Did you know Bucknell students can attend performances at the Weis Center for free this year? These shows present something for all audiences. Everything from symphonic bands to dance performances. On Tuesday, February 6th, Ballet Hispánico visited campus to perform various dance numbers for students and the local community.
Ballet Hispánico is a dance company that “brings communities together to celebrate and explore Latino cultures through innovative dance productions, transformative dance training, and community engagement.” With its headquarters in New York City, Ballet Hispánico is where Latine culture and conversation meet through dance.
During their time at Bucknell, they performed a variety of small and large group pieces, like Línea Recta by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Danse Creole by Geoffrey Holder, and 18+1 by Gustavo Ramírez Sansano. My personal favorite was a piece titled Club Havana – Caballo which was performed by 3 couples dressed in bold and colorful costumes. Choreographed by Pedro Ruiz, this piece was influenced by classic Cuban culture and showcases a mixture of rumba, mambo, and cha cha. It was playful, entertaining, and reminded me of West Side Story.
Before the show, a talk was held in the Weis Center Atrium with Johan Rivera, the Artistic Associate & Rehearsal Director of Ballet Hispánico. One question asked was, “What do you look for in a dancer/collaborator?” To answer this, he talked about the importance of adaptability. As a dancer, you may be learning several different styles of dance, so you need to be able to perform each of them and do so with confidence. He added, “You need the ability to be a community.” When working with different partners, you need to be able to rely on one another and communicate back and forth through dance.
It was such a pleasure watching Ballet Hispánico perform at Bucknell. They introduced a style of dance that is not common in our little town of Lewisburg and completely captivated the audience. For more information on the company or to see upcoming tour dates, visit ballethispanico.org.
If you have yet to see a performance at the Weis Center, I highly recommend it. To see the list of upcoming performances, visit bucknell.edu.