Tina Ramirez

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Tina Ramirez (born ca. 1928) is an American dancer and choreographer, best known as the founder of Ballet Hispanico, the leading Hispanic dance company in the United States.

Ramirez was born in Venezuela and moved to New York City at age 7. She studied Spanish dance with Lola Bravo, classical ballet with Alexandra Danilova, and modern dance with Anna Sokolow. She toured with the Federico Rey Dance Company, and appeared as a dancer in several Broadway shows in the 1950s, including Kismet and Lute Song.

In 1963, Ramirez returned to New York and took over her Spanish dance teacher's studio. In 1970, she expanded the school to include a performance company and renamed it Ballet Hispanico. The company now has a repertory of over 70 original dance pieces and has performed before millions of people on three continents. Among the notable alumni of the school are Jennifer Lopez, Leelee Sobieski, Rachel Ticotin, and Michael DeLorenzo.

Ramirez's many honors include the National Medal of Arts (2005), the Hispanic Heritage Award, the Governor's Arts Award, the Mayor's Award of Honor for Arts and Culture, and the Dance Magazine Award.