Ballet-Folklórico de Princeton will continue to bring traditional Mexican folk dancing to campus in its second annual full-length show at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 2 and Saturday, April 3. This year's performance, titled "Buenas Noches," or "Good Night," will be held in Frist Campus Center's Film and Performance Theatre. The group's Friday night show will feature the musicians Mariachi Real de México de New York.
The show promises to be a crowd-pleasing hit, and will include dancing with a "combination of really intricate footwork, coquettish choreography and intricate and unique costumes," as described by President Juan José González '06. The group will also share a bit of cultural history with audiences. The dances have been passed down through generations in different regions of Mexico. The show incorporates dances from two distinct Mexican states: Jalisco, located on the West coast of Mexico; and Veracruz, situated on the East coast. As these regions are very different, the two dance styles showcase distinct movements and costumes.
Jalisco calls for a big "mariachi" style for men and flowering, colorful dresses for women — and lots of festivity. The group's treasurer, Kathleen Molnar '04, described Jalisco as "ostentatious. They're supposed to be bright, vivid colors," while the Veracruz style is "light, flirty, sexy." González said Veracruz is marked by precise footwork and flowing, all-white costumes of light material that call to mind the style's Caribbean roots.
Last year's show, "De Punta y Tacón," was Ballet-Folklórico's first-ever feature-length performance.
"De Punta y Tacón" had a "theme of formality and legitimacy," González said.
While last year's show served as an "introduction to Folklórico," according to dancer and former Arts Editor of The Daily Princetonian Vanessa Woods '04, this year's performance will be more relaxed and playful. The group is also progressing technically. Molnar said "Buenas Noches" involves more skirt work than "De Punta y Tacón," requiring precise coordination through the complex choreography.
Woods said, "Even though we do the same dances every year, it will be different and it's worth going again."
Woods described how both shows begin with the traditional "El Son de la Negra," or song of the dark-skinned woman, but in contrast to last year's show, "Buenas Noches" next reveals a more modern tradition in order to change the show for the "static" audience.
The act of keeping the traditional folk dances fresh from year to year is no mean feat.
Member Joe Ramirez '07 said, "One thing that's difficult about Ballet-Folklórico is that you can't make up new dances — these have all been passed down. If you go to any Ballet-Folklórico group you'll see the same type of movements."
Nevertheless, the group has successfully transformed last year's dances into a new, exciting show for this year's audience. The theme of "Good Night," Woods said, captures the show's mood, a party after a long day of work.
The group's members have varied dance backgrounds. González, for example, had never danced formally before coming to Princeton, but had always wanted to dance in the Folklórico style. Thus, he immediately joined the group.
Similarly, Ramirez said, "My dad danced [in this style] when he was a little kid. I've always seen [Folklórico dancing] and been around it since my childhood, but I've never had the opportunity to dance."
Ballet-Folklórico has provided the perfect opportunity for Ramirez to explore a "connection to culture" through dancing.
Member Becky Quintal '07 put her pre-Princeton ballet training to good use when she joined the troupe.
"I knew they had [Ballet-Folklórico at Princeton] even before I came and was excited to do it on campus," Quintal said.
Molnar began dancing in the Folklórico style during her childhood and has been dancing seriously for eight years. She described Ballet-Folklórico as different from her previous dancing experience in that there are more professionals and more male members — of the 10 dancers, three are male and seven are female.
As for "Buenas Noches," Ramirez said, "I just hope people come and enjoy the show, especially if they've never seen it before."
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