The Ahmanson Theatre stage will be set ablaze this weekend as Tina Ramirez’s artistically directed Ballet Hispanico from New York leaves its imprint as one of the pre-eminent Latino cultural institutions in the world.

The vibrant 13-member company presents an evening of repertory work that fuses ballet, modern and Latin dance forms into a representation of contemporary Latino culture. From jazz to ballet shoes, Ballet Hispanico brings with it a program that includes the intoxicating rhythms of the conga, rumba, mambo and the cha cha, blendeded with R&B, hip-hop and jazz fosse.

This week’s show includes: “Club Havana,” the West Coast premieres of “Destino Incierto” and “Tres Bailes,” and Tony Award-winning choreographer Ann Reinking’s “Ritmo y Ruido.”

With three core divisions — the company, the school of dance, and a youth-oriented program called Primeros Pasos (First Steps) — Ballet Hispanico has traveled the world to celebrate and further interpret the aesthetic of the dynamic cultures that fall under the Latin tradition.

Among one of its newest members is Waldemar Quiñones-Villanueva, a native of Puerto Rico — a teacher in the First Steps Program — who considers Ballet Hispanico a portal into the beautiful realm of Latino culture.

“It is like the entire Latin culture is brought together on one stage, in one show, by one company,” the new dancer said.

The acclaimed professional company has performed for more than two million people in the United States, Europe and South America with a repertory of more than 95 works, each created especially for Ballet Hispanico that fuse ballet, modern and Latin dance forms into a spirited image of contemporary Latino culture.

“What I love about this company,” Quiñones-Villanueva said, “is that it sees no cultural lines or boundaries. It’s all about the beauty of music and dance, meshed together, to make beautiful music and rhythms. … There is  not one piece in the company’s repertoire that is like the other. Each is unique.”

Established by Ramirez in 1970, the Ballet Hispanico School of Dance has forged a reputation among the nation’s leading professional training programs, offering a balanced curriculum in classical ballet, modern and Spanish dance, a practice unique among America’s dance training institutions.

As a result, students receive not only a thorough grounding in the primary techniques required for a successful dance career but also specialized training in the rich and varied dance tradition which, for many, is their cultural heritage.

In love with dance his entire life — and even more so when he saw a production of “Cats” at the age of 14 — a job opportunity with the company was Quiñones-Villanueva’s ticket to New York and literally, to the rest of the world.

While he’s only been with the company since 2005, the young dancer already knows what sets Ballet Hispanico apart from others — their pride in their craft and in their roots.

Not only has the dance company made it its mission to keep the beauty of the Latino culture alive in the minds of America through the mambo, the bachata, salsa and reggaeton, but it also strives to tear down stereotypes that people may have regarding the Latino culture.

“The company showcases the versatility of the Latin culture,” Quiñones-Villanueva said. “The Latino culture is beautiful. There are many different cultures within the Latino culture, and they are all in different parts of the world, but they are all beautiful in their own way, and they can all be brought together onto one stage … so that people can see what is the Latin culture … the roots, where people came from and where we are going … and what I love the most is that, we can do it with our heads held high.”

Last June, after 38 years at the helm, Ramirez, the founder of Ballet Hispanico, announced she would be stepping down in June.
Under her leadership, the organization grew from a grassroots dance school and community-based performing arts troupe to a world class company, school of dance, and arts education program headquartered in New York City.

After an extensive national search, the company announced on April 1 the appointment of a former Ballet Hispanico member, Eduardo Vilaro, as the company’s new artistic director.

“I am overjoyed that Eduardo is coming back home,” Ramirez said. “He is a leader in the next generation of dance professionals who has done great things already in his career, and who will take what we created over the last four decades and bring it to magnificent new heights.”

Prior to coming to the United States, Quiñones-Villanueva worked with three professional dance companies in Puerto Rico. He has worked with Latin artists  Olga Tañon, Marc Anthony and Gilberto Santa Rosa — all tropical Latin artists.

Quiñones-Villanueva said he’s looking forward to the Los Angeles production and to many more years with the company.

When people talk about the evolution of Latin rhythms, Quiñones-Villanueva wants them to remember that Latin music can evolve all it wants, but it will always go back to its roots.

“The base will always be the same,” Quiñones-Villanueva said. “Whatever happens to rhythms like salsa, mambo, and older classic rhythms, today’s artists always go back to their roots. Latin music the way it was intended has survived every new musical trend there’s been. And I don’t think that is going to change anytime soon. … People are intrigued by Latin tropical rhythms … that’s why I know it will never die.”

Ballet Hispanico, he said, is a company that gives dancers the opportunity to be versatile.

“It is a very modern contemporary company with Latin flavor,” he said. “From modern pieces to ballroom pieces to jazz fosse pieces to salsa and a little R&B. Dancers go through several different dance shoes, from jazz shoes to high heels to ballet shoes — but no matter what, with every dance, people will be able to identify with the cultures.”

Rather than be afraid, people will leave enlightened by the richness and vibrancy of the Latino cultures and their music and dance.

“I hope people leave the show happy … and with the knowing that we’re not that different from one another,” Quiñones-Villanueva said.

Ballet Hispanico performs Friday through Sunday as part of the 2008-09 season of Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. (213) 365-3500