Ballet Latino de San Antonio needs help to buy a portable dance floor that would allow it to provide more performances to the community
BLSA and SAYB are in dire need of a “Marley”, portable dance floor that can be used when traveling to different performance venues making both companies more available to the community. A especially designed floor for dance is a vital piece of equipment for a ballet company. It provides the dancers the proper surface in order to prevent injuries, due to hard or slippery floors, and also allows them to perform pieces requiring the use of pointe shoes.
Ballet Latino de San Antonio is being sponsored in part by the City of San Antonio, UNAM, Instituto de Mexico, Ballet San Antonio Academy, Krista’s Culinary Creations, SA Fitness, X-Treme Health & San Antonio Center for Physical Therapy.
For information on BLSA/SAYB, programming and sponsorships, please send your inquiries to: info@balletlatinosa.org
Mayra Worthen, Founder and Artistic Director of Ballet San Antonio for 27 years, has started a new, innovative professional ballet company, Ballet Latino de San Antonio. After struggling for so many years to develop a classically trained grassroots audience, she decided to create a company which identifies with the viewers by its music, movement and form. Since most non-theater audiences often perceive ballet in an elitist and sometimes boring light, BLSA was created to ignite interest in this art form by presenting classically trained dancers who perform in characteristically Latin rhythms and flavors. Not only is BLSA concentrating on bringing Hispanics the delight of their various cultures, but it also endeavors to educate non-Hispanics in the fascination of Latin familiarities, and also presenting some selected classics with an unexpected twist.
Joining the artistic staff are Cuban dancer and choreographer, Husan Wong Hopuy, who is the company’s Associate Artistic Director, world renowned Peruvian choreographer and director Jimmy Gamonet de los Heros, who serves as Artistic Advisor and Choreographer, and Giselle Fox, a Cuban trained dancer and choreographer who serves as Ballet Mistress. Its professional dancers who come from Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico, Peru and the United States are all accomplished dancers, teachers and choreographers. From its artistic staff with roots from Puerto Rico, Cuba and Peru, its dancers, board of directors and sponsors provide the community with unique, fresh and memorable performances and programming.
Under the company’s umbrella is a pre professional youth ballet group, San Antonio Youth Ballet, where young people are trained and inspired to explore the beauty and excitement of dance through education, competitions, and performance opportunities.
The company is fulfilling its mission by taking programs to smaller, more intimate venues around the city and is currently developing a touring schedule for Texas and beyond.
The company’s first season started with a presentation that took place August 23, 2013, with a well-attended studio performance where tapas and sangria were served as the evening celebrated Latin flair and movement. The company’s first public performance was held as a free event at La Villita where the audience enjoyed a piece that was especially choreographed to celebrate Mexican Independence Day. The company has continued to present free performances around the city, including a performance at the Mission Drive In, where a welcomed free salsa class was offered to the audience after the performance, and several demonstrations at local schools as part of its outreach program. The company’s first theater production took place in July 2014, at the Jo Long Theater to a much appreciative audience. SAYB presented “Frozen, the Ballet” in December and is presenting “Tinker Bell, the Ballet” in May.
BLSA’s sponsors are the Ballet San Antonio Academy, City of San Antonio, San Antonio Center for Physical Therapy, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM), Instituto de Mexico, Krista’s Culinary Creations, SA Fitness and X-treme Health.
For information on BLSA and its programming, please send your inquiries to: info@balletlatinosa.org
The beginning years of a new ballet company present its share of challenges and the needs are many. However, this new concept for San Antonio is a fresh and innovative way to connect classical ballet to the SA audience and since its inception in 2013, it has been received with great public reviews.
If problems arise, the experienced artistic staff will handle any artistic challenges; our administrative staff and the Board of Directors will be responsible for raising the needed funds, depending heavily upon on individual and corporate giving.