Ballet Hispánico, the nation’s largest Latinx/Latine/Hispanic cultural organization and one of America’s Cultural Treasures, offers their signature annual event, En Familia Matinee, a special program for young audiences and their families curated and hosted by Artistic Director & CEO Eduardo Vilaro. Tickets for the Saturday matinee are $25 (fees included) and are available here, thanks to the generosity of the RBC Foundation USA, the charitable arm of RBC Capital Markets, and New York City Center.

The Ballet Hispánico 2025 En Familia Matinee offers a journey through Latin American culture and traditions for the second year in Ballet Hispánico’s history, as Vilaro leads the audience on an interactive and fun-filled afternoon featuring excerpts of classic pieces from the Company’s repertory. With cultural and historical content and movement exercises for the whole family, the audience will experience a performance to remember. After the show, young audience members will have the opportunity to meet the dancers for a photo op, learn dance moves, and enjoy Caribbean beats from musicians throughout the theater!

“Our communities need their stories told and reflected in innovative and exciting ways,” said Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director & CEO, Ballet Hispánico. “With En Familia, we share the depth and diversity of Latine cultures through our repertory, at the same time, directly answering the needs of our families with accessible ticket prices. With the generous support of the RBC Foundation and New York City Center, we have no doubt this year will be even more popular- if that’s even possible!”

“We are delighted to welcome back Ballet Hispánico and this special event for the whole family. As City Center continues to open our doors for all New Yorkers to experience world-class performing arts, we could not ask for better partner than Ballet Hispánico who exemplifies the vibrancy of this city,” said Michael S. Rosenberg, President & CEO, New York City Center.

“We are so proud to support Ballet Hispánico and New York City Center in this important endeavor again this year and we are impressed by their commitment to youth engagement," said Marcos Torres, Managing Director, RBC Capital Markets and Jennifer Grazel, Managing Director, RBC Capital Markets and Director, RBC Foundation USA. “Our partnership with these powerhouse organizations remains a key part of our mission to help create real, lasting impact for youth in the United States."

En Familia Matinee Program

Arabesque (1984)

Arabesque is an elegant suite of dances set to the music of Spanish Composer, Enrique Granados. Traces of Flamenco influence are hinted at in the upper body as the dancers move through lush balletic contemporary phrase work.

CARMEN.maquia – excerpt (2012)

The 2024/25 Season program celebrates the 150th anniversary of the beloved classic ballet Carmen with a restaging of Gustavo Ramírez Sansano’s Picasso-inspired, contemporary take on Bizet’s passionately tragic masterpiece.. The physically charged and sensual choreography fuses contemporary dance with nods to the Spanish paso doble and flamenco.

Club Havana – excerpt (2000)

Cuban (Afro-Latin) dancing at its best. The intoxicating rhythms of the conga, rumba, mambo, and cha cha cha are brought to life by choreographer Pedro Ruiz, himself a native of Cuba, as he imagined his very own “Club Havana.”

Tres Cantos (1975)

Set to three songs (tres cantos) by Latin American composers Carlos Chavez, Lorenzo Fernandez, and Silvestre Revueltas, Talley Beatty's 1975 masterwork reflects the history of Mexico, from its Aztec roots through the Spanish Conquest to the re-emergence of the native peoples' unconquered spirit. This revival celebrates the 200th anniversary of Mexico's independence.

All tickets for En Familia Matinee are $25 (fees included) and can be purchased online at NYCityCenter.org, by calling 212.581.1212, or in person at the City Center Box Office ($3 facility fee).

Ballet Hispánico 2025 New York City Center Season

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:

Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 6:30 pm – Gala Performance

Friday, May 30, 2025 at 7:30 pm

Saturday, May 31, 2025 at 2:00 pm – En Familia Matinee

Saturday, May 31, 2025 at 7:30 pm

Sunday, June 1, 2025 at 2:00 pm

Ballet Hispánico returns to New York City Center from May 29 to June 1, 2025. A Company that “compels audiences to think differently and lean into an unseen, unimaginable cultural vibrancy” (aBroadway World), Ballet Hispánico amplifies Latinx artists and cultures through innovative contemporary works.

Led by Artistic Director and CEO Eduardo Vilaro, Ballet Hispánico reimagines dance with joyful works that defy tradition. The 2024/25 Season program celebrates the 150th anniversary of the beloved classic ballet Carmen with a restaging of Gustavo Ramírez Sansano’s Picasso-inspired, contemporary take on Bizet’s passionately tragic masterpiece: CARMEN.maquia. The physically charged and sensual choreography fuses contemporary dance with nods to the Spanish paso doble and flamenco. This milestone anniversary season also features one of New York City's favorite Gala Performances, the return of the wildly popular En Familia/Family Matinee. Tickets start at $45 ($25 for the En Familia Matinee) and are available at https://www.nycitycenter.org/pdps/2024-2025/ballet-hispanico/.

Ballet Hispánico 2025 Gala Performance (6:30pm) and Dinner

Tickets for the May 29 Gala Performance may be paired with a reservation for the 50th Anniversary Emerald Gala Tribute dinner and dancing at the Ziegfeld Ballroom. For more information, please contact Ellie Craven at [email protected] or visit https://www.ballethispanico.org/support/events/2025-gala.

Ballet Hispánico is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature; and by the National Endowment for the Arts.

MetLife Foundation is an Official Tour Sponsor of Ballet Hispánico.

Ballet Hispánico was born from a bold vision to transform the world through the power of dance and reimagine how Latinx culture is celebrated on the global stage. Since its founding in 1970 by the trailblazing Tina Ramirez, Ballet Hispánico has been breaking barriers and reshaping expectations, using dance as a dynamic force for cultural expression, empowerment, and meaningful change.

Today, Ballet Hispánico proudly stands as the largest Latino cultural organization in the United States and an acclaimed "America’s Cultural Treasure." Through our three core pillars—the professional Company, School of Dance, and Community Arts Partnerships—we lead with purpose, uplifting the vibrant, diverse voices of the Hispanic diaspora. Our Company brings the work of visionary Latinx choreographers to life, delivering groundbreaking performances that ignite cultural dialogue and challenge artistic boundaries.

Under the visionary leadership of Artistic Director and CEO Eduardo Vilaro, who began his journey with Ballet Hispánico as a dancer in 1985, the company continues to chart new paths forward. Building on Tina Ramirez’s legacy, Vilaro has expanded the company’s impact, amplifying the intersectional stories of Latinx identities. Programs like Instituto Coreográfico, the Latinx Leaders Summit, and Diálogos foster innovation and leadership, nurturing the next generation of Hispanic artists and cultural leaders.

A true trailblazer in the world of dance, Ballet Hispánico has performed for more than 2.5 million people across three continents. As we look to the future, our unwavering commitment is to empower communities, inspire through the beauty of dance, and continue elevating Latinx voices on the world stage.