ABOUT HISPANIC CULTURE ARTS
Founded in 2018, Hispanic Culture Arts is an arts education organization that provides a curriculum focused on the classical music and dance of Spain and Latin America. Past and current clients include PS 8 "Luis Belliard" (NYC), Seely Place Elementary School (Scarsdale), New York School for the Deaf, Hispanic Society Museum & Library, Ballet Hispanico, and the Poe Visitors Center in the Bronx.
OUR TEACHING ARTISTS:
ANNA DE LA PAZ
Spanish dance artist
I am a Spanish dance artist specializing in classical and folkloric Spanish dances. After living in Spain and studying with such great master teachers as Mariemma and Pedro Azorín, I fell deeper in love with all of the different genres of Spanish dance. I moved to New York City in 1999 and began working with Gabriela Granados and American Bolero Dance Company and later as a freelance artist, performing throughout the New York area at various venues including Carnegie Hall. I have worked in collaboration with mezzo-soprano Anna Tonna and the Hispanic Society of America concert series in such productions as Music and Dance in the Times of the Duchess of Alba; From Barcelona with Passion: Enrique Granados Centennial; Music and Dance from “A vision of Spain” and “Trio of Paintings: music and dance from 18th-century Spain, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.
ANNA TONNA
Mezzo-soprano
I am a classical vocalist, teaching artist, and “cultural interpreter” living in Bronx, NY. I love the music of Spain and Latin America and have been incredibly lucky to have performed both historical and contemporary music by composers from these traditions, with colleagues from all over the world.
I am honored to have been a Fulbright Scholar to Spain. This became a defining experience for me. Since then, it has been my personal goal to share what I know and act as a cultural bridge between the Hispanic World and my local community of the Bronx, as well as the five boroughs and beyond!
ALBERTO LOPEZ HERRERA
Teaching Artist
Mr. Lopez Herrera is a choreographer, costume designer and maker, and teaching artist with more than 30 years experience in Mexican folk dance. Originally from San Antonio Chiltepec in Puebla, Mr. Lopez Herrera began his studies of Mexican folkloric dance at the age of 12 at the Centro Escolar Benito Juarez de Acatlán de Osorio. Most recently, he completed the National Dance Institute’s intensive Teaching Artist training in New York City. In the U.S., Mr. Lopez Herrera was a dancer and choreographer with several companies working with distinguished choreographers Francisco Nevarez, Daniel Jaquez, and Noemy Hernandez. With great attention to detail, he continues to create traditional costumes used in Mexican folkloric dance. His pivotal role in costuming can be seen throughout the Company’s repertoire. Under his Artistic Direction, Calpulli Mexican Dance Company has performed at noted venues including Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival (Inside/Out Series), Wortham Center (Houston, TX), Humboldt State University (Arcata, CA), the Kingdom of Bahrain, Penn State Erie, and Lincoln Center Out of Doors, where dance critic for The New York Times Brian Siebert hailed Calpulli a “terrific company.”. A few months later, Mr. Lopez Herrera was named “Star of Queens” by the Queens Courier for his artistic accomplishments and commitment to community arts programming. He was also recognized by Time Magazine in the documentary series “American Voices.” Most recently, Mr. Lopez was Dramaturg and Folk Choreographer for the Off-Broadway production “A Crossing” produced by the Barrington Stage under the Director of Joshua Bergasse, for which they received an Outstanding Choreography award from the Berkshires Theater Critics Association.
Elizabeth Crooke Morel
Teaching artist
With over 25 years of experience in choreography, and dance teaching, Elizabeth Crooke specializes in Ballet, Contemporary, Musical Theater, Afro-Caribbean, Folk Dominican Dance and Latin and Social Dances.
Since 2022, she has taught dance education programs for NYC public schools as an independent vendor. She holds a BA in Dance Pedagogy (2010) and an MA in Performing Arts from Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain. Awarded Best Choreographer of the Year (2007) by the Dominican Republic's Casandra Awards, they also served as Artistic Director of the National Folkloric Ballet of the Dominican Republic (2012-2016) Head of the Department of Cultural Promotion and Artistic Director of the Popular and Contemporary folk Dance Company of the Ministry of Foreingn Affairs in the Dominican Republic 2016/2020.
Isidro Bobadillo (El Boba)
Master Percussionist and Arts Educator
Bobadilla worked under well known Dominican musicologist, Professor Fradique Lizardo, in the study of traditional Dominican rhythms, composing music for the ballets Ritos, Redes by Lizardo, José Antonia, and Africa Ingmar Despradel.
He collaborated with the OAS, the Secretary of State for Fine Arts and Culture of Dominican Republic, and a project with the National Institute of Natural Sciences (INIDEF) for the evaluation of Dominican culture.
He has led and presented in numerous workshops, talks, and demonstrations about Dominican folk music at universities and various cultural centers such as: the Caribbean Cultural Center of New York City, Lehman College, Hostos Community College, Museum of Natural History, City Lord, and Alianza Dominicana. As a percussion artist he has shared the stage with such artists such as Laurie Anderson, José Chalas, Paquito D’Rivera, Frank Ferruchi, Humano Orquesta, Daniel Ponce, Tania María, Jane Ira Bloom, Paul Simon, Michel Camilo, Mario Rivera, Manuel Tejada, Jorge Taveras, Sonia Silvestre, Victor Victor, José Antonio Rodrigues, Maridalia Hernández, Dioni Fernández, Sergio Vargas, Pavel Nuñez, Marel Alemany, Luis Enriques, Irka Mateo, Eliacim, Vicente García; and most auspiciously with Juan Luis Guerra, with whom he continues to work with, and his band 440 Orchestra for the past 20 years.
