Program
I. Prologue
This first piece provides a glimpse of a journey you are about to embark on. It is a small window opening to a vast colorful, passionate, and exciting México personified in Alegría.
Choreography: Miguel Ángel Pena-Caballero
Costume Design: Traditional Music: Mexico en la Piel
II.
Tamaulipas- No Vengo a Ver Si Puedo, Si No Porque Puedo Vengo
The huapango Tamaulipeco is a test of skill, passion, and endurance. Driven by lightning-fast footwork, soaring violins, and powerful falsettos, it is a dance that demands strength and precision. This cuadro is not about hesitation- it is about conviction. No Vengo a Ver Si Puedo, Si No Porque Puedo Vengo is a declaration of pride, energy, and the unstoppable spirit of the Huasteca Tamaulipeca
Choreography: Ruben Gonzalez
Costume Design: Traditional Music: Traditional
III. Colima y sus Sones
If you have heard of Colima, perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is the “Fuego” Volcano or the beaches in Manzanillo, but what about its dance and music? The most representative traditional genre of Colima is the son, which arrived in the region at the end of the 19th century, coming from the south of Jalisco. The son from Colima shares a stylistic unity and repertoire with that played in the surrounding areas of Jalisco and Michoacán. The son from Colima has two fundamental aspects: love for women and love for the region. Among the best-known titles that address these two aspects we can mention La Peineta, El Cañero and El Palmero.
Choreography: Perla Damara Cruz Reyes
Costume Design: Magdalena Rodriguez Music: Traditional
Acknowledgements
Dr. Guy Bailey, Founding President
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Dr. Luis H. Zayas, Provost and Senior Vice president for Academic Affairs
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Dr. Jeffrey Ward, Dean College of Fine Arts
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Dana Shackelford, Dance Department Chair, Dance Department
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Zeidy Garza, Program Specialist, Dance Department
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
UTRGV Dance Department Faculty
Sonia Chapa, Rebeca Gamborino, Min Kim, Bridgit Lujan, Miguel Ángel Peña, Dana Shackelford
Artistic & Administrative Staff
Miguel Ángel Pena Caballero, Director
Zeidy Garza, Production Director
Elizabeth Stamatio Hernandez, Artistic Assistant Director
Angela Marentes, Rehearsal Assistant
Paola Cantu-Gonzalez, Juanjose Gonzalez, Emmanuel Peralez Company Assistants
Francisco Loera, UTRGV Mariachi Juvenil Aztlan Director
Musicians
UTRGV Mariachi Juvenil Aztlan, Grupo Galán
H. Joseph Diaz, Production and Arts Facilities Manager
Angel Peña, College of Fine Arts Program Specialist
Upcoming Ballet Folklórico Events
February 2-11 Alegría 2024
March 2nd Dance Adjudication Festival Gala Concert
March 8th Alegria-Brownsville
March 29th Ballet Folklorico Juvenil Concert
IV. "Vaquería del Amor: A Forbidden Love in Merida"
The state of Yucatán, Mexico, boasts a rich cultural tapestry woven through its distinctive dances, with the Jarana standing out as a vibrant expression. Rooted in a blend of indigenous and European influences, this emblematic dance encapsulates Yucatecan identity through lively movements and the resonant melodies of instruments such as the guitar, jarana, and maracas. The Jarana transcends mere artistic expression, serving as a repository of traditions and profound stories. Each step and gesture convey the Yucatecan people's deep connection to their land, history, and ancestors. The zapateado, with its distinctive rhythm paying homage to African influences, adds dynamism and vitality to the dance. More than just entertainment, the Jarana plays a crucial role in strengthening community cohesion, acting as a social bond that promotes the continuity of cultural expressions. In essence, this dance serves as a living testament to the cultural identity and rich heritage of Yucatán.
Choreography: Miguel Ángel Pena-Caballero
Costume Design: Traditional Music: Traditional
V. La Vera-Cruz
For more than a century, the port of Veracruz served as the only gateway from Europe to the Americas. It held a very special place in the development of Mexican culture because it was there where everything from Spain -music, art, dance, people, fashions, and food, assimilated their first "Mexicanist" filter. The "Jarocho" is the interpretation that locals gave to the newly arrived music that was heard from those stately Spanish galleons. This novel music, scripts the design of a folkloric representation of Veracruz that today is popular and favored by all.
Choreography: Miguel Ángel Pena-Caballero
Costume Design: Traditional Music: Traditional
VI. Algarabía en Nuevo Leon
"Algarabía en Nuevo León" unfolds the vibrant cultural narrative of Nuevo León, Mexico, spotlighting its folkloric dances. In this northeastern state, the "Polka Regiomontana" takes center stage, embodying a lively fusion of European and Mexican influences. This traditional dance encapsulates the spirited essence of Nuevo León's festivities. The "Huapango," originating in the Huasteca region but embraced fervently in Nuevo León, adds to the rich dance tapestry. Its rhythmic footwork and intricate patterns symbolize the cultural interweaving within the state. Nuevo León's folkloric dances, such as those showcased in "Algarabía en Nuevo León," serve as dynamic storytellers, narrating tales of resilience, heritage, and community unity. Through these dances, the play illuminates the resilient and diverse cultural identity of Nuevo León, celebrating the history and collective spirit of its people.
Choreography: Jaime Guerrero ♰
Costume Design: Ariadna Perez Garcia
Music: Traditional
VII. Pasión Jalisciense
Jalisco is a land of passion passion for its traditions, its music, and most of all, its dance. Pasión Jalisciense embodies the spirit of love and romance through the bold rhythms of sones and jarabes, where every zapateado echoes the heartbeat of those who dance it. The flirtatious exchanges between the dancers, the sweeping movements of vibrant skirts, and the proud stance of the charros tell stories of courtship, devotion, and undeniable connection.
Choreography: Miguel Ángel Pena-Caballero
Costume Design: Traditional
Music: Traditional
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Nursing/BFA Mexican Dance
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Victoria Gomez
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Non-Student
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BFA Teacher Certification
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BSW
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Andrea A. Suarez
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BFA Mexican Dance
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Alum BS Electrical Engineering
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BFA Teacher Certification
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BFA Mexican Dance
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BFA Mexican Dance
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