Auditorium Theatre 2018-19 Issue 1 The Nightmare Before Christmas

12 | AUDITORIUM THEATRE 2018-19 | September 26 - November 16, 2018 ALL ABOUT AMALIA Ballet Folklórico de México at the Auditorium Theatre In November, Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández returns to the Auditorium Theatre’s historic stage . Ballet Folklórico is considered Mexico’s most prominent dance company, and is recognized as an ambassador of Mexico’s rich cultural heritage to the world. Amalia Hernández, the company's founder, is a legend in the dance world, widely considered to be responsible for bringing Mexican folk dance to an international audience. Hernández was born on September 19, 1917 in Mexico City. Although her parents wanted her to be a teacher, Hernández was determined to focus on dance. At the age of 8, Hernández began studying classical ballet — her father, a politician, even built a private home studio for her and brought in international dancers from the Pavlova Dance Company and the Paris Opera as instructors. She joined Mexico’s National School of Dance when she was 17. Eventually, Hernández started to feel that her classical training, which focused on European dance styles, was lacking in emotion and spirit. She was drawn towards traditional Mexican dance instead, and began to learn about native dances from different regions of the country. In 1947, Hernández created the Academy of Mexican Dance. At the Academy, she taught classes, choreographed new works, and danced. Just a few years later, in 1952, Hernández formed her first company. The eight-person troupe was originally called Ballet Moderno de México and performed original works created by Hernández. This company grew in size, and by the late 1950s, the 50-member group adopted the name Ballet Folklórico de México and performed in Canada, Cuba, the United States, and more. In 1959, the company made its first Chicago appearance at Soldier Field, dancing in the Pan American Games’ opening ceremony. Ballet Folklórico gained even more prominence in its home country after it was featured on weekly TV programs in Mexico throughout the decade. The company established a permanent home for itself at the Ballet Folklórico de México in Chiapas (cont. on pg 14)