Northrop Presents
Ballet Hispánico: Doña Perón
Past event
Feb 25, 2023
Critically-acclaimed Doña Perón is an explosive portrait of Eva "Evita" Perón, one of the most recognizable and controversial women in Argentinian history. The illegitimate daughter of a wealthy landowner, Evita concealed this shameful past as she climbed the ranks from dancehall performer to Argentina's First Lady. A voice for the people, or a deceitful actress? Latina choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa explores these diverging legacies while reclaiming the narrative of this iconic Latina figure in a “smashingly theatrical” (Chicago Sun-Times) evening-length work performed with exquisite live music.
"a cutting edge crowd pleaser" —Washington Post
“A production this sharp, transformative and fun renders any words written about it unsatisfactory. To understand it, just go see it.” —Broadway World
“A milestone, a breakthrough … both earthy and classically elegant ” —The New York Times
Related Links
- Ballet Hispánico – Company website
- Ballet Hispánico – Company website – Doña Perón
- Wikipedia – Eva Perón
- Annabelle Lopez Ochoa – Choreographer website
- Watch the Ballet Hispánico Diálogos on-demand video
Ballet Hispánico’s Diálogos (Dialogues) is a series devoted to examining issues centered on dance, race, and culture.
Related Events
Learn More - Explore These Themes
The content below derives from the Northrop Across Campus Program that supports Northrop's mission towards intersections between performing arts and education for the benefit of all participants now and for generations to come.
Find ways to make thematic connections to these suggested topics:
- Dance: Ballet, Contemporary
- Spanish, Chicano, and Latino Studies
- Spanish Language
- Cultural Studies & Comparative Literature
- Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies
- Social Justice / Civil Rights
- American / South American History
- Geography
- Musical Theater
- Costume Design
Take a deeper dive with these resources that provide additional information about the performers, the history of the artform, and the artistic process.
Links:
- Ballet Hispánico – Company website
- Dance Informa – Ballet Hispánico celebrates 50 years of dance and diversity
- Google Arts & Culture – Ballet Hispánico
- Hispanic Outlook – Ballet Hispánico A Cultural Legacy
- Britannica – Eva Peron
- Westchester Magazine – Eduardo Vilaro Dances Toward the Future with Ballet Hispánico
Start a conversation about the performance, or encourage reflection, using these questions as inspiration.
Founded in 1970 by Tina Ramirez, Ballet Hispánico is the largest Latinx organization with a goal to bring communities together to celebrate and explore Latino cultures through innovative dance productions, performative dance training, and community engagement.
- As a community of people migrate from one area to another, how can elements of one’s culture be successfully preserved, assuming that some aspects of culture will be lost over time?
- In what ways can movement quality or choreographic devices be used to emphasize the themes of a dance piece?
Ballet Hispánico’s Doña Perón - The Rise and Fall of a Diva is choreographed by Anabelle Lopez Ochoa. The story portrays the life of Eva ‘Evita’ Perón and her journey from being the illegitimate daughter of a farmer, to a dancehall performer and eventually— Argentina’s first lady. Lopez Ochoa explores the controversial aspects of Peron’s rise–her work as an advocate for women and the working class juxtaposed to her high-class lifestyle–and examines what it means to be a woman in power.
- What traits do you consider essential for people in positions of power? In what ways do we hold our leaders accountable if we feel they have abused their power?
- Do you believe female leaders are held to a higher standard than their male counterparts? Why or why not?
- In your estimation, would Eva Peron be considered controversial today?
Award-winning and highly sought-after Colombian-Belgian choreographer, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, has created work for 71 companies including Ballet Hispánico’s Doña Perón. Lopez Ochoa was inspired by the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, Evita, as well as the life and history of Eva Perón. In an interview, Lopez Ochoa mentions, “It's just wonderful as a Latina woman to be given the opportunity to tell the story of another Latina and to have a Latin company portray the Descamisados and the Argentinian peoples.”
- Why is it important to continue to make art that challenges gender stereotypes?
- Why is representation important in building empathy? What additional meaning can be gained by hearing stories of, by, and for a specific cultural group, such as Latina women?
- In what ways have film or the media shaped your own perspective, either positively or negatively about women?
Supporters
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
Support for the creation of Doña Perón was made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts with funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. This production was made possible by support from contributors to the Perry Granoff New Works Project.
This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.
The presentation of Ballet Hispánico was made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts' National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Mellon Foundation.
