Performers
Location
About
Ballet Hispánico New York performed at our Grand Opening Weekend in 1978. Nearly five decades later, as we celebrate our 2026 re-hatching after renovations, we are thrilled to welcome them back to help usher in this next chapter.
Since her debut in 1875, Carmen, the titular character from Bizet’s opera, has become a timeless cultural icon, inspiring generations of composers, choreographers, and writers to attempt to capture her elusive and alluring nature. Ballet Hispánico honors the powerful Spanish leading lady with Gustavo Ramírez Sansano’s electrifying CARMEN.maquia. One of today’s most sought-after choreographers, Sansano’s quintessential ballet invigorates this timeless tale with an unrelenting energy that leaves you breathless. Highly original and full of explosive movement, CARMEN.maquia is a bold reimagining of this tragic tale.
"This Carmen has a spare, elegant, Modernist look." – Brian Seibert, The New York Times
"Ramírez’s movement is refreshingly unique…. Ballet Hispanico’s ensemble plays many parts and maneuvers through humorous and nuanced moments with ease and clarity." – Broadway World
- World Premiere: 2012, Luna Negra Dance Theater
- Premiere: 2014, Ballet Hispánico
- Choreography: Gustavo Ramírez Sansano
- Music: Various works by Georges Bizet, performed by the Slovak Philharmonic, Praha Philharmonic, New Zealand Symphony, and National Symphony Orchestras, and by the Arte Ensemble. Carmen Fantasy, by Pablo de Sarasate, performed by the Apollo Symphony Orchestra
- Set Design and Construction: Luis Crespo
- Costume Design: David Delfín
- Lighting Design: Emilio Lavarías
Photo by Steve Pisano
Courtesy of the New York State Archives