Performance is May 18 at Cullen Performance Hall at the University of Houston
WHAT: The Education and Community Engagement department of Society for the Performing Arts<http://www.spahouston.org> presents a special sensory-friendly student matinee performance of Ballet Hispánico. SPA’s Student Matinees give educators and students alike a unique opportunity to have cultural and artistic experiences outside of the classroom.
This sensory-friendly performance includes orchestra level seating only, with room to move around; designated quiet areas in the theater; lowered sound levels; house lights at a low level during the performance; no strobe lighting; talking and movement during the performance allowed; and extra volunteer support. The Ballet Hispánico matinee is only for students on the autism spectrum, along with their parents, siblings or caregivers, who will experience a welcoming, calm and supportive environment.
Ballet Hispánico<https://www.ballethispanico.org/>, a “strong ambassador of not just Latino culture but of dance itself” (Broadway World), brings its bold and eclectic brand of contemporary dance with an all-Latina choreographer program for the 2017-2018 season. The engagement features Michelle Manzanales’s Con Brazos Abiertos, an exploration of iconic Mexican symbols that Manzanales was reluctant to embrace as a Mexican-American child growing up in Texas; Línea Recta by Belgo-Colombian Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, a work pairing the hallmark passion of flamenco dance with highly inventive and intricate partnering, set to music by flamenco guitarist Eric Vaarzon Morel; and Catorce Dieciséis by Tania Pérez-Salas, one of Mexico’s most noted contemporary choreographers. This program draws upon the innovation and versatility of one of the world’s premier dance companies to capture contemporary Latino culture through movement. The matinee is a sensory-friendly performance, which is appropriate for individuals on the autism spectrum or those with sensory sensitivities or other disabilities.
WHEN: Friday, May 18, 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: Cullen Performance Hall
University of Houston
4800 University Dr.
Houston, 77004
COST: $10 per ticket. Call the box office at 713-227-7442 to order your tickets in advance.
About Society for the Performing Arts
Founded in 1966, Society for the Performing Arts (SPA) is the largest independent non-profit presenting organization in the Southwest. Since its inception, SPA has sponsored more than 1,000 performances of the world’s finest music, dance and theater events, in adherence to the belief that the arts are fundamental to the overall enrichment and quality of life within the community. In addition to presenting artists, SPA seeks to provide a variety of learning experiences for adults and children through master classes, lectures and special student performances, as well as build relationships between the performing arts and other interests within the greater Houston area and throughout the state of Texas.