California State University, Northridge | Valley Performing Arts Center Student Matinee Series
Ballet
Folklórico
de México
Recommended for grades K-12
abouT:
In 1952, Amalia Hernández, dancer and choreographer,
founded the Ballet Folklórico de México, having embarked,
at a very early age, on a never-ending quest to rescue the
dancing traditions of Mexico. The vital search became a basic
need to reflect not only in Mexico but the rest of the world,
the beauty of the Universe in motion which started with
the pre-Colombian civilizations and grew with the Hispanic
influences of the Vice royal era up to the popular strength of
the Revolutionary years. In 1954, Amalia started a series of
presentations that credited her as the Cultural Representative
of Mexico to the world at large. The present time fades before
your eyes and thus commences our journey through the past.
The Lords of Heaven and Earth come back to life, the Jaguars,
the Gods born of human flesh, thirty different cultures that
blossomed in centuries once, leaving behind a trail of color
in which Amalia Hernández was inspired to create the Ballet
Folklórico of México.
The Ballet was initiated by performing a weekly program on
television, sponsored by the Mexican government. Since the
year of 1959 it is being permanently presented at the Palace
of Fine Arts, foremost stage for Art Mexico City. The institution
has two main artistic companies called The First Company and
the Resident Company: both alternate tours and performances
in Mexico and abroad. They have already performed more than
five thousand presentations. The music, dance and costume of
Mexican folklore combined with the talent of their artists have
achieved national and international success.
Fun Facts about Mexico:
» The official name
of Mexico is
Estados Únidos
Mexicanos (United
Mexican States).
» Mexico introduced
chocolate, corn,
and chilies to the
world.
» The first printing press in North America was used in
Mexico City in 1539.
» Millions of monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico every year
from the U.S. and Canada, though logging operations are
rapidly destroying their habitat.
» Mexico City has the highest elevation and is oldest city
in North America. It is also one of the largest cities in the
world.
» When Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortés arrived in
1519, the Aztecs believed he was their returning god,
Quetzalcoatl, and offered him the drink of the gods: hot
chocolate.
» Mexico remained under Spanish control for nearly 300
years until the Mexican people, led by a priest named
Father Hidalgo, rose up against the Spanish on September
16, 1810. Hidalgo is widely considered the father of modern
Mexico, and Mexican Independence is celebrated on
September 15-16.
Arts Education at Valley Performing Arts Center: http://www.valleyperformingartscenter.org/education/
California State University, Northridge | Valley Performing Arts Center Student Matinee Series
Ballet Folklórico de México - usa tour 2012
Student Performance Program
1. MATACHINES
5. TLACOTALPAN FESTIVITY
The Matachines dance is danced in the North side of Mexico City
and it is danced during religious celebrations. It comes from the
costume of the prehispanic people to dance to their Gods.
LIVE MUSIC - JAROCHOS
2. TIXTLA PLATAFORM
LIVE MUSIC – TYPICAL GROUP
The group dance: El Toro – El Arrancazacate – La Iguana
3. REVOLUTION
LIVE MUSIC – MARIACHIS
Modern Mexico began with the Revolution 1910. The Ballet is
dedicated to the Soldaderas, the women who supported their
men and even bore arms with them in Mexico’s fight for liberty.
Contrasted with the weary men and women is a group of
young aristocrat’s dancing European polkas’ and flirting
unconcerned with the peoples’ fight for freedom. Then, a
group of revolutionaries breaks up the party brandishing their
weapons. Now it is the peasants who dance in the aristocratic
drawing room.
4. CHARREADA
LIVE MUSIC – MARIACHIS
The rope dance
Country love dance
January 31st. marks the celebration of the Candelaria Virgin.
In the town of Tlacotalpan, stages are built in the main square
where musicians and dancers of fandangoes are presented.
The Mojigangas are huge figures representing characters and
legends of the village.
8. DEER DANCE
The Yaqui people, excellent hunters, have stayed away from
the Spanish influence and constitute the only aboriginal tribe
of the country which conserves its original autonomy. The
Deer Dance forms a part of the rite that is in preparation of
the hunt, and it produces with an astonishing flexibility the
movements of the prey. Because of its oldness and its present
mastery of execution, the dance constitutes one of the best
examples of imitative magic.
