About Skyler Johnson

Ballet Hispanico, the nation’s renowned Latinx dance organization recognized as one of America’s Cultural Treasures, announces the New York premiere of Doña Peròn at New York City Center, April 1-3, 2022, the concluding performances of Ballet Hispanico’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, on Friday & Saturday at 7:30 PM, Saturday & Sunday at 2 PM. The Company will perform as part of the first City Center Dance Festival which showcases New York companies making their triumphant return to the City Center stage after more than two years away. Tickets can be purchased online HERE, by phone (212-581-1212,) or in-person with New York City Center. 

Choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa to music by Peter Salem, Doña Peròn is the first full evening-length work commissioned by the Company and reclaims the narrative of the iconic Latina figure by a Latina choreographer. The work is an explosive portrait of Eva “Evita” Peròn, one of the most recognizable, and controversial, women in Argentinian history. The illegitimate daughter of a prosperous farmer, Evita concealed this shameful past as she rose the ranks from dancehall performer to Argentina’s First Lady—all before her untimely death at the age of 33.

Doña Peròn brings to light the extremes of power at the forefront of Evita’s life. Her work as an activist and advocate for Argentina’s women and working-class raised skepticism as she indulged in the opulence of a high-class life. A voice for the people, or a deceitful actress? Ochoa explores these diverging legacies and more in this seminal work, marking Ballet Hispanico’s move beyond their 50th Anniversary and the continuation of centering the voices of Latinx artists.

“She’s not a fairytale character, she’s not a literary character,” said Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. “She’s a real woman, and for me, it’s interesting to put her on stage because she’s difficult to pinpoint. I want to give female dancers real roles, not always the nice roles. Women are complex and it’s nice to show all of these facets. I’m very grateful that I can put this woman, Evita Peròn, on stage as a female choreographer.”

About the Artists

Annabelle Lopez Ochoa (Choreographer) has been choreographing since 2003 following a twelve-year dance career in various contemporary dance companies throughout Europe. She has created works for sixty dance companies worldwide including Ballet Hispanico, Atlanta Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Compañia Nacional de Danza, Dutch National Ballet, Finnish National Ballet, Royal Ballet of Flanders, Ballet du Grand Theatre de Geneve, Goteborg Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, BJM-Danse Montreal, New York City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, English National Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, to name a few. In 2012, her first full-length work, A Streetcar Named Desire, originally created for the Scottish Ballet, received the Critics’ Circle National Dance Award for “Best Classical Choreography” and was nominated for a prestigious Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production the following year. Annabelle was the recipient of the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award in 2019.

Nancy Meckler (Artistic Collaborator) is a director known for her work in the United Kingdom with Shared Experience, where she was a joint Artistic Director alongside Polly Teale. Meckler has directed a production of I.D. She was a member of London-based collective the Freehold Theatre Company (1969-1973), where she eventually became Director. The group employed devising methodology to create work and was the first company to receive the John Whiting Award for “new and distinctive development in dramatic writing,” traditionally given to playwrights. 

Peter Salem (Music) is very much in demand as a ballet composer and has recently completed his third ballet, Broken Wings, for the English National Ballet, which opened to huge critical and popular success in April 2016. His media work is also internationally renowned, principally his music for Call the Midwife, which won the Best Television Programme Music category at the Music and Sound Awards 2016, as well as other high profile productions. His extensive theater work includes many scores for productions by the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre, and Shared Experience Theatre.

Mark Eric (Costume Design) is a costume and fashion designer based in New York City, where he trained at the Fashion Institute of Technology. After designing for several New York City fashion houses, he discovered his passion for costuming for the stage. He enjoys bringing his couture fashion sensibility to his design, often employing artisanal techniques when creating his signature costumes. He has designed costumes for Robert Battle, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Rennie Harris, Robbie Fairchild, Stefanie Batten Bland, Andrew McNicol, and Marguerite Donlon to name a few. He has costumed works for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, BalletX, Ballet Hispanico, and Ailey II, among others.

Christopher Ash (Lighting, Set, and Video Design) is a Philadelphia-based Designer and Filmmaker whose work has been seen in 13 countries and has been recognized for 15 awards. He is equally at home designing projections, scenery, or lighting for theater, opera, and dance as well as direction and cinematography for film. Christopher is currently involved in a multi-phase Guggenheim Works and Process commission with artist John Jarboe. He is also co-creator of an ongoing multi-sensory performance piece “Body Language” with Dublin-based dance artist David Bolger and CoisCéim Dance Theatre.