The highly acclaimed Ballet Folklórico de México returns to Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on Friday, Feb. 26, at 8 p.m. "Latin America: Images, Dialogue and Action" is one of three areas of focus for Fairfield University's 2009-2010 season and the Ballet Folklórico de México is a featured event in the series as well as a part of Fairfield University's Arts & Minds season. There will be a post-show "Art to Heart" Q&A with the company following the performance.

In 1952, dancer and choreographer Amalia Hernández founded the Ballet Folklórico de México, having embarked at a very early age on a never-ending quest to rescue the dancing traditions of México. This vital search became a basic need to reflect and share, not only in Mexico but also in the rest of the world, the beauty of the Universe in motion, through Mexican dances from the pre-Colombian civilizations, the Hispanic Viceroy period and the popular period of the Revolutionary years.

In the ambitious, colorful and diverse program at the Quick Center for the Arts, the company presents a multi-faceted dialogue between man and his Gods; a tribute to the Mexican hero, Vicente Guerrero and a soaring paean to the power and beauty of an indigenous bird followed by a segment that displays the enduring quality of the robust Mexican tap dance, El Gusto. Modern México was born of the 1910 Revolution and, for the first time, Mexican women shared the struggle with men. The ballet that celebrates this historic struggle is dedicated to the soldaderas, the women who supported their men and even bore arms with them in Mexico's fight for liberty.

The company's skillful art of dance further embellishes the richness of this country's culture, customs and traditions with dances that tap the beauty of Tlacotalpan and the states of Oaxaca and Jalisco. Dancers portray the "Deer Dance" of the Yaqui people; a dance of a bride and groom in "Wedding in the Huasteca;" "The Feather Dance" of the Zapotec Indians and the drama of "Life Like a Game," a game controlled by the devil.

Tickets are $45, $40, $35 and are available online at fairfield.edu/quick or by calling the Box Office at (203) 254-4010. The toll free number is 1-877-ARTS-396. Special offers and discounts are available through the Quick Center's e-mail list. Join, by contacting boxoffice@quickcenter.com . And become a fan of the Quick Center for the Arts on Facebook! Keep up-to-date with the latest performance news, plus special offers and discounts! Find the Quick Center at www.facebook.com/FairfieldQuickCenter.

Directions: Fairfield University is located off I-95, exit 22 at 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824.

Posted On: 02-08-2010 10:02 AM

Volume: 42 Number: 191