Hazel Lopez reflects in her long journey as a dancer.
To see her move, with calculated expressions, her feet barely caress the ground and her body glides through the air.  It’s almost as to see a butterfly in full flight, and for only an instant, to imagine that something magical has happened.  A silhouette in the distance … that in her sway bewitches the audience, as the uncontrollable force of a restless storm and among pirouettes, doubled and jumps, she incites, infects and arouses. Then you are convinced that you have seen grace itself manifested in dance.  Yes, we are talking about the ballet; it’s a form of dance that can be use for story telling, to express a feeling or simply to represent a musical piece.  The dancers must be capable of floating in mid air, defying gravity, or spinning on their tiptoes.

Some steps of ballet are so rapid that often it becomes almost impossible for the audience to follow the movements of the dancer.  The techniques of this dance have an extreme difficulty, since it needs absolute concentration and control of the body, in addition, a supreme level of flexibility, coordination and musical rhythm are essential.
In order to warm up, dancers use slippers made of fabric (skin or leather) with split sole, smooth and easily adaptable.  When the experience, the physical condition and the force of the dancer allow it, the training begins with ballet slippers.  The wardrobe must be comfortable, especially, it must enhance the figure to be able to correct and see the movements of body, arms and legs.  The training in solfeggio is recommended, but it is not indispensable.  It’s ideal to start ballet training at an early age, to assimilate and to automate movements and technical steps. 

Hazel López began to dance at four years of age.  She possessed a curiosity and attraction to the movements of the human figure.  Her mother would take her, on a weekly basis to enjoy several presentations of the Ballet Guatemala.  All the arts in Guatemala are sponsored by the government, which allowed her access to the various cultural functions.

Soon after she joined the National School of Dance.  The school was offering programs of art, from the first to the seventh grade.  With daily classes and requirements of two annual examinations.  Besides the classes of dance, part of the curriculum consisted of music (theory and practice), modern dance, history of the art and theatre performance and interpretation.  In 1981 she graduated and received a Diploma of Arts with specialization in Dance.

The following year she auditioned for the Ballet of Guatemala.  She was accepted and entered the Ballet Company.  In 1983 she joined the Francisco Marroquín University, where she studied Social Communication sciences.  There she obtained her degree.  As a member of the Ballet of Guatemala, she visited several parts the United States (California, Florida and New Orleans) plus toured all of Central America.

In Guatemala she got involved with musical theatre, where she had the privilege of taking part in musicals such as My Fair Lady, Fiddler on the Roof, Chorus Line, Wizard of Oz, Man of the La Mancha, Cabaret and many more.  In 1988 she received a scholarship from Guatemalan government, to study ballet in the United States, which took her to California.  There she joined the Beverly Hills Lichine School.  Rudolph Godunov, ex-member of the Ballet of Russia, Gloria Bowen, ex-member of the Ballet of Monte-Carlo and Tania Lichine ex-member of the Ballet Diagilev, were some of her teachers.  While attending that school she received a scholarship by ZT Performing Arts and took part in musical theatres, which took her to Europe.

Later on she worked with several professional ballet companies such as London Hite Ballet, Bellflower Ballet and Ballet of the Sun.  After a while she moved to Washington, D.C., and in a suburb of Maryland, opened her own dance school, ‘Hazel Lopez Dance School’, which she operated from 1989 until 1999.  There she also had the privilege of working with Mary Anderson Dance School, Greenbelt and Langley Park Community Centers.  While working for these ballet companies she instructed in ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre, salsa and tango. 
“The main reason for which I moved to Oklahoma was my husband Mike Crutcher, who is Commissioner of Health for the State.  We were married in 2000 and my life changed immensely, he is a great companion who has helped me tremendously.  Since that moment we made Oklahoma our home,” adds Hazel.  Precisely in Oklahoma, she had the opportunity to perform with the Modern Dance Company ‘Prairie Dance’, for two years.

Later on she decided to open her own studio, and named it ‘International Dance Studio’, where she offered classes of dance, painting and visual arts; in her musical productions she encompass the various elements of artistry, such as music, dance, literature and theatre, for all ages and skill levels.  Her son Marlon Calvo and wife Blair are in charge of the Latin dances and music, especially Salsa.  I cannot fail to mention her little dog ‘Frankie’, the studio’s pet, and a very loyal friend.

The dance studio is a cultural and artistic innovation, where people of all walks of life, and all cultures may enjoy a culturally rich environment, and share the different types of dance.  In addition elaborated productions are created combining dance, art, music and the theatre.  Much more than a place to dance, the studio is a large family, where the students aside of learning, create a sense of belonging, and often discover a new meaning to their lives.
“I am convinced that one life touches many, and in this large family through the years, we have grown and we will continue to grow, offering everyone that enters these doors, the same opportunity of belonging that was given to me at the beginning of my dreams,” says Hazel. 

Certainly the diplomas, certificates and decorations that she has received thru her long artistic path are a great testimony of her dedication to the arts and to her culture.  She has been recognized by Z.T.  Performing Arts, La Monja Blanca de la Casa de la Cultura in Los Angeles, CA., The Langley Park Music Center, Amorc Hispanic Chapter in Washington, D.C., The Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Nominated Actress Revelation in Guatemala, Artistic-Cultural Diploma of the French Alliance in Guatemala, GI Forum Louis Rocco Chapter, Newspaper Nuestra Comunidad, Dances of Passion, Aalim Dance Academy, National Endowment for the Arts and the Oklahoma Arts Council.

“The success of my academy is the result of having studied with excellent teachers.  I have always strive to create and choreograph new things, following the guidelines of creativity, and work diligently to achieve a great product in my projects and productions,” she comments.  Hazel points out that an inspiration to her and the person she most admires is Evita Perón, for leading a nation towards a total, socio-economic and political change.

Clearly the person that has mostly influenced her life, has been her mother; Emma Castillo, who was a high dive champion in the Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe of 1950 and 1954.  Her mother also took part in 1951 in the second Juegos Panamericanos de Argentina, where, she received, the key to the City, from Eva Perón, in recognition of the high dive competitions.  In addition she was a member of the Olympic team of the Helnsinki World Games in 1952.  “She has been my greatest inspiration, always providing me, with her moral and emotional support along my career.  I know very well that without her, none of this would have been possible.

“I am also very grateful to many of my classmates and teachers of Guatemala, whom in my artistic path have been a very special part of my life; such as Manuel Ocampo, Antonio Crespo, and others.” Hazel comments that it fascinates her to teach people of all ages and in all skill levels.”  I am Hispanic and proud.  I try to keep alive our traditions, the music and dance have been tools that have helped me to achieve this,” she says.

Besides her dance studio, she is a teacher of Spanish at Casady School, where her positive attitude and dedication inspires her students, while sharing her Hispanic culture in addition to the language. 

“The life of an artist is hard, because dedication and tremendous discipline is needed, but if you have the passion and the tenacity to develop it and realize it you must persist on achieving your goals.  You should never abandon, the ideal of perfecting your craft, never stop dreaming, the one that does not dream does not live,”
says Hazel.