He successfully directed the Dominican percussion group CUERO MADERA Y METAL, together with Guarionex Aquino, Jr. and composed soundtracks for the album The Seven Dreams of Meuda San together with Manuel Tejada.
An active teaching artist in the Tri State area, he has taught percussion at the Washington Heights Community Conservatory in New York, and Alianza Cultural Center.
In addition, he has participated as a musician in various classical and popular music concerts with the Dominican Classical Artists Association Orchestra in New York City. As a champion of Dominican music culture, he has presented at the Dominican Folk Music Percussion workshop in 2021; and as leader of Boba’s Latin Jazz Ensemble, he co-led workshops with Dominican dance artist Elizabeth Crook Morel for Jazz Power Inc.
In addition to his participation with Juan Luis Guerra’s 440 Orchestra, he is active with various musical groups in the New York City area, and teaches workshops on Afro-Dominican and Latin music in New York City.
JUAN RUIZ
Teaching Artist
Juan Ruiz became involved in music at the tender age of 11. He learned to play Latin American percussion in his hometown of Caldas (Antioquia) in Colombia. At the age of 14 he was handed a clarinet not a saxophone like he wanted. While in Colombia Juan performed folkloric Colombian music, classical music, and Latin American music in various festivals. In 2006 he earned a scholarship to study English and Music in the United States; giving him the opportunity to perform clarinet and saxophone with prestigious groups such as, The Grammy winner Pacifica Quartet, and great musicians as Guinga, Omar Hakim, Toto La Momposina, Oscar Stagnaro, Greg Hopkins and George Garzone, Gregorio Uribe to name a few.
As a composer, Juan has different pieces that were commissioned by New England Conservatory faculty Kenneth Radnofsky and has worked as an arranger for the New England Conservatory Wind Ensemble. His recent compositions are being performed in Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, China, Germany and around the United States. One of Juan’s big challenges is to picture his homeland ‘’Colombia’’ in his music but also to create a fusion that is influenced by all the music from Latin America and the American Jazz.
Juan studied at Berklee College of Music with Dr. Shannon Leclaire and George Garzone.
Currently Juan works as a personal assistant for NEA jazz master and 14 time Grammy winner Paquito D’Rivera.
MAUREEN TERMECZ
Visual Artist
*Biography coming soon*
PABLO ZINGER
Pianist & Musical Director
Uruguayan-born New Yorker Pablo Zinger is widely acclaimed as a conductor, pianist, composer, arranger, writer, lecturer and narrator, specializing on Astor Piazzolla, tango, Spanish zarzuela, and Latin American music.
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He has performed throughout the Americas and in Spain, Russia, Poland, Slovenia, Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, South Africa, Greece, Germany and Norway.
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He accompanied Plácido Domingo at Washington’s Constitution Hall, conducted for Paquito D’Rivera’s Carnegie Hall 50th. Anniversary Concert and the Moscow première of Piazzolla’s María de Buenos Aires, narrated Piazzolla’s Pueblo Joven at Tokyo’s Opera City and accompanied legendary Spanish diva Sarita Montiel in NYC.
RÓMULO VIANA
Classical Guitar & Percussion
Romulo Viana is an active performer and teacher throughout South America, the US, and Europe. A native of Brazil, Romulo is sought after for his diversity—performing programs that often feature both classical repertoire and Latin American popular music.
Romulo is currently pursuing his Doctorate at Stony Brook University in NYC, under the tutelage of the two-time Latin Grammy nominee and Brasil Guitar Duo member, João Luiz. Romulo now resides in New York City, and in the last years has performed solo concerts across Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, the USA, Portugal, Switzerland, and Russia.
SEBASTIAN ARMENDARIZ
Tenor
Born in El Paso, Texas, Sebastian Armendariz is a tenor, actor, content creator, teaching artist, and cancer survivor who is currently based in New York City. Sebastian has been a voice teacher since 2015, and has worked as a freelance producer for classical artists since 2016. Since 2020, Sebastian has made his TV debut, performed in new musical workshops in NYC, and collaborated with the Chicago based non-profit music organization, Hearing In Color, to produce "Latinidad - La gente y la música" a work that highlights the lives and art of Latinx artists in the classical music world. Most recently, Sebastian has performed art song (featuring Spanish repertoire) with Salon 58 and the Federation of the Art Song as well as opera and zarzuela with Richmond County Orchestra. Before 2020, he performed with Indianapolis Opera as a resident artist, the Chautauqua Institution, and Sarasota Opera as an apprentice artist. Armendariz holds a Master of Music degree in voice performance and pedagogy from DePaul University in Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. He is the youngest of five children, a proud uncle, and a lover of sonnets, soccer, and Salsa dancing.
VICTORIA FEBRER
As an educator, I am committed to the vital role of visual art education as a force for lasting positive social and environmental change. I believe that a critical arts practice empowers us to not only to explore and appreciate the world we live in, but also to share our unique discoveries and points of view with our communities. I was the first instructor of fine art to ever receive the AAC&U K. Patricia Cross Award for Future Leaders in Higher Education.
