Any performing group that remains popular for 34 years must be doing something right.
“I think the director, Juan Manuel ‘Nery’ Cruz, has seen thousands of people join our group over the years and even though they leave, they continue to support us each year. I think that has a lot to do with us remaining popular,” said Alberto Reynaga, a dancer and the assistant director for Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl, the Mexican folk dance troupe from Aurora which is celebrating 34 years in existence.
“Our shows are also structured differently from other ballets. Our program is almost a non-stop wave of dancers coming on and off stage with tons of wardrobe changes and it all happens so fast that it keeps our audience engaged the entire show. We definitely thank the people who come to see our show each year because they are a big part of why we’ve remained popular.”
Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl will perform at 8 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora.
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“I think people really like our show because it is like taking a trip back to Mexico,” Reynaga continued. “One of our biggest goals as a group is to preserve the Mexican culture and always stay as traditional as we can with our dances. Other Ballets tend to stray away from traditional dances and wardrobes and stylized Mexican folklore, and I believe that our ambition to remain tied to the traditional aspect of each dance makes our group stand out.”
With more than 90 performers, from 5 to 55 years of age, Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl members dress in typical wear of historic times and current times and present authentic dances from various regions of Mexico.
“One of our new dances this year is from the state of San Luis Potosi,” Reynaga said. “It is an indigenous dance known in that region as La Danza de Chichimecas. We also have a new dance called El Chuchumbe from the state of Veracruz. The dances from Veracruz are very upbeat and uplifting and make you want to tap your feet just by listening to them.”
Reynaga, who has been a dancer in the troupe for 14 years, is performing in 10 dances this year, but finds it hard to pick a favorite dance.
“I would have to say Sones Poblanos,” he said. “It is a medley of sones or songs from the state of Puebla. I have never performed this dance before. The last time our group performed this dance I was actually too little to be included in the choreography, so I’m pretty excited to be finally tall enough to dance this one.”
As audiences enjoy the dazzling costumes, infectious music and energetic traditional dance numbers of Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl, the troupe members enjoy the camaraderie.
“We like to keep a very family oriented and small-town environment within our group,” Reynaga said. “A lot of our current dancers have formed friendships that will last a lifetime. We have had past generations of dancers who haven’t danced in years and still see each other and get together for holidays and keep those friendships alive.
“We actually have past dancers who were best friends in our group and now their kids are also best friends. It’s definitely a great environment to be in and one of the many reasons why we have such a big group. Our director ‘Nery’ Cruz calls us ‘la Gran Familia Quetzalcoatl’ or The Great Quetzalcoatl Family.”
Randall G. Mielke is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl
When: 8 p.m. Nov. 3
Where: Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora
Tickets: $18-$28
Information: 630-896-6666; www.paramountaurora.com