thePULSEBy Shelly Schweizer
Like its neighbor to the north, Mexico is a multicultural land with a rich artistic heritage. Within its borders dwell people descended from many indigenous cultures and the country is melting pot of people from all over the world. Mexico is home to ancient civilizations which have perished through wars, famines and imperialism, their ruins, legends and myths their only remaining legacy.
Music Worcester will present Ballet Folklorico de Mexico at Mechanics Hall on Tuesday, October 23. The performances by Ballet Folklorico de Mexico celebrate the diversity of Mexico’s rich cultural heritage through brilliant choreography, lavish costumes and live music.
Ballet Folklorico Founder Amalia Hernandez is a prolific choreographer who has created more than 100 dances over the span of her career. For 53 years, she has honored and preserved the various forms of dance held dear by the multitude of cultures represented in Mexico. Since the troupe’s inception, they’ve appeared in front of 22 million people during 15,000 performances.
Hernandez started dancing at age eight. Her father, a politician and military man, insisted on the best possible instruction for his daughter. Although Hernandez learned classical and modern styles and theories of dance from the crème de le crème, including teachers from the Paris Opera and Pavlova’s Russian Ballet, it was the music and folk dances of the people of Mexico that resonated most with her.
Hernandez began her career as a modern dance teacher and choreographer at the Fine Arts National Institute in Mexico. In 1952, she left the Institute to form her own company, dedicated to the preservation and performance of dance from the diverse Mexican folk cultures. A weekly television program was created to showcase the group’s performances and Hernandez’s vast knowledge of Mexican folkloric dance and music.
An invitation from the Mexican government to present a special dance program representing Mexico at the 1959 Pan American Games in Chicago led to the formation of Ballet Folklorico de Mexico. The group’s triumphant performance at the Pan American Games not only garnered critical praise from the international community, it also gained them financial support from the highest levels of the Mexican government. This backing helped Hernandez establish a world class dance troupe that could share the artistic treasures of Mexican cultures and serve as cultural representatives of the country.
Midge Hamilton, who coordinates marketing and educational outreach for Music Worcester, is excited about the upcoming performance by Ballet Folklorico de Mexico. She said that audiences world wide are delighted by the opportunity to be transported to Mexico by the lavish costumes, live music and beautiful choreography. Hamilton is particularly enthused about the group’s upcoming performance because it is representative of cultural heritage that is prominent within the city and true to Music Worcester’s mission. She stresses that “We’re about promoting multicultural participation in the arts in Worcester.
She also said that the performance is a chance to dispel a common perception held by many Americans that Mexico is a place of just one culture; in fact, our neighbor to the south embraces many cultures and ethnicities within its borders.
“While I think audiences would be interested in seeing it on a more general level, with it’s wonderful music, colorful costumes and the excitement that all brings, on a deeper level, it presents a historical aspect that shows that that there are many cultures in Mexico that come together that represent folkloric Mexico. Just like any other country, there are a multitude of cultures with in the country and indigenous peoples, and all their music and dance.”
Music Worcester Inc., 323 Main Street, Worcester
Presents BALLET FOLKLORICO OF MEXICO de AMALIA HERNANDEZ
Tuesday, October 23, 8 p.m. at Mechanics Hall
For tickets and additional info, head to musicworcester.org or call (508) 754-3231.
