Tina Ramirez

ABOUT TINA RAMIREZ

Founder of the Ballet Hispanico, the most popular Hispanic dance company in the US. She has used the company to provide children and students with opportunities to learn dance who may have not otherwise had the chance. Her initiative, Primeros Pasos, has provided over 15,000 students with dance education.

She studied Spanish dance in New York with prolific performer, Lola Bravo, prior to getting her start.

In 2005, she received the nation's highest cultural honor, the National Medal of Arts Award, for her contributions to the industry. She was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from the Juilliard School.

She was born in Venezuela.

She and baseball player Josh Barfield are both originally from Venezuela.