Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernándezbrings traditional Mexican dance to the Phillips Center
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The lords of heaven and earth come back to life, the Mayas are re-born and the Aztecs reign again. Ballet Folklórico de México is more than a cultural icon. It is a fiesta of dance that explodes in a dazzling display of colorful costumes and effervescent rhythms. The award-winning dance company brings its unique and festive display of folk dance to the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts this November.
Ballet Folklórico started with a vision. Amalia Hernández wanted to create a company that would not only preserve the traditional folk dances of Mexico, but share them with the world. In 1952, the young dancer and choreographer began staging a series of dance presentations that would soon earn her the title of “Cultural Representative of Mexico.” Through the performances of Ballet Folklórico, the rich artistic history of Mexico’s 30 different cultures was combined into one dazzling, energetic and colorful display.
Just a few short years after its inception, Ballet Folklórico de México was regarded as the premiere folkloric dance company in Mexico, and their performances were aired weekly on television. International success and acclaim soon followed. In the more than 50 years since, Ballet Folklórico de México has managed to maintain its high standards for both cultural and performing excellence.
The company performs a number of dances pulled from the traditions of the many different cultures that have called Mexico “home.” In “Matachines,” the company performs a dance that is inspired by dances performed in the northern part of Mexico City, where pre-Hispanic people danced exclusively to worship their gods. “El Gusto” is a Mexican tap dance from the coast of Guerrero. Many of the dances combine both the pre-Columbia traditions of Mexican dance with Spanish and Caribbean influences. In “Jarana,” Ballet Folklórico showcases these three unique cultures and how the cultures have blended and melded together to form a completely new and different dance style.
Today, Amalia Hernández’s daughter, Norma López Hernández, continues her mother’s vision as one of the company’s general directors. A ballerina, López Hernández shares her mother’s passion for dance and for the company.
Ballet Folklórico de México will perform at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 11 . There will be a pre-performance discussion at 6:45 p.m. Tickets are: $35, front orchestra, mezzanine and mid-orchestra; $30, rear orchestra; and $25, balcony. The performance is sponsored by M & S Bank.
The tour of Ballet Folklórico de México is sponsored by Consejo Nacional de Promocion Turistica de Mexico, Aeroméxico INBA and Conaculta.
Tickets are available by calling the Phillips Center Box Office at 352-392-ARTS (2787) or 800-905-ARTS (toll-free within Florida) or by calling Ticketmaster at 904-353-3309 or toll free at 800-277-1700. Orders may also be faxed to 352-846-1562. Tickets are also available in person at the Phillips Center Box Office, University Box Office at the University of Florida Reitz Union and all Ticketmaster outlets; and on the web atwww.ticketmaster.com. Cash, checks, Visa and MasterCard are accepted. Group tickets are also available.
The Phillips Center Box Office is open Monday – Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. and two hours prior to the performance. Performance dates, times and programs are subject to change.
Credits
Contact
- Amy Douglas, adouglas@performingarts.ufl.edu, 352-392-1900, ext. 324