My daughter and I had the opportunity to see the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico when it came to our city. The Ballet Folklórico de México is a Mexican folkloric dance ensemble located in Mexico City, where they usually perform. They also occasionally come to perform in bigger cities here in the US, and I was grateful that I had been able to snag some tickets because the event ended up selling out!
This was my tween’s first time attending this show, and she assumed that they were going to do the same style of dance throughout the entire performance. But she ended up being really impressed that the group did 9 different dances during the performance. And the dances really ARE different – the Ballet Folklórico de México brings together the music, dance, and costumes over various traditional dances from Mexico’s unique regions and states.
The opening performance was called “Los Mayas,” a dance based on several legends that originated in the sacred books of the Maya. My daughter thought this was so cool because, in addition to being half Mexican, she also has Mayan ancestry. Her grandma lives in the Yucatan Peninsula and even still speaks Mayan, so this dance had a very personal connection. They actually performed multiple dances that honored the Indigenous communities and their influence on Mexico’s culture and history. We both enjoyed the dance “La danza del venado”—it definitely had interpretive dance vibes.
We both really enjoyed the dance “Charreada,” a dance based on equestrian and livestock activities throughout Mexico. The main male dancer keeps a rope airborne for the entire dance, doing tricks with it (kind of like a hula hoop but way more difficult), and often has the rope around both him and the main female dancer. This dance definitely had a flirtatious vibe, and my tween would look over at me and roll her eyes whenever the main couple would “kiss.”
We both agreed that our favorite dance was the one that originated from the state of Guerrero in Mexico, “Tarima de Tixtla.” The dancers tapped their shoes throughout most of the performance, and the sound it created was so upbeat and engaging. The costumes were also beautiful, and we both liked that this dance gave the male dancers a chance to shine!
My daughter had a smile on her face throughout almost the entire performance, except for a few times when I looked over at her and she had teared up a little. This show wasn’t just a dance performance to her – the Ballet Folklórico de México’s show connected my daughter to her Mexican heritage in the most beautiful way. To see the impact and influence it had on her? Pues, eso no tiene precio. As we walked to the car, she went on and on about how much she loved the show, describing her favorite parts in detail.
All this to say, if you get the chance to take your child to an event that celebrates their heritage and culture, it could end up being even more meaningful than you ever would have imagined. And even if you aren’t Mexican, if the Ballet Folklórico de México comes to your city, you definitely need to go.
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