BALLET HISPANICO NEW YORK

Ballet Hispánico’s spring performances at City Center, celebrated its 56th season, showcasing an all female group of choreographers in MUJERES: Women in Motion. Program A, highlighted works by three Latina choreographers: Stephanie Martinez’s Otra Vez, Otra Vez, Otra Vez;  Marianela Boan’s Reactor Antigona;  and Cassie Abranches’ Tranca.

Otra Vez, Otra Vez, Otra Vez ( meaning “again and again”) opened the evening with the full cast on stage, executing exquisite ballet technique from beginning to end.  Inspired by Picasso’s painting The Old Guitarist, Martinez attempts to reflect, in her words “the fleeting aspects of the human condition.” Various musical scores and lyrics from Spanish and Latin American traditions, including love songs by various recording artists, embellish the impeccable and relentless dancing.  

Performing a voluptuous solo Francesca Levita stands out is later enhanced when Dylan Dias McIntyre partners her in a lush love duet.  While Martinez’s ability to captivate us with endless “otra vez” lifts, steps, and beautiful dancers, the work does not quite reach us on an emotional level. It appears busy… offering beautiful technique at the cost of feeling the pathos.

Marianela Boan’s World Premiere Reactor Antigona, with music by Jose Andres Molina, attempted a modern day reference to the story of Antigone and her relationship to her father, Oedipus, and brother, Polynices.

Boan’s work suffers from the comparison to the Greek myth, and is capable of surviving on its own. It forges a strong dramatic trio about the baggage we as individuals all carry; often unload on family or friends; and the traditional Latina female role in families to “fix or take care of men.”  In her Q & A discussion after the performance, she chose to show the “migration and displacement” in Latin society. Clearly, there was a lot to be achieved in this work. 

Mia Bermudez stands out as Antigone, performing passionate expressions of frustration. Attempts to intervene between the male arguments and individual problems, end in the center spotlight reflecting  her eventual spiritual and emotional release from the ties that hold her to the past.

Last on the program, is a world premiere show-stopper Tranca, (Braid) by Brazil’s Cassi Abranches, which captures the relentless energy and passion of Brazilian music and dance.  The company really shows its modern “chops” in this dance, with pulsing, gyrating full bodied, often erotic moves. Hips rotate, torsos pulses, undulating and gyrating, the piece reflects the rich tradition of the Brazilian sound score that pulsates throughout the work, expressing  the community spirit of Brazil and the important role dance plays in that culture. 

The entire Ballet Hispánico Company proved itself to be “on top” in the NYC hierarchy of dance, able to captivate us with its rich and profound use of ballet vocabulary, but then able to pivot into a dance drama like Antigone, and finally, demonstrate its sexy, throbbing sensuality in a work like Tranca. Kudos to Artistic Director Eduardo Vilaro, for his vision in continuing the excellence of founder Tina Ramirez, as well as honor female choreographers, especially during a time when so much of women’s progress in society is being diminished. 

EYE ON THE ARTS, NY — Mary Seidman

**All photos by Steven Pisano