Latin Ballet Presents La Magdalena in Spain!
2018 Outreach and Cultural Exchange
We are so excited to be able to go back to Mexico and NYC in 2018!
Please help us reach our goal of $10,000 to help give the gift of dance.
HELP us share our passion for dance and culture while serving and educating at-risk communities in Mexico, and paying tribute to the iconic Puerto Rican community in New York City!
In New York City, the Latin Ballet will be celebrating the Puerto Rican communities' stories of struggle, determination and assimilation during Puerto Rican heritage month with NuYoRican.
The artists of the Latin Ballet will be in Mexico with performing MUJERES, visiting impoverished urban and rural communities, teaching and performing at schools, centers for youth with special needs, hospitals, and nursing homes. We will also be exchanging cultural dance styles with The Mexican National Folklore Company. (Contemporary, Flamenco, Hip Hop, and Mexican Folklore).
It is our aim to forge connections through the universal experience of dance.
Save the Arts!
Photo by: Maggie Collins Photography
Can you imagine your child not being able to watch Sesame Street? What about the artists and galleries supported by the Warhol Foundation for Visual Arts or any of these -- Meals on Wheels, heating assistance for low income people, college financial aid for low income people, nutrition for pregnant and nursing women, nutrition for kids in developing countries, after school and summer programs for kids in low income communities, emergency food assistance, efforts to revitalize public housing, and cutting programs like AmeriCorps not to mention legal services for low income households.
Every cultural aspect of our community would disappear. How does this affect us? The NEA funds a huge chunk of Latin Ballet's operation. Every year they sponsor our productions and give us the ability to be able to bring things like "NuYoRican" not only to the Richmond stage, but also to the many places we travel within the year.
“The funding specifically applies to our literary program and helps us support independent voices from across the literary spectrum—writers, publishers, editors—as well as connect them with our increasingly diverse communities here in Iowa. The bottom line: this funding is helping us to build and connect communities through culture. We think it’s important work.”
We understand that fighting for arts and culture has been an ongoing battle with our government, but this cut would call for the elimination of four independent cultural agencies — the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting — also would radically reshape the nation’s cultural infrastructure.
So many educational programs would be cut. Our children will find it difficult to be exposed to art, music, and even books. Places like the Dominion Arts Center, Richmond Ballet, VMFA and tons of educational and therapeutic arts centers would struggle to keep their doors open. Latin Ballet of Virginia would find this elimination of programming devastating.
Take Action Now!
Here's how you can help!
VISIT
https://www.votervoice.net/ARTSUSA/address to find your Representative and Senators and their telephone numbers. Make sure to contact both their DC and district offices as many times you have a better chance of speaking to someone at the district office. Tell them that President Trump’s proposed budget includes total elimination of the NEA and that you support federal funding for the arts and ask them to SAVE THE NEA.
Utilize Social Media Platforms
Post positive comments about how the arts have positively impacted your life and your community on the Facebook page of your local Representative and Senators Kaine and Warner. Take to Twitter and tweet at your Representative and Senators. Make sure to give your support for federal funding for the arts and ask them to #SAVEtheNEA.
Advocacy Tip
Keep your messaging positive and in support of the arts and remember that party affiliation does not signal support or opposition here. The National Endowment for the Arts is popular among members of Congress on both sides of the aisle.
Latin Ballet of Virginia recognizes Black History Month: The Pioneers
Latin Ballet is celebrating Black History Month with the most influential and inspiring dancers and choreographers. These are their stories of the challenges they overcame throughout history. These are their stories of success and their rise to legendary status. Every week this month we will present African-Americans who persevered and diligently fought for their right to dance on the stages of the world and showed the world that race has no place in the arts...or anywhere else for that matter. These individuals are the inspiration for so many of our modern day dances and the reason that African/Caribbean dance was brought America. We commend these amazing talents.
Raven Wilkinson
She was the first black ballerina to be accepted into a major classical ballet company. She faced horrific racism and danger while she danced, but triumphed as a pioneer of dance.
Janet Collins
The first black prima ballerina who danced for the Metropolitan Opera in 1951. She became a teacher, a choreographer, and always a dancer. Because of her great passion for dance, Janet broke the color barriers of history.
Bill "Mr. Bojangles" Robinson
A Richmond, VA native, Mr. Bojangles could often be seen next to Miss Shirley Temple and was the highest paid African-American entertainer in his time. He would bring musicality to tap that no one had seen before using stairs as his medium.
Pearl Primus
Miss Primus brought African dance to the American Audience. As an anthropologist, dancer and choreographer, Primus brought the spirituality of African dance to the stage. She was impactful in her use of literature, poetry and traditions in dance.
Florence Mills
Known as the "Queen of Jazz", Florence Mills, was a successful Vaudeville dancer and singer. She played a part in the very first all black Broadway show, "Dixie to Broadway". Her dancing was infectious and it was said that the Prince of Wales could be seen tapping his feet when she took the stage. She died of medical complications at the young age of 31.
Catherine Dunham
Catherine Dunham brought her worldly dance experience to stage and film. She brought dance education to low income and high risk youths in St. Louis. She incorporated African and Caribbean movements into contemporary dance creating her own unique technique. She was also the first to form an all black dance company bringing ritualistic dance to American audiences.
Arthur Mitchell
Arthur Mitchell's accomplishments include creating the first African-American classical ballet company. The word "no" never existed in his vocabulary and he was quite determined despite the times. He inspired young people in Harlem to have self-confidence and motivation and accepted anyone who wanted to work. Discipline and determination, were key elements to the success of his school
Alvin Ailey
Known as "Cultural Ambassador to the World", Mr Ailey was a choreographer and activist who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City. His work revolutionized modern dance and it's popularity in concert dance performance.
Norma Miller
The "Queen of Swing, Norma Miller was discovered at the age of 12. She would later go on as the creator of the Lindy Hop. She's known for her comedic performances and her acrobatic dancing. She's still dancing at 97 years old and has worked with such great Jazz legends as Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie and Duke Ellington.
Josephine Baker
Titled with such monikers as "Black Venus," "Black Pearl" and "Creole Goddess", Josephine Baker is a legendary dancer, singer and actress. She was provocative and humorous and left her mark on the world of dance for her bold performances. She was world renown with great popularity for her work on the stages of Paris. She fought segregation through organizations like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and inspired the liberation of many women!
The Expression of Dance
We Did It!
Welcome to the new look of Latin Ballet of Virginia!
We are so happy and excited about our new website! We realize there is still some tweaking to do, but we have a nice elegant design now for your enjoyment. Feel free to peruse the site and stay tuned for more exciting updates. Please note, you can now register for classes on our website as well as pay for them. All at the click of a mouse!
We have also added a blog to our website. This will allow us to create stories from our performances to our classes and even post some delightful things about Latin dance. We hope you visit us frequently and we look forward to seeing YOU at Latin Ballet soon!
Besos,
The Staff at Latin Ballet of Virginia