Danzón, Danzón!

April 23, 2013

Last night at The Joyce, Eduardo Vilaro’s Danzón—with live accompaniment by the Paquito D’Rivera Ensemble—brought the house down. The Ballet Hispanico dancers shone, especially the unstoppable Mario Ismael Espinoza, who whipped through his playful solo side by side with D’Rivera, playing his clarinet onstage. The opening piece Nube Blanco, by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, was a special treat for us because DM knows all about her love of red heels—which, along with poufy white skirts, play a big role in the piece—firsthand.

Perhaps spirits were so high because, as announced today, Ballet Hispanico raised more than $1 million for its company and school at last Monday’s gala. Congrats to the company’s fearless director Vilaro and the whole organization—and see the company’s vividly individual performers dance, through Sunday, by getting your tickets here.

 

D’Rivera and Espinoza in Vilaro’s
Danzón. Photo by Christopher Duggan, Courtesy BH.