Ballet Hispánico Dance Class

Earlier this month, the Center for the Performing Arts streamed Ballet Hispánico’s 50th Anniversary Legacy Experience. Now, dance enthusiasts can learn more about Ballet Hispánico moves in a live class.

Rodney Hamilton, former Ballet Hispánico principal dancer and BHdos rehearsal director, will lead the session. The class will be a journey through dance forms that have influenced the company’s choreographic work, such as Mambo and Dunham technique. The class will include movements inspired by Ballet Hispánico’s repertory. 

No experience is necessary. The class is open to everyone.

Hamilton began his training at several schools in his native St. Louis. He also studied with Katherine Dunham and joined the chorus at The Muny, where he performed for seven years. 

After arriving in New York City, he graduated with a bachelor of fine arts degree from The Juilliard School. He joined Ballet Hispánico, where he was a principal dancer and assistant rehearsal director for ten years. 

During that time, he performed in works by José Limon, Paul Taylor, Hans van Manen, Robert Battle, Ohad Naharin, David Parsons, William Whitener, Ann Reinking, Ramón Oller, Sergio Trujillo, Trinette Singleton, Agnes DeMille, Talley Beatty, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Vicente Nebrada, and others. 

He was part of the national touring cast of Hello, Dolly! starring Carol Channing and worked with the Broadway cast of Tarzan during its workshop process. In 2012, he became resident choreographer of the Saint Petersburg City Theater in Florida, where he choreographed Hello, Dolly!, Footloose, and Memphis.

Hamilton earned a master of fine arts in dance from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. He has taught ballet, modern, and Dunham technique around the world. He is a faculty member at Ballet Hispánico’s School of Dance.