May 10, 2011
The Historic New Orleans Collection and the New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA) will present two programs highlighting the city’s Spanish heritage during the month of May.
The Historic New Orleans Collection
On Wednesday, May 11, The Collection will present the opening of “The Threads of Memory: Spain and the United States (El Hilo de la Memoria: España y los Estados Unidos),” featuring nearly 140 rare documents, paintings, maps and illustrations selected from the Archive of the Indies in Seville. The exhibition examines the centuries-old ties between the two countries—ties dating to the early 16th century, stretching through the charting of the Mississippi and the settlement of the West, and remaining vibrant today.
“The exhibition shows a history forgotten,” said Falia González Díaz, exhibition curator and chief of conservation at the Archive of the Indies. “America’s colonial past did not begin in 1607 with the founding of Jamestown, but a century earlier, when Juan Ponce de León discovered Florida in 1513, and Spanish expeditions of exploration expanded the knowledge of the New World and its native inhabitants.”
New Orleans is the last stop on a limited, 3-city American tour of the exhibition, after which it will return to Seville. “The Threads of Memory” will be on view through July 10 at 533 Royal St. Admission is free, and the gallery is open 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Tuesday–Saturday, and 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Sunday. For more information on the exhibition, call (504) 523-4662 or visit www.hnoc.org.
New Orleans Ballet Association
Spain’s only classical ballet company, Corella Ballet Castilla y León, will take to the stage for one night only onSaturday, May 14, at 8 p.m. at the Mahalia Jackson Theater. Presented by NOBA and led by Angel Corella, the company has selected New Orleans as one of only three cities on this U.S. tour, which will end at the Spoleto USA Festival in Charleston, S.C.
Corella, the Spanish-born superstar of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) known for his technical precision, bravura dancing and intoxicating charisma, added artistic director to his title in 2008 by founding his own ballet company in Segovia, Spain.
The May 14 program features works by acclaimed choreographers Stanton Welch and Christopher Wheeldon, as well as a flamenco-inspired duet performed by Corella and his sister, Carmen.
In addition to the performance, NOBA will host the annual BRAVO gala fundraiser, A España Con Amor, on Friday, May 13, at Gallier Hall. The evening, with special guest of honor Angel Corella, will feature cuisine by Café Adelaide Executive Chef Chris Lusk, wine, music, dancing and live and silent auctions. Information about tickets for the gala or the performance is available by calling (504) 522-0996 or visiting www.nobadance.com. Tickets for the performance may also be purchased via Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000 or visiting www.ticketmaster.com.