9. JALISCO LIVE MUSIC – MARIACHIS
This Ballet closes every performance of the Ballet Folklorico’s
Touring Company. It opens with a Mariachi parade playing
lively sones at the start of a fiesta. In the background is the
traditional gazebo found in all the small towns of Mexico.
During the fiesta these songs and dances are performed:
The Snake, El Tranchete, La Negra, and El Jarabe Tapatío, the
famous Mexican Hat Dance. At the end of the performance,
the dancers salute the audience, throwing colorful paper
streamers to them.
Arts Education at Valley Performing Arts Center: http://www.valleyperformingartscenter.org/education/
California State University, Northridge | Valley Performing Arts Center Student Matinee Series
Mariachi - What Does It Mean? Musicologists and folklorists
have argued for years over the origin of the word - Mariachi.
But whatever its true source - and the truth may never be
discovered with absolute certainty - the word today has one
meaning that is crystal clear: Mariachi means on of the most
exciting and enchanting musical ensembles found anywhere
in the world.
The Unique Make-Up of the Mariachi Ensemble In the
complete Mariachi group today there are as many as six
to eight violins, two trumpets, and a guitar - all standard
European instruments. Then there is a high-itched, roundbacked guitar called the vihuela, which when strummed in
the traditional manner gives the Mariachi its typical rhythmic
vitality; a deep-voiced guitar called the guitarró n which
serves as the bass of the ensemble; and a Mexican folk harp,
which usually doubles the base line, but also ornaments the
melody. While these three instruments have European origins,
in their present form they are strictly Mexican.
Mariachi and Dance It is important to remember that
Mariachi music is not just music to be played
and sung. From the very start it was music
to be danced.
The traditional dance technique
associated with Mariachi is the
zapateado, a distinctive type of footwork
that originated in Spain. When dancing
the zapateado the performers skillfully
drive the heels of their boots or shoes
into the dance-floor, pounding out
swift, often syncopated rhythms which
complement the different rhythm of the
musical instruments.
No discussion of Mariachi dance would be
complete without mentioning the famous
Jarabe Tapatio - the Mexican Hat Dance.
Associated with Guadalajara in the state of Jalisco, it has
become the national dance of Mexico. It is highly stylized,
with prescribed movements and costumes. The male wears
the classic outfit the Jalisco horsemen or charro, while the
female the China, wears a hand-woven shawl and a bright
sequined skirt.
By the 1930’s Mariachi musicians had begun wearing the
same traje de charro, consisting of a waist-length jacket and
tightly fitted wool pants which open slightly at the ankle to
fit over a short riding boot. Both pants and jacket are often
ornamented with embroidery, intricately cut leather designs,
or silver buttons in a variety of shapes.
theater etiquette:
1. Please be on time for the performance. Since
transportation is not always predictable, plan to arrive at
least 30 minutes prior to the performance.
2. No eating or drinking in the performance halls. (Special
arrangements can be made to eat a snack or lunch
nearby)
3. Please turn OFF (not vibrate or silence modes) all cell
phones, electronic games, or any other devices that
might make noise during the performance.
4. Talk only before or after the performance. Remember
that other audience members near you are trying to
enjoy the performance as well. However, appropriate
responses to the performance, such as laughing or
applauding, are appreciated.
5. Please act with maturity during romantic, violent, or
other challenging moments that might arise during the
performance.
6. Please keep your feet on the floor and not on the seats
around you.
7. P
ersonal hygiene (for example, combing hair, applying
make-up, etc.) should be attended to in the restrooms.
8. Please stay in your seat after the performance concludes
until you are instructed to leave.
9. P
lease exit the performance hall in an orderly fashion.
10. MOST IMPORTANTLY: please open your eyes, ears, and
mind to the entire theatrical experience!
LEARN MORE:
You Tube Promotional Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXLXgIZEcYI
The Largest Mariachi Website on the Internet
http://www.mariachi.org/
Homeschool Mexico Unit Study & Lesson Plans
http://www.homeschoolcreations.net/2010/09/offwe-go-to-mexico-unit-study-lesson/
Arts Education at Valley Performing Arts Center: http://www.valleyperformingartscenter.org/education/