Roberto Villanueva’s BalaSole to present 4th anniversary dance concert July 18-19
Roberto Villanueva, founder and executive-artistic director of BalaSole Dance Company, presents the 13th concert season of BalaSole in Melange, a new program of 10 dancers/choreographers in a broad range of styles, music choices and artistic voices, on July 18 & 19 at Ailey Citigroup Theater on West 55th Street.In only four short years, BalaSole has presented 12 seasons and dozens of dancers and choreographers.
This summer’s featured artists include a former member of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. Past BalaSole participants include artists from renowned companies such as the Limón Dance Company, Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Parsons Dance, Lucinda Childs Dance, Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble, Philadanco, The Isadora Duncan Dance Company, and Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago.
Philippine-born Roberto founded BalaSole to create something new and sorely needed in the dance world, a multi-ethnic organization that provides artistic freedom and mentoring to dance artists of all genres, styles, shapes, sizes, ages, backgrounds, and artistic expressions.
“Diversity and individuality are the keywords of the organization,” said Roberto.
The company has presented an average of three seasons a year, artistic mentoring, and unique performance opportunities to over 120 dancer/choreographers since 2010. It has performed at Baryshnikov Arts Center’s Jerome Robbins Theater, Ailey Citigroup Theater, New York Live Arts, and Tribeca Performing Arts Center. BalaSole is the resident company of Mount Saint Vincent College in Riverdale, NY, the alma mater of former Philippine President Cory Aquino.
Roberto trained at The Ailey School, SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance and University at Buffalo where he received his BA in Dance Performance. Acclaimed nationally and internationally for his abilities as a dance artist, Roberto has been hailed “for the deftness and technical control of his dancing” by The New York Times, and described as “a poetic dancer” by New York Magazine.
Roberto has performed, conducted dance residencies, judged dance competitions, and taught master classes in U.S., Europe, and Asia. He has worked with renowned choreographers such as Dwight Rhoden, Kevin Wynn, Milton Myers, and Eleo Pomare.
He has performed at renowned New York City venues including the Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Baryshnikov Arts Center’s Jerome Robbins Theater, and The Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater.
Roberto is a recipient of the 2011-2012 Harlem Stage Fund for New Work Award for the creation and development of his one-man show titled “Pieces of Me: An inside look at a dance artist’s journey.” He is an American Ballet Theatre-certified teacher in Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.
He currently serves as the Arts and Education Outreach Administrator for the world-renowned Dance Theatre of Harlem, and as an Adjunct Instructor at the College of Mount Saint Vincent. Additionally, he was nominated for The Outstanding Filipino Americans in New York (TOFA-NY) 2012 Award under the Arts & Culture category.