One of Mexico’s largest and most revered artistic treasures, Ballet Folklórico makes its Detroit debut on the Detroit Opera House’s extensive stage over Mexican Independence Day weekend. Sixty-five dancers and musicians will present a cultural celebration that extols colorful ethnic traditions from pre-Hispanic to modern times. Dancers will perform against backdrops that feature scenes such as a Mexican plaza, a lush tropical setting or an Aztec sun as they stomp, twirl and leap across the stage. Adding to the Mexican Independence Day festivities, mariachi bands will entertain guests before each performance, and patrons will enjoy Authentic Hispanic food and beverages in the Cadillac Café at the Detroit Opera House.

Anyone interested in Mexican folk dance is invited to participate in a dance master class led by members of Ballet Folklórico on Saturday, September 15 at 11 a.m. Tuition for the master class is $15 and will be held at the Detroit Opera House’s Ford Center for Arts and Learning at the 5th floor dance studio.

In cooperation with the Mexicantown Community Development Corporation, dancers from Ballet Folklórico de México will visit the new Mexicantown plaza (located at 2826 Bagley Avenue at 21st Street) on Friday, September 14 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. to meet and greet visitors and residents of the Mexicantown area. Visitors will enjoy Mexican Independence Day celebrations with Ballet Folklórico, as well as special ticket discounts to attend the performances, only available at this pre-performance celebration.

Ballet Folklórico de México was founded in 1952 by Sra. Amalia Hernández, using her own experience as a dancer, dance teacher and choreographer at the Mexican Academy of Dance. With only eight members, the small company, called Moderno de México, began presenting choreographies on a television program called “Función de Gala.” The small company aired over 60 programs and attracted the attention of the Mexican Department of Tourism, which asked its director to take her program on a North American tour under official auspices.

Accolades on North American stages launched the folk dance company on the road to international acclaim. Today, with a company of over 65 dancers and over 100 international tours and 15,000 presentations to their credit, the Ballet Folklórico de México has performed for audiences of over 22 million people. In their 55-year history, more than 100 choreographies have been created by Sra. Amalia Hernandez for Ballet Folklórico as they preserve the dance traditions of Mexico while enthralling audiences all over the world. -- www.motopera.org