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Posted: 1/19/06

Festival Folklórico at TAMIU Jan. 27 & 28

 

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Make plans to attend the Seventh Annual Texas A&M International University Festival Folklórico at the TAMIU Center for the Fine and Performing Arts (CFPA) Recital Hall, Jan. 27 and 28. Nineteen ballet folkórico groups from all over Texas will perform Mexican folk dances on Friday at 7 p.m. Saturday's performance features the professional folklórico group, Ballet Folklórico Ixtlahuani from Paraiso, Tabasco, México, also at 7 p.m.

Pre-sale tickets for each night are $5 and $10 at the door. Tickets are available at the Student Center Information Desk Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

"For the past seven years, the TAMIU Ballet Folklórico in conjunction with the City of Laredo and the Texas Commission of the Arts has been hosting a master folklórico workshop for the dance teachers and students of the Laredo and surrounding communities. In exchange for participation in the workshop, the folklórico groups from all over Texas will perform for the public on Friday, Jan. 27 to help defray cost of the workshop. All monies raised will be used toward costume supplies, travel and the workshop costs," said Gabriela Mendoza-Garcia, founder and director of the TAMIU Ballet Folklórico.

 "For the first time a professional folklórico group from México has been invited to perform at TAMIU. This was made possible by the Laredo Convention and Visitors Bureau in conjunction with the Sister Cities Festival. This is a must-see show," exclaimed Mendoza-Garcia.

Ballet Folklórico Ixtlahuani will perform Saturday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. They are under the direction of Maestro Celso Fernando Cauich May. The show will feature the Mexican states of Tabasco, Guerrero, Sinaloa, Hidalgo and others.

The TAMIU Ballet Folklórico will also honor Alicia Verónica McKinnis with the Outstanding Mexican Folklórico Dance Teacher of 2006 award.

McKinnis is director of the Vidal M. Treviño Grupo Folklórico and the Laredo Community College Ballet Folklórico. She has been a dance instructor for 18 years.

This year's performers on Friday include Ballet Folklórico de Villarreal Elementary from Zapata, Honore Ligarde Elementary Ballet Folklórico from Laredo, Beli's Dance Studio from Laredo, Dovalina Elementary Folklórico Group from Laredo, United High School Ballet Folklórico from Laredo, Ballet Folklórico Viva México from Corpus Christi, Vidal M. Treviño Ballet Folklórico from Laredo, Memorial High School Ballet Folklórico from Victoria, Mestizo Escuela de Baile Folklórico from San Antonio, Nuestras Raices Ballet Folklórico - Antonio González Middle School from Laredo, Ambassadors International Ballet Folklórico from Houston, Abraham Kazen Elementary Ballet Folklórico from Laredo, Texas A&M University - Kingsville Ballet Folklórico, Laredo Community College Ballet Folklórico, Alcorta's Corpus Christi Folklórico from Corpus Christi, Ballet Folklórico Apango de Piedras Negras Coahuila, México, Ballet Folklórico Celestial - Texas A&M University in College Station and TAMIU Ballet Folklórico.

For more information, please contact Mendoza-Garcia at 956.326.2654, e-mail gabym@tamiu.edu or visit offices located at CFPA 217B.

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


Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu