To celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month the Memphis Dance Group and FedEx will present Ballet Folklorico “Quetzalli” de Veracruz.
Ballet Folklorico, founded in 1985, integrates song and dance inspired by traditional Mexican folk dances such as the Jarabes from the Mexican state of Jalisco.
The Rose Theatre will showcase the performance Friday at 8:00 p.m. Tickets for U of M students are $10.
The group will also tour three Memphis City Schools - Caldwell Elementary, Treadwell Elementary and Carver High - Thursday and Friday.
After performing in places like Cuba and Malaysia, the dance company put on a show at the Buckman Performing Arts Center last year. Memphis Dance Group director and alumna, Tania Castroverde, said the theatre was packed.
“It was completely sold out,” Castroverde said. “It was standing room only. We had to turn people away.”
Twelve native dancers and six native musicians make up Ballet Folklorico.
The dancers perform in traditional Mexican dress adorned with familiar accessories like roses and colored shawls.
Steve Heath, Ballet Folklorico manager, said the costumes are first-rate replicas if not genuine articles of clothing.
“Each costume and accessory is meticulously researched to stay true to the tradition of the people of Mexico,” Heath said. “Each region has a typical sort of dress bought from artisans in the region or copied.”
The musicians play pre-Colombian instruments like drums made of metal and clay mixed with modern instruments such as the guitar and the marimba. The marimba has West-African origins.
Much of the music is influenced by Spanish and African cultures, said Castroverde.
If students long to see a musical and dance performance where there is no taped accompaniment, Castroverde said she encourages them to check out the show.
“It’s all live music and it’s like a non-stop fiesta for two hours,” Castroverde said.
