• printer friendly
• mail this article
• iPod format
• digg

As the dancers twirl for their native land, the audience at UCLA is transported to a traditional world of vibrant color, passionate movement and fluttering sounds of a guitar.

Promoting cultural heritage and celebrating aestheticism, the Grupo Folklórico de UCLA presents “Bailes de mi tierra natal” on May 22 for free at 6 p.m. in Royce Hall.

The Grupo Folklórico de UCLA was established in 1966 by Professor Emilio Pulido, a Universidad de Guadalajara graduate, and is the oldest university-based folklórico group in Southern California. Grupo Folklórico exists in order to maintain and nourish the preservation of Mexican heritage.

“Students wanted to push for diversity on campus and have UCLA accommodate more of the Los Angeles population,” said Liliana Medina, the group coordinator and fourth-year Chicano/a studies student.

“It started as a purpose to diversify the campus in an effort to offer opportunities for students to learn about different cultures, which is something that the university doesn’t require.”

The main function of the group is to promote, through education, a cultural awareness in the surrounding Los Angeles communities. With the widespread membership, the group creates positive Chicana/o role models and encourages Los Angeles youth to celebrate their cultural roots.

The 25 dancers performing in the show include UCLA students, alumni and community members. The show has been held annually for the past five years and is open to students, staff, community members, family and friends.

“The Grupo loves to show and teach everybody who has a curiosity and passion to dance,” Medina said.

Traditions, popular beliefs and customs have been transmitted through time by dance. The Grupo Folklórico is committed to the celebration of Mexican heritage through the regional music and traditional dances of Mexico.

“Folklórico and any ethnic folklore dance are very big to the Mexican heritage,” Medina said.

The dance is considered one of the main and more basic manifestations of the artistic and cultural spirit of the land. Throughout the extensive territory that is Mexico, the traditional dances have very diverse importance according to each region.

For Sunday’s performance, the different regions of Mexico will be represented through dancing, costumes and music. The group will be performing dances from the Veracruz, Tamaulipas, Norte, Sinaloa, Chiapas and Jalisco regions.

“The attitude and the presentation of the dance on stage is very important and distinct to each region – if a woman has to be shy or provocative, or if the man has to be outgoing or macho,” Medina said. “It’s very traditional to our dance and it will all be exposed on stage to the audience.”

Each dance will be accompanied by live musical performances by Los Hermanos Herrera, Mariachi Nuevo Cuicatlan and trio “El Destino.” This assortment of music compliments the varying dances and costumes of each region.

There will also be a voice-over explaining the regions geographically, culturally and aesthetically.

“The great thing about the program is we really want to extend the knowledge,” Medina said. “We are geared toward teaching about culture and placing heritage.”

In addition to the celebration and display of the traditional dance, there will be an original display of a new style of dance. The group created an original choreography to one of the Banda Ricoro’s new songs. This fresh installation is nontraditional and not in alignment with the folklórico tradition, but still retains a vibrancy that exudes the Mexican legacy.

“We are reaching into our repertoire and adding new elements among the tradition,” Medina said. “There’s no skirt work involved, there’s no footwork; it’s a very provoking, sexy, live song and dance.”

The cultural heritage of Mexico is manifested in the art of dance, and this beauty becomes both a celebration and an enlightening experience.

“It’s a night not only of entertainment, but also a night of education and knowledge to enjoy the aesthetics of music and dance of the Mexican culture,” Medina said.