Mexcaltitán Ballet

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The Mexcaltitán Ballet (native name Ballet Mexcaltitan, Danza y Arte de México) was founded in 1989 by choreographer Sergio Eugenio García Pérez and is based in the western state of Nayarit in Mexico . [1] It was founded to promote and consolidate Mexican folk dance, with a focus on the state of Nayarit, making it unique. [1] [2] However, the troupe also performs other dance from Latin America and contemporary dance as well as Mexican styles. The dancers are young and trained by the company to perform. [2] The organization is divided into two sections, the main group and a children’s group called the Mexcaltitán Infantil, geared to very young dancers with the aim of training them to become part of the main group. [3] Today, the troupe is supported by the Nayarit state government and García Pérez remains as the general director. [4]

Nayarit State of Mexico

Nayarit, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Nayarit, is one of the 31 states which, together with the Mexico City, make up the 32 federal entities of Mexico. It is divided in 20 municipalities and its capital city is Tepic.

Mexico Country in the southern portion of North America

Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and to the east by the Gulf of Mexico. Covering almost 2,000,000 square kilometres (770,000 sq mi), the nation is the fifth largest country in the Americas by total area and the 13th largest independent state in the world. With an estimated population of over 120 million people, the country is the eleventh most populous state and the most populous Spanish-speaking state in the world, while being the second most populous nation in Latin America after Brazil. Mexico is a federation comprising 31 states and Mexico City, a special federal entity that is also the capital city and its most populous city. Other metropolises in the state include Guadalajara, Monterrey, Puebla, Toluca, Tijuana and León.

Latin America Region of the Americas where Romance languages are primarily spoken

Latin America is a group of countries and dependencies in the Western Hemisphere where Romance languages such as Spanish, Portuguese, and French are predominantly spoken; it is broader than the terms Ibero-America or Hispanic America. The term "Latin America" was first used in an 1856 conference with the title "Initiative of the America. Idea for a Federal Congress of the Republics", by the Chilean politician Francisco Bilbao. The term was used also by Napoleon III's French government in the 1860s as Amérique latine to consider French-speaking territories in the Americas, along with the larger group of countries where Spanish and Portuguese languages prevailed, including the Spanish-speaking portions of the United States Today, areas of Canada and the United States where Spanish, Portuguese and French are predominant are typically not included in definitions of Latin America.

While its main objective is to train young dancers in traditional Mexican folk dance, it also trains artists in other disciplines such as acting and singing, with the aim of further promoting Mexican and Nayarit culture. [1] [2] This allows the organization to create larger theatrical pieces such as a homage to Francisco Gabilondo Soler, who performed radio shows for children in the 20th century. [5] In 2011, the group presented a program called Legends and Traditions of Old Nayarit in honor of choreographer Jaime Buentello Bazán. This production focused on the stories, dance and music of the state in times past, especially those areas along the coast. [6]

Folk dance of Mexico

Folk dance of Mexico, commonly known as baile folklorico, is a term used to collectively describe traditional Mexican dances. Ballet folklórico is not just one type of dance, it encompasses each region's traditional dance that has been influenced by their local folklore and has been entwined with ballet characteristics to be made into a theatrical production. Each dance represents a different region in Mexico illustrated through their different zapateado, footwork, having differing stomps or heel toe points, and choreography that imitates animals from their region such as horses, iguanas, and vultures.

Francisco Gabilondo Soler Mexican musician

Francisco Gabilondo Soler was a Mexican composer and performer of children's songs. He recorded and performed those songs under the name of Cri-Cri: El Grillito Cantor.

The ensemble has performed in its native Nayarit and other parts of Mexico such as Guadalajara, Cancún, and the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City . [2] [5] The ensemble has toured in Europe, Asia and the Americas in countries such as France, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, England, Taiwan, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Cuba, Brazil, India, Canada and the United States. [1] Festivals in which it has performed include Festival Internacional Cervantino, Encuentro Internacional de Folklore "Antumapu" at the University of Chile in Santiago in 2011, [7] [8] and the Miami Book Fair International in Florida . [5] The group states that the dances of Jalisco receive the most attention abroad and most readily identify the group as Mexican. [5]

Cancún City in Quintana Roo, Mexico

Cancún is a city in southeast Mexico on the northeast coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. It is a significant tourist destination in Mexico and the seat of the municipality of Benito Juárez. The city is on the Caribbean Sea and is one of Mexico's easternmost points.

Palacio de Bellas Artes cultural centre in Musico City

The Palacio de Bellas Artes is a prominent cultural center in Mexico City. It has hosted some of the most notable events in music, dance, theatre, opera and literature and has held important exhibitions of painting, sculpture and photography. Consequently, the Palacio de Bellas Artes has been called the "Cathedral of Art in Mexico". The building is located on the western side of the historic center of Mexico City next to the Alameda Central park.

Mexico City Capital in Mexico

Mexico City, or the City of Mexico, is the capital of Mexico and the most populous city in North America. Mexico City is one of the most important cultural and financial centres in the Americas. It is located in the Valley of Mexico, a large valley in the high plateaus in the center of Mexico, at an altitude of 2,240 meters (7,350 ft). The city has 16 boroughs.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Ballet Mexcaltitan Danza y Arte" (in Spanish). Nayarit: Secretary of Culture, State of Nayarit. Archived from the original on November 11, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "21 años del ballet Mexcaltitán" [21 years of the Mexcaltitán Ballet]. Revista Opción (in Spanish). Mexico. October 9, 2010. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  3. Lorena Rodríguez Roja (September 16, 2011). "Entusiasta la participación del Ballet Mexcaltitán" [Enthusiastic participation by the Mexcaltitán Ballet]. El Eco de Nayarit (in Spanish). Nayarit, Mexico. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  4. "México, Mexcaltitan" (in Spanish). Santiago: University of Chile. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Ballet Mexcaltitán participa en la Feria Internacional del Libro de Miami como parte de la delegación coordinada por Conaculta" [Mexcaltitán Ballet participates in the Miami International Book Fair as part of the delegation coordinated by Conaculta] (Press release) (in Spanish). CONACULTA. November 18, 2010. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  6. Robín Zavala (August 3, 2011). "Espectacular noche de gala del Ballet Mexcaltitán" [Spectaular gala night of the Mexcaltitán Ballet]. Crónica de Nayarit (in Spanish). Nayarit, Mexico. Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  7. ""Ballet Mexcaltitan, Danza y Arte", participa en Chile en el Encuentro Internacional de Folklore "Antumapu"" [Ballet Mexcaltitan participates in Chile at the Antumapu International Folklore Encounter]. Azteca 21 (in Spanish). Mexico City. August 18, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  8. "Participa el Ballet Mexcaltitán en encuentro internacional folklórico" [Mexcaltitán Ballet participates in international folk dance encounter](PDF). El Eco de Nayarit (in Spanish). Nayarit, Mexico. August 18, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2011.