Ballet Hispánico's 56th Anniversary Gala Raises Over $1.4M, Honors Two Inspiración Award Recipients
MUJERES: WOMEN IN MOTION opened the season at New York City Center, with dinner at The Plaza.
Ballet Hispánico honored 46th Solicitor General of the United States under President Barack Obama, Donald B. Verrilli, Jr., with the 2026 Civic Inspiración Award and Belgian-Colombian choreographer whose work has reshaped contemporary ballet on the global stage, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa with the 2026 Artistic Inspiración Award. The evening began with a red carpet and cocktail hour, followed by the opening night performance of the Company's annual season at New York City Center. The festivities, attended by more than 330 guests, continued with a presentation of the awards during a seated dinner at The Plaza.
An exhilarating evening of dance, glamour, and culture in support of Ballet Hispánico's Company, The Ballet Hispánico School, and Community Arts Partnerships programming, the evening began with a cocktail reception at New York City Center, followed by a groundbreaking opening night performance of MUJERES: Women in Motionfeaturing work by three Latina choreographers - Cassi Abranches, Stephanie Martinez, and Gala Honoree Annabelle Lopez Ochoa - whose bold voices reframe Latino culture and reveal the complex, ever-evolving narratives of our time. The evening continued at The Plaza with tributes, dinner, dancing, performances by students of The Ballet Hispánico School, and music from the three-time GRAMMY Award winning Spanish Harlem Orchestra.
The critical funds raised at the Gala provide dance training scholarships that change the lives of young people, inspiring performances by the professional Company, and immersive dance programs in communities across the United States and worldwide.
Gala Chairs: Jody* & John Arnhold, Richard Feldman, Kate Lear* & Jonathan LaPook, David Pérez*, Joseph Wayland* & Patricia Verrilli * Board Member
*Board Member
Major funding for Ballet Hispánico is provided by the Arnhold Foundation, Jerome L. Greene Foundation, Mellon Foundation, Thompson Family Foundation, Frances Lear Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, and Shubert Foundation.
Mujeres: Women in Motion is made possible in part by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and contributors to the Dance Innovación Fund. 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, the New York City Council under the leadership of Speaker Julie Menin. Mujeres: Women in Motion is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
MetLife Foundation is the Official Tour Sponsor of Ballet Hispánico New York (added the NY)
The En Familia Matinee is made possible by Goya Foods.
The Bienvenidos Ticket Program is made possible by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council under the leadership of Speaker Julie Menin.
As the 46th Solicitor General of the United States under President Barack Obama, Donald B. Verrilli, Jr., is widely recognized as one of the most influential Supreme Court advocates of our time. He has argued dozens of cases before the Court and won landmark victories establishing the right to marriage equality and defending the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, which has made health care available to millions of Americans. His distinguished public service, leadership, and ongoing dedication to mentoring and civic good reflect the values of inclusion and excellence that Ballet Hispánico champions through our School, Company performances, and Community Arts Partnerships.
Annabelle Lopez Ochoa is a Belgian-Colombian choreographer whose work has reshaped contemporary ballet on the global stage. Trained at the Royal Ballet School in Antwerp, she began her professional life as a dancer, performing for twelve years with leading European companies including Djazzex and Scapino Ballet Rotterdam. In 2003, she made the pivotal decision to devote herself fully to choreography, and almost immediately was hailed as a "rising star" of the Dutch dance scene. Since then, Lopez Ochoa has become one of the most prolific and sought-after choreographic voices, with original works created for well over 89 companies across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Australia. Her roster includes commissions for New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, English National Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Hong Kong Ballet, Queensland Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Scottish Ballet, Ballet Nacional de Cuba, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and - among many others - Ballet Hispánico New York. Lopez Ochoa's work spans an extraordinary breadth of forms: short conceptual pieces, full-length narrative ballets, theatrical works, opera, musical theatre, and dance films. She is widely respected for her ability to weave emotional depth with architectural clarity, crafting movement that is richly detailed yet structurally dynamic.
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
Ballet Hispánico is the nation's leading Latino dance company and the largest cultural institution of its kind in the United States. For over five decades, it has been a beacon of artistic excellence, celebrated for its bold repertory and exceptional training programs. The Company has commissioned over 100 original works, performed on the world's most prestigious stages, and inspired generations through performances, education, and community engagement. Recognized as one of America's Cultural Treasures by the Ford Foundation, Ballet Hispánico continues to redefine what it means to be an American dance company.
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