Ballet Hispanico's Artistic Director Recognized Through ArtsWestchester's '50 for 50'

Ballet Hispanico has announced that artistic director Eduardo Vilaro has been recognized as an outstanding artist living or working in Westchester County through ArtsWestchester's 50th anniversary initiative "50 for 50." The fifty artists were selected through a competitive nomination process for the quality of their artistic work and their cultural contributions to the community. All artists will receive $1,000 prizes at an ArtsWestchester luncheon on April 16, 2015.

"I am thrilled to receive this award and thank ArtsWestchester for advocating for all artists," Vilaro said. "Ardsley in Hudson has become a special home for me and I am honored that my work is seen as an important part of the community's fabric."

"Working artists are the lifeblood of a creative community and we believe it's important to honor them and recognize their contributions," said Janet Langsam, CEO of ArtsWestchester.

EDUARDO VILARO, a first generation Cuban-American, began as artistic director of Ballet Hispanico in August of 2009, becoming only the second person to head the company since it was founded in 1970. Mr. Vilaro has been part of the Ballet Hispanico family since 1985. As a dancer with the Ballet Hispanico Company, he performed throughout the U.S., Latin America and Europe and assisted founder Tina Ramirez with the development of dance education residencies. Mr. Vilaro is also an accomplished choreographer, having created works for the Ravinia Festival, the Chicago Sinfonietta, the Lexington Ballet, the Civic Ballet of Chicago, and over 20 ballets for Luna Negra Dance Theater, the company he founded in Chicago. He received a B.F.A. in Dance from Adelphi University and an M.A. in Interdisciplinary Art from Columbia College Chicago, where he served as Artist-in-Residence at The Dance Center. Mr. Vilaro was a guest speaker at the Salzburg Global Forum for Young Cultural Leaders and the National Association for Latino Arts and Culture, and continues to speak to the growing need for cultural diversity and dance education.

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