This folklórico group reached back a century to resurrect origins of ‘Jarabe Tapatío’

Clovis North High School senior Valeria Suárez enjoys the sounds and movement of Mexican folkloric dance.

However, the 17-year-old junior – who has been steeped in ballet since she was 5 – is a dancer without a program because Clovis North does not have a folkloric dance program.

Her aunt, Rosa Amelia González Madrigal is director of the Central East Danzantes de Tláloc. She was looking for a ballet dancer to replicate an original version of ‘El Jarabe Tapatío’ for the group’s 25th anniversary showcase on May 26.

That is how a sold-out crowd at the school’s Performing Arts Center got a first peek at the ballet-folklórico fusion on May 26. Suárez performed the dance at the Clovis Unified School District’s folkloric show earlier in May.

“I had mentioned to Rosita (her aunt) that I was interested in doing something related to dancing because I needed a Hispanic-type dance to showcase for a program at my school,” said Suárez.

“She was willing to help me learn this dance and asked if I would be willing to do it in her show as well.”

Suárez went out of her comfort zone.

It worked.

The origins of ‘El Jarabe Tapatío’

Audiences are familiar with ‘El Jarabe Tapatío,’ one of numerous dances from the western Mexican state of Jalisco where there are no shortages of dances.

When González Madrigal and Tláloc decided to feature a dance from each of the 32 Mexican states, the choice for Suárez to perform ‘El Jarabe Tapatío’ to represent Jalisco was easily made.

“The first time ‘Jarabe Tapatío’ was presented on a professional stage, it was performed as a ballet piece,” explained González Madrigal.

During the 1800s, Mexican traditional music was practiced by few and it was not seen as something “worthy on stage,” said González Madrigal.

“Until 1908 when a Russian ballerina, Ana Pavlova, arrived in México as part of her world tour and changed the spectrum of folklore in México,” she said.

Pavlova combined the traditional music of ‘Jarabe Tapatío’ with ballet, giving rise to what is now México’s cornucopia of folklórico dance.

Dancer began practicing in March

Suárez led off the showcase alone on stage, wearing a tutu festooned with the red, white and green of México’s flag.

She began practicing in March the choreography developed by Víctor Rosas.

“It was surprisingly really easy for me to adjust to the folkloric steps, mostly because I had been around them for so long that I kind of knew what it was supposed to look like,” said Suárez. “But it was definitely a challenge shifting from ballet to folkloric.”

Her biggest challenge was shifting from straight legs and pointed toes at all times to making sure she hit the floor “to make the noises and the sounds that the typical folkloric shoes would make.”

Suárez doesn’t plan on a repeat performance. The tutu was on loan from a local costumer.

“It was supposed to be for a different style of dance, but I thought that the colors reflected Mexican culture very well,” said Suárez, who wants to double major in dance and mathematics in college.

The reaction was positive. Folkloric dancers, she said, offered nothing but “compliments and praise.”

“At first, I was really worried that no one would enjoy it, or would judge me for what I was doing because it was so different from what is normally done,” she said. “But I’ve been surprised to see that many people are actually really excited to see me doing this new kind of fusion dance.”

Dancing ballet to ‘El Jarabe Tapatío’ was “such a beautiful way to express my love for my culture and my family,” she said.

Taking folkloric dancing back to its roots

González Madrigal was happy to take folklórico back to its roots.

“Although it has become a more traditional art form now, the roots of Mexican folkloric dance stem from its fusion with ballet,” she said.

‘El Jarabe Tapatío’ with ballet was not a first-time experience for the local audiences.

‘Las Tetelcingas’ from Morelos, ‘Danza de Cuchillos’ from Tlaxcala, and, ‘Danza de Flashicos’ from Querétaro were performed for the first time.

Tláloc alumni joined Central East dancers, as well as some from Central High and Justin Garza High, for the performances.

Central East seniors were responsible for four of the folkloric dances: Nayarit, Nuevo León, Sinaloa, and, Baja California.

Danzantes de Tláloc was founded in 1997 by Spanish-language instructor Alfonso Jiménez. The name signifies the Aztec god of rain.

González Madrigal has led the group since 2005.

Here is a photo tour of the dances from the other states, from Aguascalientes to Zacatecas.