Artists Registry
New York NY United States
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Artist's Statement
Statement of Work
Like every other part of the city, New York's dance community was profoundly affected by the tragic events of September 11. In the one year since the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, there has been time for reflection and healing. Many artists have created memorials, both physical and presentational, in hopes of honoring those lost and uniting those who remain. I started to craft this "memorial" dance performance only weeks after the attacks -- though I didn't know it at the time. Like many New Yorkers, I had a personal connection to the tragedy: one of my dancers, Liz Flynn, lived only blocks from the WTC, and during the initial communication blackout we panicked for we weren't sure whether she was safe (she was). We were all so stunned at the time. If anything, I went out of my way to NOT do a September 11 piece. But as we went through our creative process, in the three first weeks of October, 2001, in our residency in Scranton, PA, it became clear that something rooted in an emotional connection to the event would evolve. How could it not? When not in the studio, we were glued to the newspapers and television to update us about our homes, our city! I feel strongly that while the work will definitely resonate with New York audiences now, it's not necessarily intrinsically tied to the WTC terrorist attacks. Two Hours That Shook The World is about how humanity handles a monumental catastrophe. It could be Pearl Harbor, or JFK's death -- or Martin Luther King's.
- Hernando Cortez
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HERNANDO CORTEZ
338 West 77 St # 3A,New York NY 10024hvcortez@mac.com Ph: 917-656-2145
Strong Administrator with deep roots in New York and national dance communities.
Took a regional Ohio dance troupe to national recognition by conceiving and executing a focused artistic mission.
Adept at promoting artistic excellence while developing strong funding and development program.
Recognized for pioneering fundraising and organizational work to help dancers with HIV/AIDS.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Full Time Faculty Member (Modern), Joffrey Ballet School, New York, NY, 2011 -- present.
Taught a comprehensive Modern Dance course for Joffrey Ballet School’s Young Dancer Program.
Independent Choreographer, 1985 -- present.
Most recently as guest choreographer for Peridance Youth Ensemble, New York NY.
Choreography for acclaimed revival of Altar Boyz, produced by Playhouse Square, Cleveland OH.
Adjunct Faculty Member (Ballet), Purchase College Conservatory of Dance, Purchase NY, 2009 - 2010.
Taught multiple courses, Fall 2009 – Spring 2010. Received ABT® Teacher Certificate, Summer 2010.
Artistic Director, Verb Ballets, Cleveland OH, 2003 – 2008. verbballets.org.
Conceived / implemented artistic vision for modern dance company. Planned / executed fundraising strategy.
Founder and Director, Cortez & Co. Contemporary Ballet, New York NY, 1996 – 2002.
Founded, choreographed and directed dance company. Incorporated it as non-profit with 501(c)3 status..
Co-Founder and Director, Dancers Responding to AIDS (DRA), 1990 - 2002. dradance.org.
Pioneered AIDS fundraising for dancers by dancers. DRA is part of Broadway Cares / Equity Fights Aids.
Principal Dancer, leading Manhattan-based modern and ballet dance companies:
White Oak Dance Project, New York NY, 1999 – 2000 (Baryshnikov-founded touring company).
Paul Taylor Dance Company, New York NY, 1987 – 1996.
Feld Ballets, New York NY, 1985 – 1987.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
EXECUTIVE and ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP
Took Verb Ballets from a niche troupe to a state favorite, playing to full houses at a 2,500-seat theater: Expanded the troupe from 6 dancers / 2 annual seasons to 16 dancers performing 4 annual seasons.
• Working with Board of Directors and Executive Director, formulated 5-year plan, annual plans and budget. Oversaw preparation of Annual Reports. Grew operating budget from $173,000 in 2002 to $400,000 in 2008, with no deficit.
• Boosted the company’s earned income from ticket sales and merchandising by 152% from 2002 – 2008 as audience base grew. Played in successively larger theaters, culminating in sold-out seasons at the 2,500-seat Allen Theater at Playhouse Square (2nd - largest performing arts venue in U.S).
• Hired and managed 40+ staff or contractors, including directors, performers, designers, production manager, technical director and stage managers. Created and rolled out a Human Resources manual.
