Tamia B. Santana Named Chief Engagement and Inclusion Officer of Ballet Hispánico

Tamia B. Santana Named Chief Engagement and Inclusion Officer of Ballet Hispánico

Ballet Hispánico, the nation’s largest Latino dance organization recognized as one of America’s Cultural Treasures, announced the appointment of Tamia B. Santana as the organization’s new Chief Engagement and Inclusion Officer. Santana reports directly to Eduardo Vilaro, Artistic Director & CEO, Ballet Hispánico.

In her new executive role, Santana will serve as a catalyst to leverage best practices and resources across Ballet Hispánico’s programming and curriculum to promote a culture of engagement and inclusion that is aligned with the organization’s principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“We are thrilled that Tamia is joining our Ballet Hispánico familia. She is a steadfast arts advocate and a celebrated arts and education professional,” said Vilaro. “Ballet Hispánico has served BIPOC communities since its inception and lives diversity daily, providing our multi-racial, different-bodied youth the opportunity to find their passions in a safe space…As Chief Engagement and Inclusion Officer Tamia will be integral to leading our future engagement, inclusion and diversity efforts and strategy.”

Santana will be responsible for strategizing and expanding on Ballet Hispánico’s signature model, the Community Arts Partnerships program, to create new avenues of engagement that will build upon Ballet Hispánico’s unique space as a community advocate. In collaboration with the artistic team, Santana will propose and plan programming for Ballet Hispánico’s recently launched Latinx Dance Institute which comprises the Instituto Coreográfico, “Diálogos” series, and the Latinx Dance Leaders Summit.

Additionally, she will develop institutional community programming that will enhance and strengthen the brand and influence of Ballet Hispánico in New York, throughout the country, and abroad. Furthermore, Santana will be instrumental in cultivating and sustaining enduring partnerships with schools, performance venues, cultural organizations and universities.

Santana brings with her 15 years of experience in directing, curating, producing and touring. She is the founder and former Executive Director of Brooklyn Dance Festival, and co-founder of Jeté Dance Center in Brooklyn, NY. Santana serves on the Board of Directors for One Brooklyn through NYC mayor-elect Eric Adams, promoting collaboration and engagement among Brooklyn’s diverse communities through events, programs, and services. She is a proud member of the Bessie Awards’ Steering Committee and a Resident Director of the Brooklyn Museum’s Brooklyn Dance Festival Concert series for Target First Saturday. Additionally, Santana has supported curating and directing dance events at Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), SummerStage, Brooklyn Borough Hall and more.  

For fifty years Ballet Hispánico has been the leading voice intersecting artistic excellence and advocacy. Ballet Hispánico brings communities together to celebrate and explore Latino cultures through innovative dance productions, transformative dance training, and enduring community engagement experiences. From its inception Ballet Hispánico has focused on providing a haven for Black and Brown Latino youth and families seeking artistic place and cultural sanctuary. Today, Ballet Hispánico’s New York City headquarters house a School of Dance and state-of-the-art dance studios for its programs and the arts community.

To learn more, visit https://www.ballethispanico.org/