The History of Ballet Folklorico
The population of Mexico is about 100 million, of whom 60 percent are Mestizo, literally translated as "mixed race," meaning Spanish plus Native American. After the Revolution, President Álvaro Obregón (1920 to1924) pursued a policy of national unity in which Mestizo became culturally regarded as the official Mexican "nationality." Ballet Folklorico was established as a celebration of the cultural diversity of Mexico one generation after the Revolution.
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Amalia Hernandez Navarro
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Amalia Hernandez Navarro founded Ballet Folklorico in 1952 to express Mexican folklore in the formats of classical and modern dance. Until her death in year 2000, Señora Hernandez was Ballet Folklorico's only choreographer. Her company's repertoire originated in her appreciation of Mexican history and her collection of rural folk dances. The founding troupe was a group of eight women, but 10 years later, when Ballet Folklorico opened a two-week engagement in New York, the company included 75 dancers, singers, and musicians.
1950s
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Amalia Hernandez originally named her troupe "Ballet Moderno de México. Her first venue was Sala Chopin, a music instrument shop in Mexico City. Emilio Azcárraga Vidaurreta, founder of the first television station in Mexico and later of Televisa, featured the troupe weekly for 67 episodes of "Función de Gala." In 1958, the Mexican Department of Tourism offered Señora Hernandez the opportunity to take her show on the road to Cuba, Canada, and the United States (Los Angeles). In 1959, the company, renamed Ballet Folklorico de México, was Mexico's cultural representative at the Pan-American Games in Chicago.
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Palacio de Bellas Artes
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In October 1959, the National Institute of Fine Arts commenced Ballet Folklorico performances every Sunday morning at Palacio de Bellas Artes, the national theater where Amalia Hernandez first soloed. Sunday morning programs soon expanded to include Sunday afternoon and Wednesday evening performances. The ballet is now resident at Palacio de Bellas Artes. Success as a Mexican cultural representative led to criticism that Ballet Folklorico was too focused on foreign tourists or too "close" to government. However, Ballet Folklorico is not subsidized.
Spectacle
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In a 1985 interview, Amalia Hernandez said Ballet Folklorico used the art of the theatre to create a "highly professional spectacle." She noted that folklore does not exist outside of its place of origin and the special fiesta days set aside for it. However, theatre is recreation and her theatrical productions were inspired by folklore. In a 1983 interview, Hernandez said she had "theatricalized" folklore, which was originally created for religion or for fun in a culture where dancing was something to do rather than to watch. In 1997, responding to criticism that she had distorted or cheapened folk art, Señora Hernandez said, "I am more creative than the anthropologists."
Norma Lopez Hernandez
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On Amalia Hernandez's death in 2000, her daughter Norma Lopez Hernandez became artistic director of the Ballet Folklorico company, resident at Palacio de Bellas Artes. She also supervises rehearsals for the traveling company. Amalia Hernandez's grandson, Salvador Lopez, now general manager, commented that Ballet Folklorico intends to be a competitive company that can perform anywhere in the world.
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in the memomry of a greate person and greate artistic director, we will mees you Norma Lopez
