A contemporary ballet about the Argentine icon who had a great impact on her people and the world

 

October 5, 2022 – OTTAWA, Canada – On October 14 and 15, Ballet Hispánico will make its Southam Hall debut with its contemporary ballet Doña Perón. Choreographed by internationally acclaimed artist Annabelle Lopez Ochoa to mark the company’s 50^th anniversary, the ballet paints an explosive portrait of Eva Perón, popularly known as Evita, from her meteoric rise to her tragic death at only 33.

A historically prominent feminist activist and leader, Evita was both beloved and controversial. Her strong convictions, unifying speeches and contradictory actions profoundly marked the Argentine people.

“She’s not a fairy-tale character, she’s not a literary character. She’s a real woman, and for me it’s interesting to stage her because she’s hard to pin down.” - Annabelle Lopez Ochoa

Featuring a cast of 16 dancers, the work will fill the stage with a passionate energy that reflects this emblematic figure, as a series of delicately woven tableaux unfolds to illustrate key moments in Evita’s life.

"Doña Perón explores, through majestic storytelling, the complicated and emotional life of Eva Perón and her controversial rise in Argentinean society. With sweeping choreography that showcases these amazing dancers, captivating music performed live by a fantastic 5-piece ensemble, and dazzling sets and costumes, this luscious contemporary ballet is a feast for the senses." says Cathy Levy, Executive Producer, NAC Dance.

On October 14 at 7 p.m., the public is invited to a pre-show chat with Cathy Levy and Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director of Ballet Hispánico, who will discuss the production, the creative process, and the company.

To learn more about the 2022–2023 NAC Dance season, visit the NAC website.

MetLife Foundation is an Official Tour Sponsor of Ballet Hispánico. The 2022-2023 Ballet Hispánico National Tour is made possible by JPMorgan Chase, an Official Tour Sponsor.

 

PERFORMANCE AND TICKET INFORMATION

In-person in Southam Hall
October 14-15 at 8 PM

Tickets for performances start at $29

To purchase tickets, visit Ticketmaster online or call 1-844-985-2787 (ARTS). We encourage visitors to buy their tickets or make a restaurant reservation online prior to their visit.  Please visit nac-cna.ca/visit  to find out what you need to know before accessing the building and facilities. 

 

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

NAC Dance and the NAC Foundation would like to thank the donors and partners who have made the season possible. Thank you to Hotel Partner the Lord Elgin Hotel. The role of Executive Producer, NAC Dance is generously supported by an anonymous donor.

 

ABOUT BALLET HISPÁNICO

For fifty years Ballet Hispánico has been the leading voice intersecting artistic excellence and advocacy, and is now the largest Latinx cultural organization in the United States and one of America’s Cultural Treasures. Ballet Hispánico brings communities together to celebrate and explore Latino cultures through innovative dance productions, transformative dance training, and enduring community engagement experiences.

National Medal of Arts recipient Tina Ramirez founded Ballet Hispánico in 1970, at the height of the post-war civil rights movements. Since its inception, the company has focused on providing a haven for Black and Brown Latinx youth and families seeking artistic place and cultural sanctuary.

In 2009, Ballet Hispánico welcomed Eduardo Vilaro as its Artistic Director, ushering in a new era by inserting fresh energy to the company’s founding values and leading Ballet Hispánico into an artistically vibrant future. Through its exemplary artistry, distinguished training program, and deep-rooted community engagement efforts Ballet Hispánico champions and amplifies underrepresented voices in the field. For fifty years Ballet Hispánico has provided a place of honour for the omitted, overlooked, and oppressed.

 

ABOUT THE NAC  

The National Arts Centre is Canada’s bilingual, multi-disciplinary home for the performing arts. The NAC presents, creates, produces, and co-produces performing arts programming in various streams — the NAC Orchestra, Dance, English Theatre in collaboration with Black Theatre Workshop, French Theatre, Indigenous Theatre, and Popular Music and Variety — and nurtures the next generation of audiences and artists from across Canada. The NAC is located in the National Capital Region on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe.  

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Media contact: 
Julie Gunville
Communications Strategist, NAC Dance
National Arts Centre
613 668-2736
julie.gunville@nac-cna.ca