Ballet Hispanico, recognized as the preeminent Latino dance institution in the United States, will perform as part of the 18^th edition of Fire Island Dance Festival.  The company will present A Verme, a World Premiere piece, developed with acclaimed choreographer Edwaard Liang.

Edwaard Liang’s first work for Ballet Hispanico, a duet set to the lush music of Ezio Bosso, explores the concept of intimacy and the push and pull of energy that connects two individuals as A Verme or "Into Me See". The piece follows the tension and release of a timeless attraction between two lovers outside of time and space.

The piece will be danced by Ballet Hispanico Company members Vanessa Valecillos and Jamal Rashann Callender.

Tickets for Fire Island Dance Festival 18 are available online at dradance.org or by phone at 212.840.0770, ext. 268. Tickets are also available in person on weekends in the Fire Island Pines harbor. Ticket buyers are offered a choice of performances: opening performance on Saturday, July 21 at 5pm (cocktails at 4pm); Leadership Sunset Performance on Saturday, July 21 at 7 pm (cocktails following); closing performance on Sunday, July 22 at 5 pm (cocktails following). The highly anticipated weekend-long festival is produced by and benefits Dancers Responding to AIDS, a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Since its debut in 1995 Fire Island Dance Festival has cumulatively raised more than $2.5 million. Last year's festival raised $340,445, surpassing the previous record by more than $23,000.

If you are unable to attend the festival but would like to support the work of Dancers Responding to AIDS, donations are accepted online at dradance.org/festival_donation.