[NoHo Arts District, CA] – Ballet Hispánico brings Carmen.maquia, its contemporary dance interpretation of Bizet’s opera Carmen, to The Soraya on March 28.
Bizet’s familiar opera Carmen, about a love triangle between a soldier, a bullfighter, and a free-spirited Gypsy, is new again in the hands of Ballet Hispánico New York. The New York-based company engaged three Spaniards for a note of authenticity: choreographer Gustavo Ramírez Sansano, and his designers for sets and costumes. Sansano excerpted music from several Bizet compositions, but of course, the bolero and habanera are lifted straight from the opera, with the choreography adding a distinct Spanish flair. Sansano added “maquia” to the title of his creation to emphasize a battle to the death. In Spanish, bullfighting is called “tauromaquia.”
When:
Saturday, March 28 | 8PM
Tickets:
https://thesoraya.org/whats-on/en/ballet-hispanico-carmen-maquia
$46–$94
Price includes all fees.
Where:
Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts
18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge, CA 91330
About the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya)
The Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for The Performing Arts (The Soraya) is an award-winning, state-of-the-art 1,700-seat theatre that opened in 2011 as the Valley Performing Arts Center (VPAC). Through a transformative gift by Younes and Soraya Nazarian, the venue was renamed The Soraya in 2017. The Soraya is located on the campus of California State University Northridge, the intellectual and cultural heart of the San Fernando Valley.
Executive and Artistic Director Thor Steingraber, in his 12th year leading the organization, sums up what makes The Soraya a central piece of Los Angeles arts and culture. “At The Soraya, we hold a high standard of excellence for every performance from a vast array of artistic disciplines, and we hold steadfast to our commitment to the value and impact of the performing arts in community-building, for the Valley’s 1.8 million residents and beyond.”
The Soraya’s 2025-26 Season is a journey through the expansive sounds of orchestras, the freestyle vibes of jazz, the innovations of dance luminaries, and a vast array of global voices. The Soraya continues its vigorous commitment to excelling, innovating, and amplifying access for Valley residents, students, and arts lovers across Southern California.