Human Nature Contemporary Ballet
Founded in 2015 by El Paso natives Rafael Chavez and Jose Barraza, Human Nature Contemporary Ballet (HNCB) emerged from a shared vision to provide a platform for the abundant talent in their hometown. El Paso, a city rich in culture yet lacking in professional dance opportunities, became the backdrop for a company dedicated to creating a space where dancers could grow and flourish. With the aspiration to eventually evolve into a professional organization, HNCB offers a place for artists to thrive—without the need to leave their roots to pursue their passion for dance.
At its core, Human Nature Contemporary Ballet is rooted in classical ballet, yet its movement language stretches beyond tradition. Drawing influences from contemporary dance, martial arts, and gymnastics, HNCB reshapes the classical form, stripping away its mystique and revealing the humanity behind the art. The company’s movement style challenges perceptions of ballet, embracing raw physicality, fluidity, and the expressive possibilities of the human body. Every gesture, every leap, is intentional—inviting the audience to witness not just technique, but emotion, vulnerability, and truth.
For HNCB, dance is not just an art form; it is a universal language—one that transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries, reaching into the shared emotional truths of the human experience. Each work becomes a bridge between performer and audience, an honest exchange of energy, emotion, and connection. The dancers are not distant figures placed upon a pedestal, but fully human storytellers, offering themselves to be seen, heard, and felt. There is no artifice, no separation. Just movement as a way to communicate the deep, often unspoken, truths that bind us all.
The company’s works reflect this philosophy. The GRID is a poignant example, created in response to the early days of the HIV/AIDS crisis and its impact on the LGBTQ+ community. Inspired by the initial stigmatization of the disease as GRID (Gay-Related Immune Deficiency), the piece seeks to raise awareness about the ongoing HIV/AIDS epidemic, providing not only an artistic representation but also tangible resources, such as free HIV testing in collaboration with La Fe Care Center. Through The GRID, HNCB aims to spark conversation, remove stigma, and highlight advancements in treatment options like PrEP and PEP, emphasizing the importance of continued dialogue on the subject.
Human Nature Contemporary Ballet is deeply connected to its El Paso roots, and that connection is reflected in every performance. The company weaves elements of local folklore, identity, and the unique challenges of the Mexican-American borderlands into its work. Pieces like Talisman, inspired by the Mexican legend of La Llorona, and Infra, which addresses the hidden traumas of the border—deportation, femicide, and systemic erasure—ground HNCB’s work in the shared experiences of the community. The company also proudly supports local events, such as sponsoring El Paso Sun City Pride, and strives to make dance more accessible to all. Whether through community events, accessible performances, or charity collaborations, HNCB is committed to giving back to the city that shaped it.
Looking ahead, the company’s ultimate goal is to evolve into a leading professional dance institution, one that fosters a long-term relationship with a fine arts conservatory or school, similar to the prestigious partnerships between the New York City Ballet and the School of American Ballet. This vision will allow HNCB to continue nurturing the next generation of artists while contributing to the cultural richness of the El Paso community and beyond.
At its core, Human Nature Contemporary Ballet is rooted in classical ballet, yet its movement language stretches beyond tradition. Drawing influences from contemporary dance, martial arts, and gymnastics, HNCB reshapes the classical form, stripping away its mystique and revealing the humanity behind the art. The company’s movement style challenges perceptions of ballet, embracing raw physicality, fluidity, and the expressive possibilities of the human body. Every gesture, every leap, is intentional—inviting the audience to witness not just technique, but emotion, vulnerability, and truth.
For HNCB, dance is not just an art form; it is a universal language—one that transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries, reaching into the shared emotional truths of the human experience. Each work becomes a bridge between performer and audience, an honest exchange of energy, emotion, and connection. The dancers are not distant figures placed upon a pedestal, but fully human storytellers, offering themselves to be seen, heard, and felt. There is no artifice, no separation. Just movement as a way to communicate the deep, often unspoken, truths that bind us all.
The company’s works reflect this philosophy. The GRID is a poignant example, created in response to the early days of the HIV/AIDS crisis and its impact on the LGBTQ+ community. Inspired by the initial stigmatization of the disease as GRID (Gay-Related Immune Deficiency), the piece seeks to raise awareness about the ongoing HIV/AIDS epidemic, providing not only an artistic representation but also tangible resources, such as free HIV testing in collaboration with La Fe Care Center. Through The GRID, HNCB aims to spark conversation, remove stigma, and highlight advancements in treatment options like PrEP and PEP, emphasizing the importance of continued dialogue on the subject.
Human Nature Contemporary Ballet is deeply connected to its El Paso roots, and that connection is reflected in every performance. The company weaves elements of local folklore, identity, and the unique challenges of the Mexican-American borderlands into its work. Pieces like Talisman, inspired by the Mexican legend of La Llorona, and Infra, which addresses the hidden traumas of the border—deportation, femicide, and systemic erasure—ground HNCB’s work in the shared experiences of the community. The company also proudly supports local events, such as sponsoring El Paso Sun City Pride, and strives to make dance more accessible to all. Whether through community events, accessible performances, or charity collaborations, HNCB is committed to giving back to the city that shaped it.
Looking ahead, the company’s ultimate goal is to evolve into a leading professional dance institution, one that fosters a long-term relationship with a fine arts conservatory or school, similar to the prestigious partnerships between the New York City Ballet and the School of American Ballet. This vision will allow HNCB to continue nurturing the next generation of artists while contributing to the cultural richness of the El Paso community and beyond.
Artistic Director
Rafael Chavez |
About the Director:
Chavez is a choreographer of instinct and imagination, an educator, and the founder of Human Nature Contemporary Ballet—a company born at the crossroads of cultures in El Paso, Texas. A child of the borderlands, Chavez found his way to dance at the age of 13, training under Eva Garza, where movement first became a language of possibility. He later honed his craft at the University of Texas at El Paso, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance. In Chavez’s work, classical ballet breathes through a contemporary heart. His choreography fuses precision with poetry, telling stories that pulse with emotion and reflect the complexities of modern life. Original works such as Talisman, The GRID, and Transcendence bear witness to his gift for weaving intricate, human narratives through the body’s arc and flight. His pieces have traveled to audiences across the nation and beyond, featured at the American College Dance Association, the World Dance Alliance, and internationally at the 2024 World Water Week Conference (Bridging Borders: Leveraging Water for Peace). As Artistic Director of Human Nature Contemporary Ballet, Chavez crafts performances that are more than dances—they are invitations: to reflect, to heal, to imagine a more compassionate world. His vision is rooted in the belief that movement transcends language, offering a mirror to the soul and a bridge between hearts. Alongside his creative work, Chavez is a devoted teacher at Protégé Dance Company, where he guides dancers in Ballet, Contemporary, Floorwork, and Improvisation. His choreography has also graced stages at major national competitions, including Starbound, Showstopper, KAR, and Youth America Grand Prix, affirming his ability to move both audiences and artists alike. At the center of Chavez’s artistry is a quiet, steadfast truth: that dance is where strength and vulnerability meet. Through each step, leap, and gesture, he seeks to carve spaces where stories are told without words—and where the human spirit is free to be seen, felt, and heard. |