Ballet Hispanico, recognized as the nation’s leading Latino dance organization since 1970, will present a quartet of audience favorites at Queens Theatre on February 14-15, 2015. Performances: Saturday at 2pm and 8pm, Sunday at 3pm. Tickets start at $25 and are on sale now at www.queenstheatre.org. Making a triumphant return to Queens following last year’s engagement at the Kupferberg Center for the Arts, Ballet Hispanico is a world-class phenomenon, having offered over 3,000 performances to audiences of more than 3 million people throughout eleven countries. The extraordinary lineup of works, curated by Eduardo Vilaro in his fifth year as Artistic Director of Ballet Hispanico, features El Beso, a stunning work by Spanish native Gustavo Ramírez Sansano with original costumes by internationally renowned fashion designer Angel Sanchez. Other highlights include Sombrerísimo, Belgo-Colombian Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s athletic tour de force for six male dancers; Sortijas, by Cayetano Soto, one of the most dynamic and groundbreaking Spanish choreographers of his generation; and Eduardo Vilaro’s Asuka, a celebration of the music of Queen of Salsa Celia Cruz. Leading up to the engagement, the pre-professional second company of Ballet Hispanico, BHdos, will conduct a special performance for school audiences on Friday, February 13, 2015. Narrated by Eduardo Vilaro and Ballet Hispanico Director of Education AnaMaria Correa, these educational Performances for Young People—now in their 30th year—give children access to the Ballet Hispanico experience and are followed by a Q&A with the dancers. Ballet Hispanico at Queens Theatre– February 14-15, 2015 El Beso (2014) Choreography by Gustavo Ramírez Sansano Spaniard Gustavo Ramírez Sansano’s first work for Ballet Hispanico is a spirited look at the nuances of a kiss set to Spanish Zarzuela music and featuring original costumes by Venezuelan fashion designer Angel Sanchez. Sombrerísimo (2013) Choreography by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa An absorbing exploration of identity, Sombrerísimo references the surrealist world of the Belgian painter René Magritte, famous for his paintings of men in bowler hats. This athletic work for six male dancers was commissioned by New York City Center for the 10th anniversary of the Fall for Dance Festival. Sortijas (2013) Choreography by Cayetano Soto Cayetano Soto, one of the most dynamic and groundbreaking Spanish choreographers of his generation, is known for his musicality, attention to detailed technique, and expressive choreography. In Sortijas, a darkly lush duet full of emotional complexity, he ponders the unavoidable pull of fate in our lives. Costume design is by Munich-based fashion designers Talbot Runhof. Music by Lhasa de Sela. Asuka (2011) Choreography by Eduardo Vilaro Asuka is a celebration of the music of Celia Cruz through the lens of the Latino experience. Cruz, renowned as the "Queen of Salsa," captured the heart of Latinos the world over and became a symbol of perseverance for many. Through rich imagery and humor, Artistic Director Eduardo Vilaro explores the struggles of departure from one’s homeland and the exuberance of success experienced by a community.