Ballet Hispánico is the a dance school and community-based performing arts troupe that was founded in 1970 by National Medal of Arts recipient Tina Ramirez. Ballet Hispánico provides the physical home and cultural heart for Latino dance in the United States, and has focused on providing a haven for youths and families seeking an artistic place and cultural sanctuary. The group brings families together to celebrate and explore Latino cultures through innovative dance productions, transformative dance training and enduring community engagement experiences.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
Ballet Hispánico made their first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade appearance in 1983, serving as one of many pre-Parade acts in front of the iconic Macy's Herald Square department store. The troupe performed a folk dance titled "Zaragoza," a musical arrangement performed by Orquesta de Camara de Madrid.
The dance ensemble returned to the Parade in 2006, now as a part of the actual line of march. The group was comprised of 40 dancers who performed an exciting musical number rich in cultural heritage.
Ballet Hispánico made another reprise appearance in the 2021 Parade, celebrating their 50th anniversary as the nation's largest Latino cultural organization. For their special performance, the dancers presented a number known as "Sabor del Alma," which combined three types of dance: Spanish, Bomba, and Salsa.
The troupe made their most recent Parade appearance in the 2022 Parade, appearing on a float inspired by the Netflix film, Slumberland, performing a dreamy dance number called "Smooth Salsa."