Vilaro cites the mentorship of his early teachers and Ballet Hispánico’s founder and first artistic director Tina Ramirez as seminal influences in his dance education. Choreographic influences include Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, Nacho Duato, and Pina Bausch. In addition, he has found inspiration in dance forms beyond the realm of the standard canon, such as the Eighties New York dance scene where gay culture and voguing thrived; the break-dancing and street performances that originated in his home borough of the Bronx; and Afro-Caribbean music, dance parties, and capoeira classes that defined his childhood and teen years. Finally, Vilaro has often turned to theater, opera, music, visual arts, literature (some of his works include spoken text), even nature and wildlife as creative springboards.
