World Dance Day Celebrated with TAMIU's 'Una Primavera Mexicana' April 29

The expressive movement of the human body will be celebrated at "Una Primavera Mexicana" Thursday, April 29 featuring the Texas A&M International University's Ballet Folklórico.

The annual dance concert by the 40-member group, scheduled as a part of World Dance Day, celebrates the arrival of spring and will be held at 7 p.m. in TAMIU's Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall.

Admission is free and the community is invited to attend. Seating capacity is limited, and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Guest performers will include children's ballet groups TAMIU Ballet Folklórico Juvenil, Zaffirini Elementary Ballet Folklórico, Honore Ligarde Elementary Ballet Folklórico and the Antonio Gonzalez Middle School Ballet Folklórico.

Gabriela Mendoza-García, director of the Ballet Folklórico, said the Concert serves to remind and educate the public about the centuries-old traditions, customs and culture of America's neighboring country.

Founded in 1996 by Mendoza-García, TAMIU's Ballet Folklórico has included students from Brazil, Canada, China, France, India, Mexico, United States and Zambia, and is well versed in dances from all regions of Mexico.

"This performing dance organization is comprised entirely of TAMIU students and alumni whose positive attitude toward work has produced a dedicated and talented group of dancers that are also storytellers, historians and cultural ambassadors," Mendoza-García said, "Each dance the group performs tells a story or provides a unique history lesson in motion on Mexico."

Mendoza-García said dances at "Una Primavera Mexicana" are authentic renditions of traditional steps and incorporate teachings of Pedro Serna, a folkloric dance consultant from Zacatecas, Mexico. A former member of Ballet Folklórico de Zacatecas, Serna has danced with Amalia Hernández's famous Ballet Folklórico de Mexico. He currently directs his own dance group in Jalpa, Zacatecas.

"Our choreography is also a product of what students learned from various master teachers at national and international conference as well as dances learned by myself from my own folklorico teachers when I was a student," she said.

The Mexican States or regions to be presented include the premiere of dances from Zacatecas as taught by Maestro Pedro Serna, as well as dances from Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Chiapas, Sinaloa, Veracruz, Michoacan and Jalisco, Mendoza-García said.

"We encourage the public to come and enjoy the performance of these beautiful stories and watch us keep an art form alive for future generations," she said.

For further information, please contact Mendoza-García, at 326-2654, e-mail gabym@tamiu.edu or visit offices in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, room 216.

University office hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.