RSS 2.0 FeedFebruary 3, 2010, Dance
Mexican dances flourish in Heartland
The Heartland was treated to a colorful display of folkloric dance when the Ballet Folklórico de México performed at the Lied Center to a sold out house filled with enthusiastic patrons.
The Heartland was treated to a colorful display of folkloric dance when the Ballet Folklórico de México performed at the Lied Center last Saturday night to a sold out house of enthusiastic patrons.
Part of the excitement for local dancers is that this folkloric dance group, with its theatrical staging by founder Amalia Hernández has not been back to the United States since 1991. Founded in 1952, the Ballet Folklórico de México has set the standard for all folkloric groups that followed. Using Ballet as her model, Hernández changed the face of folkloric dance into a high art form, influencing Mexican folk dance and other folkloric dance forms as well. Often criticized for being more "theatrical" than "authentic," she became the defacto ambassador of the dance, popularizing Mexican folkloric dance across national boundaries and around the world.
The legacy of Hernández, now deceased, has been continued by her children and grandchildren. Salvador Lopez, the grandson of the founder and the current artistic director of the company, said this particular tour is meaningful to the group because it has been almost two decades since its last U.S. tour and because this year marks Mexico's centennial celebration of the Mexican Revolution.
Highlights of this performance included a suite of music and dance depicting the revolution. The suite portrayed aristocrats performing European polkas in fancy garb of the day, interrupted by revolutionary forces performing the "resistance" songs, including the dance of the soldaderas (female soldiers), La Adelita, honoring the women who fought with men in the revolution.
Other highlights included the Charreada, the rope dance, where a male dancer performed lasso rope tricks while dancing, and closing the first half, the Tlacotalpan Festivity, a festival that is reminiscent of Mardi Gras with whimsical characters, set pieces and dancers mimicking brightly colored birds. Other regional dances were based on traditional indigenous dances, such as the Matlachines "jingle" dance that opened the show, the famous Deer Dance (depicting the deer hunt), the Danza de la Pluma (the Zapotec Dance of the Feathers) from the Guelaguetza festival in Oaxaca with its colorful plumed headdresses. Another colorful suite was the fantasy piece Life Like a Game, which presented various characters from Mexican myth brought together into a children's story, and featuring children's songs from Mexico.
Although the company performed well and the performance was wonderful, there were some surprising (but minor) disappointments. The program was almost identical to the program presented two decades ago, making this reviewer wonder whether the company may have lost its creative impetus with the loss of its founder. Another disappointment was the opening number, which was advertised in advance of the show and in the program as The Gods - an elaborate and colorful suite based on Aztec ritual and mythology. Instead of The Gods, the company performed the Matlachines "jingle" dance, which was presented without any explanation, introduction, or description in the program. Despite the excellent execution, for those of us looking forward to the Aztec spectacular, it was disappointing.
Lastly, the final suite of numbers from Jalisco were performed in very colorful red and yellow costumes, but the costumes were based on a Spanish motif, not Mexican, which seemed an unusual choice for presenting Mexico's national dance; and seemed a rather puzzling artistic decision. Usually these dances are presented in traditional Jalisco dresses and/or the La China Poblana costume. These minor flaws, however, did not detract from the overall enjoyment of the concert.
The cast received eight curtain calls with standing ovations and loud cheers, and performed two encore numbers, including the highly anticipated Jarabe Tapatio, (also known as the Mexican Hat Dance and renowned as the national dance of México). The company's performance did not disappoint its audience. This family-friendly entertainment was educational, colorful, lively and worth the price of admission.
REVIEW
Lied Center at KU
Ballet Folklórico de México
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS
For more information call 785-864-2787 or online at www.lied.ku.edu
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