ARTES De MEXICO SHOWCASE
When: 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28
Where: Paramount Theater, 352 Cypress St. 
Tickets:  $17 for adults, $12 for children under 9. Tickets available at the door or at https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/86961048/artes-de-mexico-abilene-the-paramount-abilene
About: Abilene’s Award-Winning Ballet Folklorico de Alvaro Munoz proudly presents Artes De Mexico Showcase featuring traditional Mexican dances from the enchanted land of Chihuahua, Michoacan, Guerrero, Campeche, Sinaloa, Chiapas, Veracruz and Jalisco.

By LORETTA FULTON

Tickets are on sale for the Ballet Folklorico de Alvaro Munoz spectacular at the Paramount Theater on Sept. 28.

Doors will open at 5 p.m. for the 6 p.m. production. Title of this year’s show is “Artes De Mexico,” with a star-studded lineup, in addition to Abilene’s own gifted ensemble who make up the core of the ballet. Click here for tickets. A promotional flier describes the production as a journey”:

“This beautiful dance production will take you through a beautiful journey as they present traditional dances from the enchanted Land of Mexico through the regions of Nayarit, Yucatan, Chihuahua, Hidalgo, Veracruz, Chiapas, Guerrero, Huasteca Potosina, Sinaloa, and Jalisco.”

Ballet Folklorico de Alvaro Munoz is the new name for the former Ballet Folklorico, which was founded in 1963 by Martha Munoz at St. Vincent Pallotti Catholic Church. Among the earliest dancers was Alvaro Munoz, nephew of the founder who now directs the dance team. 

Special guests for this year’s production will be members of the Abilene Ballet Theatre, Anastasia Flores Dance Company of Dallas, Ballet Folklorico DFW of Dallas, Tania Munoz-Tully, featured Folklorico dancer, and Ian Lopez Aguilar, mariachi singer.

Other special guests will also be featured, including Floreo De Reata Charro’s Alejandro Jaime Flores, a rope trick artist. 

The following history is from the Ballet Folklorico de Alvaro Munoz website, https://balletfolkloricodealvaromunozacademy.org/

“The Award-Winning St. Vincent Pallotti Catholic Ballet Folklorico, Abilene’s first Mexican and original Ballet folklorico, was founded by Martha Munoz in 1963 at St. Vincent Pallotti Catholic Church. In 1982, with the help of the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council, the group was formally introduced to the city of Abilene. Celebrating its 60th Year Anniversary, the St. Vincent Ballet Folklorico dancers have become a vital part of the Abilene community.

As of January 21, 2023, and with the support of the St. Vincent Pallotti Catholic Church the ballet folklorico will branch out on its own on January 1, 2024, for the expansion of community wide growth and is now officially El BALLET FOLKLORICO DE ALVARO MUNOZ. The Ballet Folklorico has 40 members and is led by one of the former dancers of the St. Vincent’s Ballet Folklorico; with 45 years of ballet Folklorico dance experience and is the nephew of the founder, Artistic Dance Director & Choreographer Alvaro Munoz. 

In addition, the Ballet Folklorico de Alvaro Munoz has partnered with the prestigious Abilene Ballet Theatre during their Spring Showcase at the Paramount theatre during the month of March. 

Ballet Folklorico de Alvaro Munoz has built a relationship and partnered with the Historic Paramount Theatre, home of Abilene’s own and prestigious Abilene Ballet Theatre productions and the Award-Winning Ballet Folklorico de Alvaro Munoz yearly dance productions.

On January 1, 2023, Ballet Folklorico de Alvaro Munoz is supported and has built a strong relationship with Elisa A. Fulks, General Administrative Director and Coordinator of the Ballet de Mexico USA de Amalia Viviana Basanta Hernandez to promote and support the Abilene community as a cultural exchange between Ballet Folklorico de Alvaro Munoz and Ballet de Mexico USA de Amalia Viviana Basanta Hernandez. 

By joining forces with Ballet de Mexico USA, Ballet Folklorico de Alvaro Munoz aims to uplift the lives of children, young adults and adults by fostering the most magnificent forms of artistic expression. Specifically, we seek to promote the enriching disciplines of Classical Ballet, Folkloric dance and music. 

Ballet Folklorico de Alvaro Munoz takes great pride in serving as a prominent sponsor of the Ballet de Mexico USA summer Masterclass scheduled to take place in June 2023. We are honored to announce the distinguished presence of the world-renowned Amalia Viviana Basanta Hernandez, which will undoubtedly enhance the celebration of the Abilene, Texas community.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Elisa A. Fulks for her unwavering dedication to collaborate efforts with Alvaro Munoz, both sharing a profound commitment to realizing this visionary Masterclass for the community of Abilene, Texas. Together we aspire to transform dreams into reality.

Abilene’s newly Award-Winning Ballet Folklorico de Alvaro Munoz continues to carry on the colorful and vibrant tradition with one mission, to educate children and adults while “Preserving the Mexican Culture Through the Art of Dance.”

Loretta Fulton is creator and editor of Spirit of Abilene