Festival Folklorico Coming January to TAMIU

Take a trip to various regions in Mexico without leaving the city by attending Texas A&M International University's Festival Folklórico. Several local and regional folkloric dance groups will feature Mexican folkloric dances Saturday, Jan. 29 at 8 p.m. in the Center for the Fine & Performing Arts Recital Hall.

"Groups from all over the state will perform authentic dances from different places in Mexico. Some of the states that will be represented are Zacatecas, Jalisco, Veracruz, Tamaulipas, Chiapas, and Guerrero," explained Gabriela Mendoza-Garcia, Festival organizer.

Tickets are $10 at the door, but may be purchased in advance for $5 at the University's Center for the Fine and Performing Arts, room 108, Jan. 18, 20, 25, and 27 from 6 - 9 p.m.

"Dance groups will also be attending a two-day folklórico workshop. Maestro Pedro Serna from Zacatecas will teach Jalisco Contemporaneo and teacher Michael Carmona from the University of Texas at Austin will teach Veracruz-Jarocho. We will also be recognizing Michael Carmona for his outstanding contributions to folklórico dance in the United States," added Mendoza-Garcia.

This year's featured performers include TAMIU Ballet Folklórico Juvenil, City of Laredo Adult Folklórico, Antonio González Middle School Ballet Folklórico, Laredo Community College Ballet Folklórico, Ballet Folklórico de Kazen Elementary, L.J. Christian Middle School Ballet Folklórico, Ballet Folklórico Viva México (Corpus Christi), Texas A&M University Kingsville, Vidal M. Treviño Magnet School Grupo Folklórico, El Grupo de Danza y Arte Folklórico , University of Texas-Austin, Memorial High School Ballet Folklórico (Victoria), Ballet Folklórico Celestial (Texas A&M University), Mixteco Ballet Folklórico (Houston), Zapata High School Ballet Folklórico (Zapata), and TAMIU Ballet Folklórico.

For more information contact the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at 326.2654, e-mail gabym@tamiu.edu or visit offices located in the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts, room 217B.

University office hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Offices will be closed Thursday, Dec. 23 at noon until Monday, Jan. 3, 2005.

Spring Semester 2005 classes begin Monday, Jan. 10.

Online registration is available at https://lasso.tamiu.edu/ahomepg.htm