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Ballet Hispanico is one of 18 dance companies recognized by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF) through the first-ever Leadership Grants Program for Dance. This all-new initiative supports the self-defined, long-term goals of organizations that have demonstrated excellence in and sustained commitment to the field of dance. Grantees distinguished themselves by the quality of their choreography, the impact of their touring on communities across the country, and the successful expansion of their own initiatives and educational programming. DDCF is now providing each organization with flexible funds that encourage them to build upon the unique courses they have already charted and to continue to pursue their vision for the long term. This new support will enable grantees to realize their plans to increase organizational capacity, execute new artistic initiatives, strengthen data and evaluation systems, or other strategies that they have determined will best lead them to continued success. Ben Cameron, program director for the arts at DDCF, said, "These grants support dance companies and dance presenters that have been leaders, both artistically and organizationally, thinking creatively about reaching audiences in exciting new ways. We are honored to support their work with these flexible grants, designed to help them achieve their self-defined, long-term goals." Eduardo Vilaro, artistic director of Ballet Hispanico, said, "The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation enables dance companies such as Ballet Hispanico to explore their work more deeply, resulting in innovative choreography, training, and new dance works that inspire and transform our shared culture. As Ballet Hispanico's artistic director, this grant signifies a call to action that I accept with great relish." The 18 organizations are: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (New York, NY), Alonzo King LINES Ballet (San Francisco, CA), AXIS Dance Company (Oakland, CA), Ballet Hispanico (New York, NY), Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) (Brooklyn, NY), Danspace Project, Inc. (New York, NY), Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (Chicago, IL), Jacob's Pillow Dance (Becket, MA), The Joyce Theater (New York, NY), Margaret Jenkins Dance Company (San Francisco, CA), Mark Morris Dance Group (Brooklyn, NY), ODC (San Francisco, CA), Stephen Petronio Company (New York, NY), Ragamala Dance Company (Minneapolis, MN), STREB (Brooklyn, NY), Paul Taylor Dance Company (New York, NY), Urban Bush Women (Brooklyn, NY), White Bird (Portland, OR). ABOUT BALLET HISPANICOCelebrating 45 years of repertory that reflects the ever-changing diversity of Latino cultures, Ballet Hispanico is the new expression of American contemporary dance. Led by Artistic Director Eduardo Vilaro, the Company has produced world-class, multifaceted performances that have featured master works by Nacho Duato, cutting-edge premieres by Cayetano Soto and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, and live music collaborations with renowned artists such as Paquito D'Rivera and Ruben Blades—to name a notable few. Ballet Hispanico has performed for audiences totaling over 3 million, throughout 11 countries, and on 3 continents. Through the work of its professional company, school of dance, and community arts education programs, Ballet Hispanico celebrates the dynamic aesthetics of the Hispanic diaspora, building new avenues of cultural dialogue and sharing the joy of dance with all communities. For more information, visit www.ballethispanico.org. Follow Ballet Hispanico on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. EDUARDO VILARO joined Ballet Hispanico as Artistic Director in August 2009, becoming only the second person to head the company since it was founded in 1970. He has been part of the Ballet Hispanico family since 1985 as a principle dancer and educator, after which he began a ten-year record of achievement as Founder and Artistic Director of Luna Negra Dance Theater in Chicago. Mr. Vilaro has infused Ballet Hispanico's legacy with a bold and eclectic brand of contemporary dance that reflects America's changing cultural landscape. Born in Cuba and raised in New York from the age of six, he is a frequent speaker on the merits of cultural diversity and dance education. ABOUT THE DORIS DUKE CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONThe mission of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation is to improve the quality of people's lives through grants supporting the performing arts, environmental conservation, medical research and child well-being, and through preservation of the cultural and environmental legacy of Doris Duke's properties. The Arts Program of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation focuses its support on contemporary dance, jazz and theatre artists, and the organizations that nurture, present and produce them. For more information, please visit www.ddcf.org.
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