Luna Negra Dance Theater

Founded by Cuban-born dancer and choreographer Eduardo Vilaro,{{Cite web |title=Chicago Dance History Project - Eduardo Vilaro |url=https://www.chicagodancehistory.org/eduardo-vilaro |access-date=2022-07-11 |website=chidancehistory |language=en}} the company steered away from folkloric representations and utilized a variety of dance form styles such as Flamenco, Tango, or Salsa with contemporary dance movement.{{cite web |title=Luna Negra Dance Theater |url=http://www.harristheaterchicago.org/current/companies/158 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726142035/https://www.harristheaterchicago.org/current/companies/158 |archive-date=July 26, 2011 |accessdate=August 29, 2008 |publisher=Harris Theater for Music and Dance}}

Luna Negra made its home in Chicago at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park, and toured nationally and internationally.{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/latino/2008/01/21/2008-01-21_allhispanic_luna_negra_dance_company_deb-2.html|title=All-hispanic Luna Negra dance company debuts in New York |accessdate=August 29, 2008|date=January 21, 2008|publisher=NYDailyNews.com|work=New York Daily News|author=Simián, José Manuel}} It focused on the work of Latin choreographers such as Ron DeJesus, Vicente Nebrada, Gustavo Ramirez Sansano, and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa.{{cite web |author=Kourlas, Gia |date=January 28, 2008 |title=Seeking Raw Beauty in Fluid Movement |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/28/arts/dance/28luna.html? |accessdate=August 29, 2008 |work=The New York Times}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lunanegra.org/about.htm |title=About Luna Negra |accessdate=August 29, 2008 |publisher=Luna Negra Dance Theater |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610164046/http://lunanegra.org/about.htm |archivedate=June 10, 2008 |url-status=dead }} The company performed in Chicago at Ravinia Festival, The Harris Theater for Music and Dance, Symphony Center, The Dance Center of Columbia College, Dance Chicago, the Ruth Page Dance Series locally and had toured nationally and internationally to places such as Spain, Panama, and Mexico. The dance ensemble made its New York City debut at the New Victory Theater in January 2008.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/25/arts/dance/25dance.html?|title=Dance Listings|accessdate=August 29, 2008|date=January 25, 2008|work=The New York Times}} In the community, Luna Negra offered intensive, hands-on education programs that encouraged discovery and exploration of personal and community identity .

When the Harris Theater opened in 2003, it provided an aspiration for small dance companies such as Luna Negra.{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FE93A8742D9440E&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=The Harris Theater is ready, but can dancers afford rent?|accessdate=August 29, 2008|date=November 2, 2003|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Smith, Sid}} Luna Negra quickly achieved its goal of performing there,{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:ADHB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=1157969E30A0E5F8&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Dance companies premiere new works|accessdate=August 29, 2008|date=November 10, 2006|publisher=Newsbank|work=Daily Herald|author=Vitello, Barbara}}{{cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=11C6213AC6335760&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=On the Latin beat - Vilaro's dance piece celebrates mambo pioneer|accessdate=August 29, 2008|date=November 2, 2003|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Weiss, Hedy}} and it celebrated its tenth season at the Harris Theater in September 2008.{{cite press release|title=LUNA NEGRA DANCE THEATER LAUNCHES ITS 10th ANNIVERSARY SEASON WITH "CICLOS," A PROGRAM FEATURING TWO WORLD PREMIERES AND A WORK TO MARK THE JOSÉ LIMÓN CENTENNIAL|date=August 19, 2008|publisher=Silverman Group|author1=Malik, Farrah |author2=Eric Eatherly |name-list-style=amp }} In past seasons, it cohabitated with the Joffrey Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and Concert Dance Inc. at Ravinia Festival.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/14/arts/dance/14dance.html?|title=From Salsa to Ballet and Beyond|accessdate=August 29, 2008|date=May 14, 2006|work=The New York Times|author=Dunning, Jennifer}}{{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9405E5DB1E3AF931A35756C0A9629C8B63|title=SUMMER FESTIVALS: DANCE; Guess What: Even More Balanchine |accessdate=August 29, 2008|date=May 2, 2004|work=The New York Times|author=Dunning, Jennifer}} The company also performed on the schedule at Ravinia without these other Chicago dance companies.{{cite web |author=Andries, Dorothy |date=March 10, 2005 |title=Mahler, Mozart and more - Ravinia Festival announces summer classical music schedule |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:DERB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=110D9D1226854460&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708033631/http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_action=doc&p_topdoc=1&p_docnum=1&p_sort=YMD_date:D&p_product=NewsBank&p_text_direct-0=document_id=(%20110D9D1226854460%20)&p_docid=110D9D1226854460&p_theme=aggdocs&p_queryname=110D9D1226854460&f_openurl=yes&p_nbid=K48A48KAMTM0MTcxODU3Ni44ODE3MzY6MTo3OnJmLTg3MjU&&p_multi=DERB |archive-date=8 July 2012 |accessdate=August 29, 2008 |work=Deerfield Review |publisher=NewsBank}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/01/arts/dance/01dancelist.html?|title=Up on the Toes or Down Barefoot|accessdate=August 29, 2008|date=May 1, 2005|work=The New York Times|author=Dunning, Jennifer}} In its summer 2008 season, Luna Negra was the opening performance for Ravinia Festival.{{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9907E7D61E3FF932A25756C0A96E9C8B63|title=SUMMER STAGES; Summer Stages|accessdate=August 29, 2008|date=May 11, 2008|work=The New York Times|author=Dunning, Jennifer}}

In 2010, Luna Negra welcomed Gustavo Ramirez Sansano as its second artistic director in the company's history. Under Mr. Ramirez's leadership, Luna Negra continued to soar with works that challenged cultural representations and developed new possibilities for the company.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Sid |date=December 27, 2012 |title=Director Gustavo Ramirez Sansano's risks pay off for Luna Negra |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/12/27/director-gustavo-ramirez-sansanos-risks-pay-off-for-luna-negra/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304045314/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-12-27/entertainment/ct-ae-1230-coty-dance-20121227_1_carmen-maquia-eduardo-zuniga-director-gustavo-ramirez-sansano |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=live |website=Chicago Tribune}}

In 2013, Luna Negra ceased operations due to financial stress. {{Cite web |date=May 15, 2013 |title=Luna Negra Dance Theater bites the dust |url=http://www.timeoutchicago.com/things-to-do/chicago-blog/16239396/luna-negra-dance-theater-bites-the-dust |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118204340/http://www.timeoutchicago.com/things-to-do/chicago-blog/16239396/luna-negra-dance-theater-bites-the-dust |archive-date=January 18, 2014 |website=Time Out Chicago}}{{Cite web |date=May 14, 2013 |title=Luna Negra Dance Theater shutting down |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2013/05/14/luna-negra-dance-theater-shutting-down/ |website=Chicago Tribune}}

{{reflist|2}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140815110100/http://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/dance/luna-negra-dance-theater?ref=artist&refcar=%2Fartist%2Fk-l Archival Footage of the Luna Negra Dance Theatre Company performing at the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in 2012]
• [https://www.chicagodancehistory.org/eduardo-vilaro Interview with Eduardo Vilaro discussing his directorship of Luna Negra]

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Category:Hispanic and Latino American organizations

Category:Arts organizations established in 1999

Category:Dance companies in Chicago

Category:Hispanic and Latino American culture in Chicago

Category:1999 establishments in Illinois