NEW YORK (1010 WINS) --- Latinos are driving prosperity, power and progress in America. It is the theme for Hispanic Heritage Month 2023.
If you look at television, movies and music, you see just how the Latin community is thriving.
You can look at the success of Latin music artists like Puerto Rico's Bad Bunny and Colombia's Maluma and Karol G to see their influence in pop culture.
The entertainment industry is becoming aware of just how much influence Latinos have. They see the money to be made within nuestra communidad.
“We have a certain collateral that is not only our workforce and our capital, but how we have become such a strong influence in mainstream to America,” says Eduardo Vilaro, the artistic director and ceo of Ballet Hispánico, the largest Latinx/Latine/Hispanic cultural organization in the U.S. and one of America’s Cultural Treasures. Ballet Hispánico’s three main programs, the Company, School of Dance, and Community Arts Partnerships "bring communities together to celebrate the multifaceted Hispanic diasporas," according to it site."
However, it is not just entertainment. Vilaro says you can even see the influence on what you put on your plate -- think Goya -- to what you wear like Oscar de la Renta and everything in between.
Vilaro points out how his non-Latino friends listen to Bad Bunny. “I’m like let me tell you what you what he’s saying because there’s some interesting lyrics here about our culture,” says Vilaro.
Vilaro points out the importance of this year’s celebration.
“Not only are we celebrating our heritage that we left behind, we are celebrating as Latino-Americanos and the power that we have here to continue to change and form or reform the landscape here,” says Vilaro.
“Continue to change…or reform” is what Ballet Hispanico is doing with their conversation series
There's "Stonewall Dialogos: Creating Safe Spaces celebrating LGBTQIA+ Latinx heritage." According to its website, the series is to explore “the interconnections of the arts, social justice and Latinx cultures.”
Vilaro points out that while the culture has come a long way to accept the LGBTQIA+ community, thanks to dance companies like Ballet Hispanico and those in the entertainment/fashion industry, it can still be difficult to have the conversation.
“We come from a very machismo culture, very strong religious background,” says Vilaro. In other words, it is not a culture that has easily accepted the community, but Vilaro and the dance company are hopingto change that."
“This is why as Americas largest Latinx dance organization, we take a stand for all communities,” says Vilaro.
As a community that continues to grow around the country, Vilaro feels the voice of the Latinos will be strong in this upcoming presidential election.
Dialogos at Stonewall Inn will be Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 5:30 p.m.
Ballet Hispanico will hold its community celebration on Sunday, Oct. 15 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Ballet Hispanico Way at West 89th Street at Amsterdam Avenue. There will be local street vendors, live music, dancing and more.
For more information, visit Ballet Hispanico's website.