Mexican Independence Day is just around the corner. That means lots of fiesta, Mexican food, music, tequila and ballet folklorico!
This year the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez will be performing at the Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie on September 16 in honor of Mexican Independence Day. There will be a wide variety of traditional performances by the ballet group.
Here is a break down:
LOS MATACHINES
Los Matachines dance is from the North side of Mexico and it is danced during the religious celebrations. It comes from the habit of the prehispanic people to dance to their Gods.
The Spaniards brought with the conquest the dances of middle age to Mexico, and since the sixteenth century, Los Matachines is danced for the Christian Gods and has remained intact up to date.
GUERRERO-GUERRERO
A fascinating dance, full of movements and rhythms that project Mexican culture. The title comes from Vicente Guerrero, a Mexican independence hero, and one of the most important militaries and politicians of the time. Also, guerrero is an adjective, which means courage and bravery.
Solo de Mariquita
Many versions of this song are known across the country, particularly in the state of Guerrero, where it is sung in a singular style called “chilena”. This piece is also popular in Chile ́s folklore, where it probably came from Spanish influence.
Las Amarillas
Calandria is the name of a yellow and orange bird whose song is both loud and beautiful. Calandrias are called “amarillas” in Mexico.
El Gusto
“El Gusto” is a Mexican tap dance from the coast of Guerrero, performed in the villages of Zirandaro and Altamirano.
REVOLUCIÓN
Big social changes came with the Mexican Revolution, in 1910. This dance is dedicated to the «soldaderas», women who supported their men and even got into Mexico’s fight for liberty. Unlike peasants, aristocrats enjoy themselves at a party and dance to the rhythm of the music when a group of rebel revolutionaries break in and next to «Juana Gallo», their leader, start dancing popular music, such as «La Adelita«
CHARREADA
One of Mexico ́s deepest traditions is charreria, where men and women demonstrate their bravery in sports competitions, due to the work done in old Haciendas of Mexico.
During a celebration full of color and fun, the Charro shows his beloved his abilities with the rope, captivating her to the rhythm of a Jarabe.
“Danza de la reata” – “Jarabe de Amor Ranchero “ – “El bien – El mal. El mundo se libra del mal con el amor.”
FIESTA EN TLACOTALPAN
Every february 2nd, there ́s a festivity dedicated to the Candelaria Virgin. This celebration is all about fandango competitions and the appearance of huge figures called mojigangas, which represent all kinds of subjects related to the village. Caribean music is played with «Congas» (drums), as in a mardi-gras celebration parade.
Conjunto de Músicos Jarochos * El pescador * La Morena * El Pajaro Carpintero * Los Abanicos * El Coco * La Bamba * El Payaso * La Jarocha * El Angel * El Moro * El Negrito * La India Maria * El Diablo * La Llorona.
DANZA DE LOS QUETZALES
This ancient dance is based upon the Quetzal legend. The quetzal is a mythological Central American bird that native people considered sacred, symbol of elegance and beauty. Emperor Moctezuma’s headdress was, supposedly, made up by twenty four quetzal feathers.
This dance is performed particularly in the state of Puebla, by dancers who practice for months until mastering performing as birds. It represents dignity, sanctity and grace that native american people associated to such divinity. The headdresses the dancers wear, have at least a two meter diameter and require a lot of practice in order to achieve an amazing result.
LIFE LIKE A GAME
The game is controlled by the devil. He handles all characters as if they were marionettes and with their cords, he manipulates the way to determine their destiny. Reality and fantasy interact when devil uses both, the “Cupid” and “Death” to perform a tangled love story between a bride, her groom and her lover.
DANZA DEL VENADO
The Yaqui people are excellent hunters and have stayed away from the Spanish influence to constitute the only aboriginal tribe of the country which conserves its original autonomy.
The Yaqui ́s are very religious in most of their activities. According to their ancestor’s methods, enriched with rites and traditions, Danza del Venado is a symbolic performance of a deer ́s hunt. Because of its oldness and for its present mastery of execution, it constitutes one of the best examples of imitative magic
FIESTA EN JALISCO
The state of Jalisco is the land of Charros, Chinas and Mariachis, symbols of Mexican nationality. It ́s only possible to understand a village ́s joy, grace and beauty by listening to the traditional mariachi and watching a couple dance to the rhythm of sones jaliscienses.
A couple of dancers, the China and the Charro, joyously show, in all kind of artistic expressions, how to captivate a lady. Finally, the Charro throws his sombrero to the ground and starts a tap dance that will, once and for all, complete his conquest.
