Latino choreographers from Limon to Soto: Past and current directions in dance heritage

Contemporary Latino choreographers have made major contributions to the field of dance. The importance of studying the work of Latino choreographers relates to the growth in size and importance of the Latino population educationally, economically and culturally in the United States. These contributions cover a wide range of ideas and vocabulary. This study introduces the Latino population, with its varieties in culture, including terms of identity. It presents an analysis of the opportunities for emerging young Latino artists in public high schools for the arts. Finally, this study analyses four choreographers who represent creative work accomplished over the last fifty years: Jose Limon, Rudy Perez, Jose Luis Bustamante, and Merian Soto. These choreographers present the major questions in relation to the way in which their Latino heritage plays a role in their choreography. How their work developed, and what it means to be identified as a Latino artist.