BALLET HISPANICO GALA

Plaza Hotel
April 25
6:30pm

One of the dance gems of NYC, Ballet Hispanico, is ready to shine in a 4 day season at City Center. Opening night celebrates the company on stage and afterwards at The Quinceañera Gala honoring Oscar Munoz, Former CEO & Chairman, United Airlines, with the Nuestra inspiracion Award to be presented by Marcos Torres, Senior Managing Director at RBC Capital Markets and Ballet Hispánico Board Member. Ballet Hispanico’s Artistic Director, Eduardo Vilaro will also be feted in his 15th season with the company and that milestone will be noted by Darren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation.

A high energy event, the gala dinner following the 6:30pm performance, expects over 500 leaders in the arts and business community. Performances by the students from its School of Dance appear to live music by three-time Grammy Award Winner, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, will invariably inspire guests to take to the dance floor. The critical funds raised at the Gala provide dance training scholarships that change the lives of young people, inspiring performances by the professional Company, and immersive dance programs in communities across the United States and worldwide. Tickets for the April 25 Gala Performance may be paired with a reservation for the Quinceañera Gala at The Plaza Hotel in tribute to Eduardo Vilaro’s 15th anniversary as Artistic Director of Ballet Hispánico. The evening begins at 5:30pm with a red carpet and cocktail hour, followed by a reception and the opening night performance of the Company’s annual season at New York City Center. The festivities continue with a presentation of awards during a seated dinner at The Plaza Hotel.

“Leading this company continues to be the honor of my life. Fifteen years is quite a milestone; I’m humbled,” said Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director & CEO. “I look forward to celebrating at City Center with several exciting pieces, including the World Premiere of my new work Buscando a Juan, inspired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibition Juan de Pareja, Afro-Hispanic Painter.”

Gala Performance Program: Recuerdo de Campo Amor by Talley Beatty; Con Brazos Abiertos (excerpts) by Michelle Manzanales; Doña Perón (excerpt) by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa; Pas de O’ Farrill, duet by Pedro Ruiz; Buscando a Juan by Eduardo Vilaro.

Gala Chairs:

Jody* & John Arnhold

Richard Feldman

Kate Lear* & Jonathan LaPook

David Pérez* & Milena Alberti-Pérez

Joseph Wayland* & Patricia Verrilli

C. Ipiotis