The History of Mexican Ballet Folklorico

The Ballet Folklorico de Mexico, or Mexico Folkloric Ballet, has been performing colorful interpretations of Mexican folk dances to audiences around the world for the past five decades. The troupe's success has come largely as a result of the creative vision and determination of its founder, Amalia Hernandez.

Origins

In 1952, Mexican dancer and choreographer Amalia Hernandez decided to form her own dance troupe. The troupe, initially called the Ballet Moderno de Mexico, was made up of eight people who gave occasional performances at the Sala Chopin theater in Mexico City. One of the performances was a Hernandez interpretation called Sones de Michoacan---"sones" referring to a folkloric music and dance style, and Michoacan referring to a western Mexican state. According to the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico website, the enthusiastic public response to the show convinced Hernandez to focus on interpreting Mexican folk dances.
The Ballet Moderno de Mexico was soon invited to become a regular guest on a popular weekly Mexican TV program called "Funcion de Gala." The troupe would perform on 67 "Funcion de Gala" programs, growing to 20 members during that time. Hernandez credited the program with keeping the troupe alive during its early years.

On the Road

The troupe's TV work attracted the attention of the Mexican Department of Tourism, which was looking for ways to promote Mexican culture abroad. By 1958, the Ballet Moderno de Mexico had traveled to Cuba, Canada and Los Angeles, California to perform.
In 1959, a federal cultural promotion agency asked Hernandez to put together a program for the Panamerican Games in Chicago. The result was a 50-member touring cast now known as the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico and featuring interpretations of such Mexican folkdances as the Fiesta Veracruzana (Veracruz Party), Los Quetzales (The Quetzal Birds), La Danza del Venado (Dance of the Deer) and Navidad en Jalisco (Christmas in Jalisco).
The troupe's performances in Chicago greatly impressed then-President Adolfo Lopez Mateos, who, according to the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico's website, offered his complete support in order to make it "the best ballet in the world."

Finding a Home

On October 11, 1959, the troupe gave the first of its regular Sunday performances at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, or Palace of Fine Arts, in Mexico City. These shows were so popular that a Wednesday night performance was quickly added as well. The troupe became so closely associated with its home venue during this period that it briefly changed its name to the Ballet Folklorico de Bellas Artes.
To this day, the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico continues its regular performances at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in addition to maintaining its touring schedule.

Worldwide Sensation

Since its inception in 1952, the Ballet Folkorico de Mexico has performed in more than 80 countries with a repertoire consisting of some 30 ballets made up of nearly 60 Mexican folk dances. The ballet and its founder, Amalia Hernandez, have received more than 200 awards for their work, including the Prize of Nations in France, the Tiffany Award for Lifetime Achievement in New York and, in Mexico, The National Culture Prize, the nation's top cultural recognition.

Torch Passed

Amalia Hernandez died on November 5, 2000, and was succeeded by her daughter, Norma Lopez Hernandez, as director of the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico---now called the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico Amalia Hernandez in honor of its founder.

References

• Ballet Folklorico de Mexico
• Midland College Foundation
• Dance for Power