'A cultural explosion' of Mexican heritage: Mariachi and Folklórico Festival returns to Chandler
Hispanic Heritage Month is around the corner, and Chandler is gearing up to once again host its renowned mariachi festival in honor of the month-long celebration by combining the sound of Mexican mariachi ballads with the rhythm of folkórico ballet dancers in order to bring Mexican folklore and culture center stage.
The 23rd Annual Mariachi and Folklórico Festival, hosted by C.A.L.L.E (Culture, Art, Legacy, Leadership and Education) of Arizona, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the qualities of Latino culture through art, will return to the Chandler Center for the Arts on Oct. 1.
For 23 consecutive years, C.A.L.L.E — with Maestra Vanessa Ramirez at the helm — has organized the event that, aside from celebrating the Valley's Mexican culture via music, dance and other forms of artistry, also serves as a fundraising opportunity for current college students.
Mariachi Festival 2021: Diversity in Mexican culture displayed at Mariachi and Folklórico Festival in Chandler
Ramirez, who has led the organization since 2013 and runs the Ballet Folklórico Quetzalli studio in Mesa, said the event allows for Arizonans of all backgrounds to experience "a cultural explosion," with various mariachi ensembles and dance troupes visually and audibly offering the audience a piece of Mexican history.
“We have many followers," Ramirez said, explaining that people of all ages attend the yearly event. "And many tell me 'I don't understand a word you're saying, but I love how it feels... And it's very nice to see that they are supporting us."
The event tends to showcase local talent. This year, however, Ramirez is changing that lineup a bit, making it "more international," with performances from Mariachi Estrella of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and Grammy-winning Mariachi Los Camperos, based in Los Angeles, Calif.
Dancers will also perform numbers from different Mexican regions. It's typical for ballet folklórico dancers to interpret numbers from Jalisco when accompanying mariachi music. This year, Ramirez said they are preparing choreography and attire that celebrates "Huasteco Tamaulipas, Huasteco Veracruzano, even a mambo... even the mariachi is willing to do things out of the ordinary."
The concert will begin at 7 p.m., but the theater will open at 5 p.m. for a special reception for VIP ticketholders, where they'll be able meet the members of the mariachis.
The reception will open at 5:30 p.m., where there will be artisans, local vendors, and tequila tasting for VIP ticketholders to enjoy before the concert.
Meet Vanessa Ramirez: Keeping Mexican folklore traditions alive through the art of dance
Scholarships awarded to college students
C.A.L.L.E. of Arizona is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering and serving the educational, social, and developmental needs of the Hispanic community and other Hispanic residents of the communities in the eastern central valley area surrounding the city of Chandler.
Formerly known as The Chandler Coalition for Civil and Human Rights, Inc., it was founded in 1997 by Joe Garcia and Eddie Encinas in response to raids conducted by the Chandler Police Department and Border Patrol to remove undocumented people living in and around Chandler.
This mariachi festival was born in 1999 out of a need to demonstrate to city officials that Latinos were making positive contributions to the community. Every year, during the concert, scholarships are awarded that aim to help current college students.
This year two recipients will each be awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
Those interested should fill out an application, which they can request and send by email to vanessa@calle-az.org. The deadline to apply is Sept. 15.
The requirements are as follows:
Must be a full-time incoming college freshman at an Arizona public university (ASU, NAU, UA).
OR a full-time registered undergraduate student at an Arizona public university.
Have a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher.
Submit a copy of unofficial transcripts with the application and once granted, must have official transcripts.
Submit two (2) letters of recommendation.
Actively participate in school activities such as clubs, community service, sports, or extracurricular activities
Must have one (1) parent of Hispanic heritage.
Submit an essay.
Once chosen, the winners will be notified electronically and must present themselves twice a semester, in addition to completing two projects with the organization.
23rd Annual Mariachi and Folklórico Festival
When: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. The concert starts at 7 p.m. VIP reception at 5:30 pm. The Garibaldi Artisan Market starts at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Chandler Center for the Arts (250 North Arizona Avenue, Chandler, AZ 85224)
Tickets: From $48 to $78. VIP tickets available for an additional $50.
Details: https://www.chandlercenter.org/
Reach La Voz reporter Nadia Cantú at nadia.cantu@lavozarizona.com or on Twitter @nadia_cantu.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 23rd Annual Mariachi and Folklórico Festival returns to Chandler
