Ballet Hispánico, the nation’s largest Latine/x/Hispanic dance organization and recognized by the Ford Foundation as one of America’s Cultural Treasures, presents Gustavo Ramírez Sansano's masterwork CARMEN.maquia at New York City Center from May 29-June 1, 2025. Tickets, now on sale, start at $45 ($25 for the En Familia Matinee) and are available at https://www.nycitycenter.org/pdps/2024-2025/ballet-hispanico/.

 

Led by Artistic Director and CEO Eduardo Vilaro, Ballet Hispánico offers “sleekly contemporary entertainment” (The New York Times), reimagining dance with vibrant works that defy tradition. The 2024/25 Season program celebrates the 150th anniversary of Bizet’s beloved classic opera Carmen with a reimagining of Gustavo Ramírez Sansano’s Picasso-inspired, contemporary version, CARMEN.maquia. The physically charged and sensual choreography fuses contemporary dance with nods to the Spanish paso doble and flamenco. Ballet Hispánico’s 55th Emerald Anniversary Season also features one of New York City's favorite Gala Performances, the return of the wildly popular En Familia Matinee (featuring a mixed repertory program), where all seats in the house are $25 (fees included) at 2:00pm on May 31st.

 

“We are thrilled to celebrate 150 years of Bizet with our very own Carmen. CARMEN.maquia is an essential piece of Ballet Hispánico’s repertory, and Gustavo Ramírez Sansano returns to the rehearsal room to update the work with our Company dancers,” said Vilaro. “A suspenseful, powerful, humorous work, this is a gorgeous and heartbreaking version of a classic story that will blow audiences away!”

 

Since her debut in 1875, Carmen has become a timeless cultural icon, inspiring generations of composers, choreographers, and writers to attempt to capture her elusive and alluring nature. Ballet Hispánico honors the powerful Spanish leading lady this season during its 55th Emerald Anniversary with Gustavo Ramírez Sansano's electrifying CARMEN.maquia. One of today’s most sought-after choreographers, Sansano invigorates this timeless tale with an unrelenting energy that leaves you breathless. Highly original and full of explosive movement, CARMEN.maquia is a bold reimagining of this tragic story.

 

Ballet Hispánico 2025 Gala Performance (6:30pm) and Dinner

Join us for an exhilarating evening of dance, glamour, and culture in support of Ballet Hispánico's Company, School of Dance, and Community Arts Partnerships programming. Table and ticket reservations include access to the pre-performance reception and performance at New York City Center, followed by dinner and dancing at the Ziegfeld Ballroom. To reserve your table or ticket, please contact Ellie Craven at ecraven@ballethispanico.org or visit https://www.ballethispanico.org/support/events/2025-gala.

 

Ballet Hispánico 2025 En Familia Matinee

Step into the world of Ballet Hispánico’s En Familia Matinee, where the whole family can enjoy a thrilling mix of dance, education, and interactive fun! Guided by the charismatic Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director & CEO of Ballet Hispánico, this performance of short works across the Company’s repertory offers much more than a traditional show. With engaging historical and cultural insights into each work, Eduardo brings the dances to life, sparking curiosity and wonder in kids and adults alike. Plus, he’ll have everyone shimmying in their seats, learning moves right along with the performers! All tickets for En Familia Matinee are $25 (fees included) and are available here, thanks to the generosity of the RBC Foundation USA, the charitable arm of RBC Capital Markets, and New York City Center.

 

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:

Thursday, May 29th at 6:30pm – Gala Performance

CARMEN.maquia by Gustavo Ramírez Sansano

 

Friday, May 30th at 7:30pm; Saturday, May 31st at 7:30pm; Sunday, June 1st at 2:00pm

CARMEN.maquia by Gustavo Ramírez Sansano

 

Saturday, May 31st at 2:00pm

En Familia Family Matinee

Arabesque

CARMEN.maquia – excerpt

Club Havana – excerpt 

Tres Cantos

 

Programming subject to change

 

Tickets for all programs are on sale now and can be purchased online at NYCityCenter.org, by calling 212.581.1212, or in person at the City Center Box Office. New York City Center is located at 131 W 55th St between Sixth and Seventh Avenues.

