NJST Presents Ballet Hispánico New York!
NJ State Theater presents Ballet Hispánico New York in CARMEN.maquia on Sunday, November 1 at 3pm. Tickets start at $34.
New Brunswick, NJ (October 23, 2026)—By Kelly Blithe
CARMEN.maquia is a striking reinterpretation of Bizet’s opera that blends ballet, flamenco, and contemporary movement into a powerful meditation on identity, passion, and defiance.
Two of the featured performers are from New Jersey, including Mia Bermudez from Montclair and Madison Carrión, an Apprentice from New Brunswick. Bermudez began her dance training at The Ballet Hispánico School’s La Academia Pre-Professional Program on a full merit scholarship, and this is her third season with Ballet Hispánico. Madison Carrión began her training at Inspira Performing Arts at the age of five and continued at Princeton Ballet School and Princeton Dance and Theater Studio. During this time, she attended prestigious summer programs including the School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and the International Ballet Masterclasses in Prague. This is Carrión’s first season with Ballet Hispánico.
The other featured performers include Amanda Bacallao (from Miami, Florida), Thierry Blannchard (from São Paulo, Brazil), Antonio Cangiano (from Naples, Italy), Arianna Carson (from Los Angeles, California), Taylor Garcez (from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil), Francesca Levita (from Chicago, Illinois), Matthew Mancuso (from East Haven, Connecticut), Dylan Dias McIntyre (from North Palm Beach, Florida), Andrea Mish (from West Palm Beach, Florida), Amanda Ostuni (from Patterson, New York), and Jerard Palazo (from Manila, Philippines).
Click photo to purchase tickets: Marius Fiskum / Nordlysfestivalen
Ballet Hispánico New York is the nation’s leading American Latino dance company and the largest cultural institution of its kind in the United States. For over five decades, it has been a beacon of artistic excellence, celebrated for its bold repertory and exceptional training programs. The Company has commissioned over 100 original works, performed on the world’s most prestigious stages, and inspired generations through performances, education, and community engagement. Recognized as one of America’s Cultural Treasures by the Ford Foundation, Ballet Hispánico New York continues to redefine what it means to be an American dance company.
At the helm is Artistic Director & CEO Eduardo Vilaro, a former Ballet Hispánico dancer and acclaimed choreographer who assumed leadership in 2009. Under his dynamic guidance, the Company has entered a new era—broadening its artistic scope, deepening its repertory, and elevating its distinctive movement language. Vilaro carries forward the founding vision of Tina Ramirez, who launched Ballet Hispánico in 1970 to celebrate the beauty of Latino cultures through dance. The Company has garnered widespread acclaim, with The New York Times noting, “Many companies pay lip service to nurturing talent, but Ballet Hispánico has devoted significant resources and care to cultivating emerging artists.” Today, Ballet Hispánico New York stands not only as a cultural institution, but as a movement—pushing the boundaries of performance while honoring the traditions that shaped its legacy.
For tickets, more information, or group discounts, call State Theatre Guest Services at 732-246-SHOW (7469) or visit online at STNJ.org. State Theatre Guest Services, located at 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick NJ, is open by phone and email only, Tuesday through Friday from 11am to 5pm. For in-person purchases, Guest Services is open Tuesday through Friday from 12pm to 4:30pm. Additional ticket and transaction fees may apply.
About State Theatre New Jersey
State Theatre New Jersey, a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, celebrated its 100th Anniversary after major renovations in December 2021. Originally built as a silent film and vaudeville palace, State Theatre’s historic significance was honored when PBS chose the theater as the first performing arts organization to be featured in its documentary series, Treasures of New Jersey. Having played a significant role in revitalizing New Brunswick—crowned “Jersey’s Best Destination of the Year” for 2025 by Jersey’s Best magazine—State Theatre resides in the heart of the city’s arts district. Today, State Theatre is the largest performing arts center in Central New Jersey and has welcomed more than six and a half million people through its doors since reopening as a nonprofit performing arts center in 1988. State Theatre New Jersey is a cornerstone of the cultural vitality of Middlesex County and averages a total economic impact on New Brunswick and the surrounding area of more than $18 million a year. The mainstage programs have included high-caliber artists such as Diana Ross, Tom Jones, Kevin Hart, Ringo Starr, Melissa Etheridge, John Leguizamo, Harry Connick, Jr., Peter Frampton, and Leanne Morgan. Program offerings include Broadway, orchestra, family, dance, comedy, rock/pop, jazz, Performances for Schools, and Sensory-Friendly Performances.
State Theatre New Jersey’s programs are made possible by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Grant funding has been provided by the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners through a grant award from the Middlesex County Cultural and Arts Trust Fund. For information on events, go to MiddlesexCountyCulture.com.
