From its grassroots origins as a dance school and community-based performing arts troupe, Ballet Hispanico has grown into a world class institution. In August 2009, Ballet Hispanico welcomed Eduardo Vilaro as its Artistic Director. A former member of the Ballet Hispanico Company, Vilaro founded and led Chicago’s Luna Negra Dance Theater for ten years. Vilaro’s background in dance education and community outreach allows him to build on the core values established by founder and former artistic director Tina Ramirez to bring Ballet Hispanico into an artistically vibrant future, explore, preserves, and celebrates Latino cultures through dance.

The Company performs a diverse repertory by the foremost choreographers of our time as well as emerging artists. The works fuse Latin dance with classical and contemporary techniques to create a new style of concert dance in which theatricality and passion propel every move. The choreographers represent a multitude of nationalities including Venezuela, Cuba, Trinidad, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia. The Company has offered over 3,350 performances to audiences of over two million, throughout 11 countries.

Latest commissions include Asuka, Vilaro’s first work with BH, which premiered on December 17, 2011 at the world famous Apollo Theater and features music by Grammy winner Arturo O’Farrill.  Espiritu Vivo choreographed by Brooklyn-based choreographer Ronald K. Brown and featuring the music of legendary Peruvian singer Susana Baca, Brown's work combines traditional and contemporary movement vocabulary, set to percussive Caribbean rhythms.   Mad’moiselle (2010 World Premiere) choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa with music of Bart Rijnink after Chavela Vargas, who is best known for her rendition of beloved Mexican rancheras. Tres Bailes has been created by Jean Emile and set to the pulsing music of Astor Piazzolla, Alberto Inglesias and the Gotan Project. Homage to the Brazilian Carnival is Batucada Fantástica with choreography of Vicente Nebrada.

Eduardo Vilaro joined Ballet Hispanico as Artistic Director in August 2009, following a ten-year record of achievement as Founder and Artistic Director of Luna Negra Dance Theater in Chicago. Building on Tina Ramirez’ founding vision for Ballet Hispanico, he brings with him a commitment to dance, to education, and to fostering a deeper understanding of the rich diversity within Latino cultures.

Mr. Vilaro is an accomplished choreographer, having created over 20 ballets for Luna Negra and others. He has worked in collaboration with major dance and design artists as well as musicians like Paquito D'Rivera and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. As a former principal dancer with Ballet Hispanico, he has performed throughout the United States, Europe, Central and South America. He has taught master classes and worked with Ms. Ramirez to create and conduct arts education and outreach programs for New York City children; he subsequently created a broad range of educational programming for the Chicago community.

Mr. Vilaro came to New York City at the age of six from his native Cuba, and began his dance training as a teenager on scholarship at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center; he also studied at the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance. He received a BFA in Dance from Adelphi University an MA in Interdisciplinary Art from Columbia College Chicago, where he served as Artist-in-Residence at The Dance Center.

Mr. Vilaro served on the Board of Directors for Dance/USA, the national service organization for professional dance. He was selected as Chicagoan of the Year in 2007 and Alumni of the Year by Columbia College in 2008. He is the recipient of an NEA grant and the Ruth Page Award for his choreography.