker 2: Where do your dancers come from?
00:07:04
Speaker 3: That's a such a great question. My dancers come from all over. Some come from the universities of different and ballet schools as well conservatories. Some come from out of the country. We have two Brazilians now soon to be three. We have an Italian gentleman. It just speaks to that curiosity that brings people together, and I know for each of them, this mission and vision means something personal.
00:07:36
Speaker 2: There are so many amazing dancers technically you know, around the world, kinds of people. But what when you know, you meet them, you audition them. What makes them the right dancer for this company?
00:07:47
Speaker 3: Oh, my goodness, you there's so much. I mean, I think technique and work and movement comes. It comes with the work. For me. A dancer, a dancer's character, a dancer's openness. As soon as they walk into the audition, I know who's being vulnerable. Who's giving it there all, there are no walls around them, and that's important for the work we do.
00:08:12
Speaker 2: I also feel like you're going to be with them for years, so you know, got to be nice folks all the things.
00:08:16
Speaker 3: Right, Ain't that the truth?
00:08:17
Speaker 2: Yeah? So EDWARDO, just to change subject for a second because I'm nosy. In twenty twenty one, Mela Hispanica was one of several dance companies all minority letter I believe in New York to receive an unprecedented gift. You received ten million in unrestricted funds from Mackenzie Bezos. It was a big deal. Five years later, what have those funds made possible?
00:08:39
Speaker 3: Oh? What a great question, you know. I think those funds, I'll put it back to the question about today. I think those funds make it possible for us today to sit in our power to continue to show the beauty and the diversity that is the American landscape because we're not worrying about certain things. Right. Yes, we still have to fundraise, we still have to do the work. We still have to make sure our staff and artists are well taken care of. It's a little less tense in terms of finances and financial So getting that gift was very important because it gave us room to breathe. But at the same time it's a challenge. It's another challenge because once you work at this level, you have to maintain and sustain and that means that it has changed us in the way we're looking at the future and what is nessus, what is needed now at this point, and that's something that any gifts should give you an opportunity to assess and revisit your main mission and how you're going to sustain that for the future and future generations.
00:09:55
Speaker 2: So the opening night of the performances coming up at City Center are is your Gala? Tell me about the Gala.
00:10:03
Speaker 3: Yes, the Gala is one of the most favorite fun parties I think in New York. It starts with a performance at City Center, and we are honoring this year Annabello Pizetoa, who's done amazing work as our artists being honored, and we're honoring a corporate Don Verilli, who helped with the marriage equality laws while mister Obama was still president President Obama, and so these are two wonderful people that shine a light and that's what the gala is all about. Shining a light not only on the mission that Bally Espanaco does, but how people come together to support the company, but what they do themselves in the world.
00:10:49
Speaker 2: You know what I love about what you're saying is so many people have put a pause or put a hold on things like diversity and inclusion talking about the implementing those and you are not. You are just going straight at it.
00:11:05
Speaker 3: I love that you said that, but I will just counter that we just never stopped. It's part of who we are and so we can't change. I will not change myself and as a director, as a focus, we've set a table and now we just have to continue to delight in everything that we bring forward.
00:11:27
Speaker 2: Along with the performance that's coming up on April twenty third through twenty six is the end Familiar matinee for Kids by You Can you talk about that it's.
00:11:36
Speaker 3: My favorite performance, well, because I'm a performer and I don't dance the way I used to like they dance now. But I get to come out and share my passion for the work we do and the culture as well. So it is in between the works, I come out and talk a little bit about what you should be looking at or what actually giving you cues to certain certain things in the work, and then we might do some some exercises, some movement exercises, and everyone gets up by the end of the show.
00:12:06
Speaker 2: So these tickets, by the way, are really affordable. Are only twenty five dollars each. Performances at City Center April twenty third through twenty six. As we have this conversation, we're a little less than two weeks away. What is the preparation, Like two weeks out? What is going on backstage and on stage?
00:12:23
Speaker 3: Oh my goodness, there's like running around, right, So we're running around to put one of our biggest parties of the year, if not the biggest and the season. So the staff is really busy, and the dancers are perfect right now. I think I think they're in the perfect place because we have worked so hard to maintain the new works. They are ready. So when we start back on Monday, we're just doing run throughs of the work. We're talking about it, we're giving notes. It really is. The preparation is lovely. And of course there's still costume changes and a choreographer here or there who wants to change something. And I'm like, I think it's a little too late right now.
00:13:05
Speaker 2: Once the show is on stage, then it's really up to the dancers, right What is your favorite part of that.
00:13:12
Speaker 3: Portion of the dancers taking it over. Yeah, at that part that they take it over, and I think it's already theirs. It's in their bones, it's in there they're thinking. What I love to see is how and I've been watching this during tour, so thank you for talking about tour. Is that I'm watching them open themselves up to be even more curious about what they do on stage, and they take chances and they change their intentions when they go out into stage, and you could see it, and it's a beautiful, beautiful thing for an artistic director.
00:13:47
Speaker 2: The performances of Ballet Hispanico at New York City Center are April twenty third through twenty sixth. Definitely find out more and buy your tickets at Ballethispanico dot org. Edwardovolaro, always a pleasure to speak with you, and I hope you have a great season at City Center.
00:14:02
Speaker 3: Thank you, always the pleasure to be here with you.
00:14:05
Speaker 1: This has been get connected with Nina del Rio on one oh six point seven Light FM. The views and opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the station. If you missed any part of our show or want to share it, visit our website for downloads and podcasts at one oh six to seven lightfm dot com. Thanks for listening.