 

Supporters

Transformational funding for Ballet Hispánico is generously provided by the Ford Foundation, The Mellon Foundation, and the Jerome L. Greene Foundation. Major support is provided by the Howard Gilman Foundation; the Shubert Foundation; Warner Music Group & Blavatnik Family Foundation Social Justice Fund, a sponsored project of Moore Impact; the Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation; the Tatiana Piankova Foundation; and the Mosaic Network and Fund in The New York Community Trust. Public support is provided by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council under the leadership of Speaker Adrienne Adams, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

Ballet Hispánico is grateful to Artistic Sponsor Andrew Martin Weber for generously supporting the restaging of CARMEN.maquia.

 

MetLife Foundation is the Official Tour Sponsor of Ballet Hispánico.

Gustavo Ramírez Sansano was Artistic Director of Luna Negra Dance Theater (2009-2013), and now he combines his work as a freelance choreographer with the direction of Titoyaya Dansa, the company he founded in Spain with Veronica Garcia Moscardo in 2006. Sansano has received numerous awards for his choreography, including first prize at the Ricard Moragas Competition in Barcelona (1997), Prix Dom Perignon Choreographic Competition in Hamburg (2001), and Premio de Las Artes Escénicas de la Comunidad Valenciana (2005). Sansano has been commissioned to create works for many companies such as Nederlands Dans Theater, Compañía Nacional de Danza, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Luzerner tanz Theater, Ballet BC, The Hamburg Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Ballet Hispánico, and Luna Negra Dance Theater, among others.

 

Ballet Hispánico was born from a bold vision to transform the world through the power of dance and reimagine how Latinx culture is celebrated on the global stage. Since its founding in 1970 by the trailblazing Tina Ramirez, Ballet Hispánico has been breaking barriers and reshaping expectations, using dance as a dynamic force for cultural expression, empowerment, and meaningful change.

 

Today, Ballet Hispánico proudly stands as the largest Latino cultural organization in the United States and recognized by the Ford Foundation as one of America’s Cultural Treasures. Through our three core pillars—the professional Company, School of Dance, and Community Arts Partnerships—we lead with purpose, uplifting the vibrant, diverse voices of the Hispanic diaspora. Our Company brings the work of visionary Latinx choreographers to life, delivering groundbreaking performances that ignite cultural dialogue and challenge artistic boundaries.

 

Under the visionary leadership of Artistic Director and CEO Eduardo Vilaro, who began his journey with Ballet Hispánico as a dancer in 1985, the company continues to chart new paths forward. Building on Tina Ramirez’s legacy, Vilaro has expanded the company’s impact, amplifying the intersectional stories of Latinx identities. Programs like Instituto Coreográfico, the Latinx Leaders Summit, and Diálogos foster innovation and leadership, nurturing the next generation of Hispanic artists and cultural leaders.

 

A true trailblazer in the world of dance, Ballet Hispánico has performed for more than 2.5 million people across three continents. As we look to the future, our unwavering commitment is to empower communities, inspire through the beauty of dance, and continue elevating Latinx voices on the world stage.

 

NEW YORK CITY CENTER (Michael S. Rosenberg, President & CEO) has played a defining role in the cultural life of the city since 1943. The distinctive Neo-Moorish building was founded by Mayor Fiorello La Guardia as Manhattan’s first performing arts center with the mission of making the best in theater, dance, and music accessible to all audiences. This commitment continues today through celebrated dance and musical theater series like the Fall for Dance Festival and the Tony-honored Encores! series; the annual season by Principal Dance Company Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; and new dance series Artists at the Center. City Center welcomes audiences to experience internationally acclaimed artists including Kyle Abraham, Matthew Bourne, Ayodele Casel, Manhattan Theatre Club, Nederlands Dans Theater, and Twyla Tharp, on the same stage where legends made their mark. Dedicated to a culture built on the values of curiosity, collaboration, accessibility, and inclusivity, City Center’s dynamic programming, art exhibitions, and studio events are complemented by education and community engagement programs that bring the performing arts to thousands of New York City students, teachers, and families every year. NYCityCenter.org

 

About MetLife Foundation

At MetLife Foundation, we are committed to driving inclusive economic mobility for underserved and underrepresented communities around the world. We collaborate with nonprofit organizations and provide grants aligned to three strategic focus areas – economic inclusion, financial health and resilient communities – while engaging MetLife employee volunteers to help drive impact. MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 to continue MetLife’s long tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Since its inception, MetLife Foundation has contributed over $1 billion to strengthen communities where MetLife has a presence. To learn more about MetLife Foundation, visit www.MetLife.org.