Hasbrouck Heights Dancer to Debut with Verismo Opera in Carmen

Dancer Barbara Romero of Hasbrouck Heights will debut with the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera in the Fort Lee company’s new production, Carmen, on April 26. The new production will be presented at 3:00 p.m. at the Bergen Performing Arts Center, located at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood, New Jersey. Romero, BALAM Dance Theatre (BALAM) Resident Spanish Dance Specialist, will perform with BALAM Artistic Director Carlos Fittante in Acts two and four of Georges Bizet’s popular opera.

Romero has performed in several productions with BALAM Dance Theatre in Bergen County, New Jersey. In March, she appeared in BALAM Dance Theatre’s Women of Wonder program at the Fort Lee Public Library and debuted the company’s newly reconstructed Escuela Bolero solo, La Cachucha, a rarely seen dance made famous by the romantic ballerina Fanny Elssler. Last year, she danced in the company’s premiere at the Puffin Cultural Forum in Teaneck performing El Vito, a rarely seen, alluring Spanish 19th century Escuela Bolera dance solo.

For six seasons, Romero toured the United States with the Boston Flamenco Ballet under the direction of “El Naranjito” (Simon Blasco), choreographing and performing a new production annually. She also choreographed the opera Carmen for the Regina Opera Company, performed on the cabaret circuit and was the featured dancer at Meson Asturias. Romero has appeared with Romeria Flamenca and at numerous tablaos.

Romero is known for her pristine, proud style, echoing the charisma from her master teachers both in the United States and Spain. She studied with luminary figures, such as Ciro, Fernando Romero, Alejandro Granados, Mariano Parra, José Molina, Orlando Romero, and Jerane Michel.

Verismo Opera, bergenPAC’s house opera company, presents Carmen in four acts with the libretto written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on a novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée. bergenPAC is handicapped accessible. Hearing assist systems are available upon request to the house manager in the lobby.

Tickets

Tickets may be purchased online, at the bergenPAC box office, and by calling (201) 227-1030 or toll-free at 1-888-PACSHOW. Senior citizens receive a 10% discount. The company is offering a reduced rate of $10 on all tickets for children, ages 12 and under. The special senior citizen and children’s discount ticket rates are available at the box office only and must be requested before the purchase. For special rates for group sales only, call (201) 224-2809. Discount tickets are not available for purchase online.

Funding

The 2015 season is made possible, in part, with funds provided by the New Jersey Council on the Arts/Department of State, through grand funds administered by the Bergen County Department of Parks, Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs. Other supporters include Children’s Aid Foundation, Robert J. Campbell, MD, Cesare L. Santeramo, KSJ, Paul Weiss Matching Fund, The Gerda Lissner Foundation, Inc., and Vanguard Charitable Endowment Fund.

For more information about the grand opera company, visit Verismo Opera’s web site; like the company on Facebook; get updates on Twitter @NJVerismoOpera; follow the opera company on Pinterest; or call (201) 886-0561.