Cuban Choreographer Pedro Ruiz Triumphs on the New York Scene

August 1, 2023

Cuban American choreographer Pedro Ruiz was the protagonist of a major event on the New York dance scene. The five main dance companies in that city participated for the third consecutive year in a festival organized by the Lincoln Center. That institution asked Ruiz to create a piece that for the first time united dancers from the New York City Ballet and Ballet Hispánico on stage.

The BAAND Together Dance Festival, which was born after the covid pandemic to attract audiences again and celebrate different dance styles, brought to the Lincoln Center stage the companies New York City Ballet, Ballet Hispánico, American Ballet Theatre, Alvin Ailey, and Dance Theatre of Harlem.

And as the main attraction was added the choreography created by Cuban American Pedro Ruiz, from Ballet Hispánico, to bring together dancers from that company with those from New York City Ballet. It was the world premiere of Pas de O'Farrill, which paid tribute to pianist and composer Arturo O'Farrill.

Ruiz was the second Latino chosen by Lincoln for this project, which last year fell to Annabelle López Ochoa. He assured the press that it was an honor to have received the commission that led him to work with the New York City Ballet. The piece was very well received by the audience.

Pedro Ruiz has created works with various Cuban companies, and especially remembered was his work with the Ballet Contemporáneo de Camagüey, which premiered several of his pieces in Cuba.