Things to Prepare You

Tiburones, Photo by Paula Lobo.

TIBURONES (excerpt)

CHOREOGRAPHER: Annabelle Lopez Ochoa MUSIC: Pérez Prado, Dizzy Gillespie, and The Funky Lowlives COMPOSITONS: James Bigbee Garver COSTUME DESIGN: Mark Zappone

LIGHTING DESIGN:

Joshua Paul Weckesser WORLD PREMIERE: November 22, 2019 at the Apollo Theater

ABOUT THE CHOREOGRAPHY

In Tiburones, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa addresses the discrimination and stereotypes placed upon Latinx culture and the power the media has in portraying these themes by diminishing the voices of Latinx artists. Ochoa will deconstruct gender roles and identity to revitalize an authentic perspective of Puerto Rican icons appropriated within the entertainment industry.

ABOUT THE CHOREOGRAPHER

(Please see page 6 for bio.)

Club Havana, Photo by Paula Lobo.

CLUB HAVANA (excerpt)

CHOREOGRAPHER: Pedro Ruiz MUSIC: Israel Lopez, Rubén Gonzales, A.K. Salim, Perez Prado and Francisco Repilado COSTUME DESIGN: Emilio Sosa

COSTUME CONSTRUCTION: Diana Ruettiger LIGHTING DESIGN: Donald Holder WORLD PREMIERE: 2000 at The Joyce Theater Havana | Photo by Paula Lobo

ABOUT THE CHOREOGRAPHY

Latin dance forms first came to the United States in the 1920s and 1930s, when Cuban immigrants introduced the conga and rumba. In the late 1940s through the 1950s, the mambo and cha-cha were added to the mix, creating a fever all over New York. Cuban choreographer, Pedro Ruiz, has drawn on all this history, together with ballroom and modern dance styles, to create this swirling party. The intoxicating rhythms of the conga, rumba, mambo, and cha-cha are brought to life as Ruiz imagined his very own “Club Havana.”

ABOUT THE CHOREOGRAPHER

Pedro Ruiz was born in Cuba and choreographed three celebrated ballets during his 21-year tenure as a principal dancer with Ballet Hispánico. Choreography credits include The Joffrey, Luna Negra, New Jersey Ballet, the Ailey Professional School and the Ailey/Fordham B.F.A. Program. He is on the dance faculty of Marymount College, The Ailey School and Scarsdale Ballet. Awards include the Bessie Award, the Choo-San Goh Award, The Cuban Artist’s Fund, and The Joyce Foundation Award. He was profiled nationally in 2007 on PBS’s In The Life.

ASSESSMENT FOR STUDENTS

Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center INSIDE LOOK: BALLET HISPÁNICO AT 50

Essential Question: How does what I saw influence my ideas about dance?

What did I know about Ballet Hispánico before seeing the performance? What did I learn from watching the performance?

How was the music an important element of the performance? How does the music influence how I watch the dance and impact the mood and themes of each piece?

What themes did you see in the pieces? What moods did you feel and identify? In what settings did the dances take place?

How do effective choreographers hook and hold their audience?

What are the ideas and take-aways I got from this experience?

Select one of the following writing prompts that describe your response to the performances: 1. Most memorable or inspiring:

2. Made me think or ask questions:

ABOUT THE MUSIC CENTER

The Music Center convenes artists, communities and ideas with the goal of deepening the cultural lives of every resident in Los Angeles County. The non-profit performing arts organization has two divisions: The Music Center Arts (TMC Arts) and The Music Center Operations (TMC Ops). TMC Arts, The Music Center’s programming engine, provides year-round programming inside The Music Center’s four theatres, on The Music Center Plaza, outside at Grand Park—a 12-acre adjacent green space—and in schools and other locations all over Los Angeles County. TMC Arts presents world-class dance with Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center, free and low-cost public concerts and events, as well as K–12 arts education programs. TMC Ops manages the theatres, the Plaza and Grand Park on behalf of the County of Los Angeles. The Music Center is also home to four renowned resident companies—Center Theatre Group, Los Angeles Master Chorale, LA Opera and LA Phil.

MUSIC CENTER EDUCATION For over 40 years, The Music Center has championed arts education with dynamic programs that bring the arts into schools, introduce young people to L.A.’s multidisciplinary arts center and inspire lifelong learning. These programs in dance, music, theatre, visual and media arts engage young people from PreK-12, teachers and aspiring young talent throughout Los Angeles County. We believe the arts transform lives and are crucial to the development of every child. Currently our programs focus on: Arts Integration Partnerships with schools where Music Center teaching artists work in classrooms to empower student creativity and develop their artistic, workforce and life skills. The AIP program deepens learning across the curriculum in collaboration with classroom teachers by combining dance, music, theatre, visual and media arts with content areas including English Language Arts, history, science and social emotional learning for students of all ages and abilities. Professional Development programs that bring educators together to participate in an experiential and immersive approach to integrating the arts into their classrooms. The focus is on meeting educators where they are and building their capacity over time and in depth — both at school sites and at The Music Center. As but one example, each year The Music Center’s Summer Arts Studio for Educators engages participants in all grade levels, art forms and content areas. The Music Center On Tour educational performances that invite students into the world of the performing arts and engage young people in dance, music, theatre and storytelling. These high-energy experiences are committed to excellence, rich educational content and the great diversity of Los Angeles and the world. Each performance includes customized curriculum connecting to multiple content areas. The Music Center’s Spotlight Program - a nationally acclaimed, free arts training and scholarship program that develops the creative capacity of high school performing artists in Southern California. Student Festivals & Matinee Performances, including the Very Special Arts Festival that engages students of all abilities as artistic creators and contributors and the Blue Ribbon Children’s Festival, where fifth graders across the county experience live performances and dance together as a community, and The Music Center’s Student Matinee Program, where students experience world-class dance performances that celebrate the diversity of L.A. communities.