• Initiated tours by successfully pitching company to prospective venues; company toured in OH, FL and CA. Managed all aspects of production, logistics and publicity for both home and touring venues.
Piloted Dancers Respond to AIDS to become a key fundraising platform:
“What saves DRA from becoming maudlin or morose is the fact that Hernando is one of the people at the helm.” (Bebe Neuwirth quoted in The Advocate, 8/29/2000.)
• Pioneered and curated benefit studio performances by soloists, then created the Fire Island Dance Festival (FIDF) in 1995. FIDF has been hailed as “a benchmark for inventive fundraising” (The Advocate), and as “One of the 12 best parties of the year” (New York Times Styles Section).
• Mobilized dance companies to incorporate AIDS fundraising into their own efforts; as a result, many companies such as the Paul Taylor Company hold their own DRA benefits.
Successfully managed own company (Cortez & Co.). Identified theaters and presenters for regional / national tours.
FUNDRAISING and DEVELOPMENT SKILLS
Boosted Verb Ballets’ Contributed Income by 119% from 2002 – 2008.
• Expanded number and scope of company benefits. Benefit receipts grew approx. 10-fold from 2002 to 2008.
• Developed innovative partnership with Cleveland’s Museum of Natural History: Presented new ballets in Museum auditorium. This raised Verb’s profile among Museum patrons.
• Won grants from National Endowment for the Arts, Cleveland Foundation, and George Gund Foundation.
• Increased personal donations from major donors by fostering relationships with them. Identified and cultivated several new Board Members and donors, including one who commissioned and paid for a new work.
• Represented Verb via speaking engagements, public and social appearances, and at fundraising events.
Raised hundreds of thousands for DRA through FIDF performances and more:
• Grew average FIDF receipts from under $10,000 in 1995 to approx. $100,000 in 2002. Identified and cultivated potential hosts for FIDF. Obtained local sponsorships for food, transportation, etc., and brought in national sponsors such as MAC Cosmetics, Seagrams.
• With DRA co-founder Denise Roberts Hurlin, created “Studio of the Year” competition that generates income from dance troupes across the U.S., while raising the profile of DRA and its advocacy.
ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP
Conceived, developed, and implemented the artistic vision of Verb Ballets. Garnered national exposure for Verb, twice hailed by Dance Magazine ("25 to Watch"; "Great Tiny Troupes").
• Broadened audience by combining anchor modern works with work by contemporary / emerging artists.
• Choreographed and staged over 24 new ballets from 2002 – 2008, including new Cortez works each season.
• Acquired, presented and maintained repertory works from choreographers such as Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, Heinz Poll, Antony Tudor, David Parsons, and Sean Curran.
• Held auditions, taught and evaluated company dancers. Managed dancer contract negotiations. Scheduled and directed company rehearsals. Conceived and coordinated productions with theatre staff.
• Developed "Integrated Curriculum Residencies" where local students created dances to explore themes being taught in other subjects.
Directed, presented and produced DRA dance productions featuring principal dancers from renowned companies. Composed and choreographed for Cortez & Co as well as for dance companies nationwide:
• Choreographed for Paul Taylor Company's smash hit Funny Papers.
• Created new dances for American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company , Williamstown Theater Festival and a revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Song and Dance (Beck Center, Lakewood, Ohio).
EDUCATION and AWARDS
Nominated and funded by the Cleveland Foundation to attend Executive Program for Non-Profit Leaders, a joint program of the Stanford ¬Graduate School of Business Center for Social Innovation and National Arts Strategies. 2007.
Completed Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 5 of ABT® National Training Curriculum.
Bachelor of Fine Arts, SUNY Purchase. Honors, “President’s Award for Achievement.”
• “Most Interesting People" citation by Cleveland Magazine, 2005
• Northern Ohio Live Award of Achievement, 2004.
• Dance Magazine Award for work in founding DRA, 1997.
• New York Dance and Performance “Bessie” Award, 1996 (Co-administered and produced by Dance Theater Workshop, Danspace Project, and The Joyce Theater).