Mexican Ballet Company To Perform at Wellesley College

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- The Ballet Folklorico of the Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla will perform at Wellesley College Friday, Sept. 16, at 8 pm in Alumnae Hall Auditorium. The Mexico-based ballet will perform, appropriately, on Mexican Independence Day.

The ballet is considered the finest university troupe in Mexico and has won numerous awards at both Mexican and international folkloric dance competitions and festivals. A full listing of its repertoire, awards and histories is available at www.ballet.buap.mx.

“The performance by the Folkloric Ballet of the University of Puebla represents the first significant dance event focusing on Mexican culture at Wellesley College,” said Carlos Vega, professor of Spanish at the college. “The performance—together with student workshops on Mexican dance performance—will not only permit a rare opportunity to experience the culture of Mexico, but also will facilitate exchange between Mexican and U.S. students.”

Vega noted that the focus on building ties between students of different nations and cultures coincides with the spirit of Wellesley’s Kathryn Wasserman Davis ’28 Fund for World Cultures and Leadership, which is supporting the event.

The performance will feature traditional Mexican dance inspired by reconstructed pre-Colombian religious ritual and Mexican dances known throughout the world, such as the Bamba, the Mexican Hat Dance, the Raspa and more. The troupe consists of 20 dancers; eight musicians; its director, Professor Cristobal Ramirez Macip, and an assistant director, Ytalu Villareal.

The event is open to the public and free of charge. Parking is available in the Davis Parking Facility on campus. For more information, contact Vega at 781-283-2437.