Tina Ramirez facts for kids
Ernestina Ramirez (born November 7, 1929 – died September 6, 2022) was a famous American dancer and choreographer. She is best known for starting and leading Ballet Hispanico. This is a top dance group in the United States that celebrates Latino culture. She was its Artistic Director from 1970 to 2009.
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Early Life and Dance Training
Tina Ramirez was born in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1929. Her father, Jose Ramirez, was a Mexican bullfighter. Her mother, Gloria Cestero, came from a family in Puerto Rico. Gloria later became a leader in the Puerto Rican community in New York City.
Tina moved to New York City when she was six or seven years old. As a young student, she trained very hard in different dance styles. She studied Spanish dance, classical ballet, and modern dance. At that time, these dance worlds were often separate.
Her professional dance career included touring with dance companies. She performed with the Federico Rey Dance Company and the Xavier Cugat Orchestra. Tina also danced alone in Spain. She appeared in Broadway shows like Copper and Brass and Kismet. She also performed in a TV show called Man of La Mancha.
Founding Ballet Hispanico
In 1963, Tina Ramirez took over her dance teacher's studio. In 1967, she started a special training program for young dancers. It was called "Operation High Hopes." She taught these students and arranged performances for them.
Tina knew there were not many chances for Latino dancers back then. Her students became very skilled, and more people wanted to see them perform. So, in 1970, she officially created Ballet Hispanico. It included a dance company, a school, and educational programs. Tina Ramirez passed away in New York City on September 6, 2022, at age 92.
Leading the Dance Company
Tina Ramirez had a clear vision for the Ballet Hispanico Company. She wanted to show modern Hispanic culture through dance. She led the company for 39 years as its Artistic Director.
She invited 50 choreographers to create new dances. These artists came from many different backgrounds. They helped show Spanish-speaking cultures in new ways. The dancers were very versatile. They could perform ballet, modern dance, jazz, and other styles.
Famous artists worked with her. These included ballet dancers Vicente Nebrada and Alberto Alonso. Modern dance artists like Talley Beatty also joined. Tina helped many new artists early in their careers. Some of them became artistic directors themselves.
Tina commissioned 75 new dance works for the company. She made sure these productions looked amazing. Sets, costumes, and lighting were top-notch. Award-winning designers like Eugene Lee helped create them.
Ballet Hispanico performed for over two million people. They toured across three continents. The company performed at major places like The John F. Kennedy Center. In 1992, they represented the United States at Expo '92 in Spain. They also appeared on TV shows like "CBS Sunday Morning."
Tina Ramirez as an Educator
Tina Ramirez's work as an educator was very important. The Ballet Hispanico School of Dance uses her original teaching plan. Students learn ballet, modern, and Spanish dance techniques. This is special because most schools focus on just one style.
Hundreds of students train at the school every year. The school offers scholarships to help children from all backgrounds. This makes sure everyone has a chance to learn. Over $100,000 in scholarships are given out each year.
Many students from the school have become successful dancers. Linda Celeste Sims became a lead dancer with the Ailey Company. Kimberly Braylock joined the San Francisco Ballet. Nancy and Rachel Ticotin became famous in film and on Broadway.
Some former students are now artistic directors. Damaris Ferrer started Bailes Ferrer. Nelida Tirado is a featured Spanish dancer. Eduardo Vilaro, a former company member, now leads Ballet Hispanico.
Tina Ramirez also created Primeros Pasos ("First Steps"). This is an educational program for public schools. It teaches dance and Hispanic culture. This program reaches 15,000 students and adults each year.
Awards and Recognition
Tina Ramirez received many honors for her dance work. In 2005, she earned the National Medal of Arts. This is the highest cultural award in the United States.
Juilliard gave her an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree in 2018. She also received awards from Dance/USA and the Association of Performing Arts Presenters. AARP Magazine called her a "cultural trailblazer" in 2004.
She received the Dance Magazine Award in 2002. Latina Magazine named her a Latina of the Year in 2000. In 1999, she got an Hispanic Heritage Award. She also received honors from the New York Dance and Performance Awards.
Tina Ramirez served on many important boards. These included The New 42nd Street and Dance Theatre Workshop. She also helped with the NYC Department of Education Dance Curriculum. She served on panels for the National Endowment for the Arts.
See also
In Spanish: Tina Ramírez para niños
