Luna Negra Dance Theater Begins Search For New Artistic Director

Luna Negra Dance Theater, a Chicago-based dance company that serves as a springboard for Latino contemporary choreographers, will launch an international search for a new Artistic Director to succeed Founding Artistic Director Eduardo Vilaro, who today accepted the position of Artistic Director of Ballet Hispanico in New York City, effective August 1, 2009.

The announcement was made by Jorge Solis, Luna Negra Dance Theater Board Chairman. Vilaro, who danced with Ballet Hispanico for ten years prior to his move to Chicago in 1996, will replace Tina Ramirez, the Founder and Artistic Director of Ballet Hispanico, who will step down after 38 years.

Luna Negra Dance Theater's Board of Directors has invited Luna Negra Rehearsal Director and Choreographer Michelle Manzanales to serve as interim Artistic Director during the search for Vilaro's successor. Manzanales, who has worked with Luna Negra for six years, will provide the consistency and insight necessary to create a seamless transition between Vilaro and the new Artistic Director. An advisory committee will assist the Board in identifying candidates for the permanent position. The search process is expected to last through the end of 2009.

As Luna Negra Dance Theater's Founder, Vilaro will continue to have a relationship with the Company by serving as an ex officio member of the Board of Directors and will return to Chicago to create and present the World Premiere of Danzón, a collaboration with Latin jazz legend Paquito D'Riviera and Turtle Island String Quartet, to be staged as part of the Company's 10th Anniversary Fall Season at the Harris Theater in October 2009.

"The Board of Directors recognizes that Luna Negra Dance Theater has become a vital component of Chicago's arts and cultural community, with both national and international impact," said Solis. "Many of us on the Board became involved with Luna Negra to support Eduardo's personal vision as reflected in the company's remarkable artistry. But Eduardo has enlarged our commitment to encompass the public agenda of Luna Negra-to create, perform, and teach works that explore the racially and ethnically diverse movements of Latino cultures through dance and music. Eduardo created a strong and durable Chicago institution that we on the Board are proud to carry forward for and with Chicago. Michelle Manzanales has proven herself a worthy steward of the Luna Negra vision, and we look forward to working with her in the coming months."

"It's been a wonderful joy to work alongside Eduardo over the past years and watch as both he and Luna Negra have flourished," says Michelle Manzanales. "Now that the time has come for Eduardo to pursue a new direction for his artistic vision, I feel honored to follow his example of leadership and innovation during this transition period. Of course the Luna Negra family will miss Eduardo's presence in our daily work, but we're also excited for him, excited to be a part of his legacy, and excited to watch as the Company takes its next step forward into the future."

"As founding Artistic Director of Luna Negra Dance Theater, I have worked to promote and develop the company's mission to serve as a conduit for contemporary Latino dance artists to tell their own stories and express the culture of their communities," notes Eduardo Vilaro. "It is very hard to leave Luna Negra but I know I am leaving the organization in a strong place as it begins its second decade. As a dancer, rehearsal director and choreographer, Michelle's contributions have been essential to the company's growth and I have watched as she has developed into a natural leader. I am thrilled that the Board has chosen Michelle to serve as interim Artistic Director." Vilaro closes, "I am filled with great pride as Luna Negra reaches its 10th Anniversary and am grateful for the support that this organization has received from Chicago through the years."

Michelle Manzanales joined Luna Negra Dance Theater in 2003 as a dancer and became Rehearsal Director in 2006. She began her professional career with the Houston Metropolitan Dance Company and has studied and worked with respected choreographers and teachers including Sean Curran, Randy Duncan, Liz Lerman, Dorrell Martin, Donald McKayle, Celeste Miller, Kevin Wynn and Mario Zambrano. Manzanales has created works for Impetus Dance Theater (Chicago, IL), Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre (Chicago, IL), Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, the University of Houston and Rice University among others, and has been recognized by the American College Dance Festival for four of her choreographic works. In 2006, she had the great honor of having her work, entitled Pour Me Out, presented at the Kennedy Center, as part of the American College Dance Festival National Gala. Her work has also been presented by Texas Contemporary Weekend (Houston, TX), Festival de Danza Córdoba (Veracruz, Mexico), and Fort Worth Dance Festival (Fort Worth, TX). In 2007, Manzanales choreographed the critically acclaimed Sugar in the Raw (Azucar Cruda) for Luna Negra Dance Theater.

Luna Negra Dance Theater - currently celebrating its 10th Anniversary - creates, performs, and teaches contemporary dance by Latino choreographers. Since Vilaro founded Luna Negra in 1999, the Company has served as a springboard for Latino contemporary choreographers to give expression to their stories and bring new life to the cultures of their communities. Steering away from stereotypes and folkloric representations, Luna Negra brings to audiences modern Latino expressions with energy, power and passion, reflecting through dance the immense cultural shift that is shaping America in the 21st century. Luna Negra also collaborates with Latino artists of other disciplines, including visual, media artists, musicians and composers which fosters cross-disciplinary explorations and results in richly textured and highly original, contemporary dance theater. The company currently has works in the repertory by choreographers from Argentina, Columbia, Cuba, Mexico, Spain and Venezuela. In addition to performing, Luna Negra conducts extensive outreach and education programs, serving annually over 10,000 students in the Chicago area. Luna Negra Dance Theater's company includes Javier Amaya, Bobby Briscoe, Elise Drew, Ricardo J. Garcia, Louis James Jackson, Rebecca Lemme, Hamilton Nieh, Sarah Rodriguez Roberts, Kirsten Shelton, JP Tenuta, Vanessa Valecillos, and Jessica Alejandra Wyatt.

For more information about Luna Negra Dance Theater and its 10th Anniversary Season, please visit www.lunanegra.org.

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