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The family of Amalia Hernandez continues her legacy of artistic achievement as the dance company she founded 50 years ago launches a United States tour that includes Midland.

Ballet Folklorico de Mexico
de Amalia Hernandez

The 50-year anniversary tour of the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez is as brilliant as the colors of its costumes.

This internationally acclaimed company is known for the power and diversity of its choreographer, for its lavish costumes, breathtaking sets and some of the most beautiful music in the world.

In 1952, the formation of the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez began when Ms. Hernandez founded a company with only eight dancers. Her success led to a weekly television show. As the director, choreograher and dancer, she produced a one-hour dance program each week for 67 weeks.

It was during this period that she began training her dancers in classical ballet and modern dance techniques prior to introducing them to the folk dance traditions of Mexico. This was one of her great innovations.

She broke new ground and since them, served as an influential force in the world of folk dance. In 1959, Ms. Hernandez organized a 50-member company, which performed as the official cultural representative of Mexico at the Pan American Games in Chicago. The company’s critically acclaimed international tour resulted in an invitation to perform at the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City, where the company has performed three times a week since 1959.

During the 1960s and 70s, the company toured throughout the world under the leadership of the great North American Impresario Sol Hurok, winning accolades and awards for artistic achievement. From private performance at the White House for President and Mrs. Kennedy to command performances at the feet of the Sphinx in Egypt, the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez has brought the richness, and mystery of the magic of Mexican culture to millions.

Throughout the United States, Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez has performed in the most prestigious venues—from the Metropolitan Opera House and Radio City Music Hall in New York to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago and the Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth. It is the only international dance company that has toured the U.S. every year for the past 12 years. The Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez has toured more than 80 countries in its 50-year history. Ms. Hernandez’s powerful vision as founder, director and choreographer of the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez has established her company’s international reputation as a leader in the world of dance.
Ms. Hernandez’ work is marked by brilliant theatricality and passion. In creating her huge repertoire of dance works, Ms. Hernandez relied on her deep knowledge and love of folkloric dances. Throughout her life, Ms. Hernandez continuously revised and renewed her work, a tradition continued today by her family. The result is a recreation of Mexican traditions on stage, preserving the diversity and characters found throughout the regions of Mexico.
Incorporating two dance companies and a dance school with more than 300 students, Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez is one of the great dance companies of the world, and one of the most important cultural institutions in Mexico and Latin America.

The resident company performs all year long at the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City, the most important theater in Mexico. At the same time the touring company performs all over the world.

The dance school Ms. Hernandez founded and directed continues to train hundreds of dancers each year in both classical ballet and modern dance techniques, as well as the folkloric traditions. Ms. Hernandez and the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez have received more than 200 awards for their work past 40 years. The honors include the Prize of Nations in France, (1960); The Tiffany Award for Lifetime Achievement in New York (1992); and, for Ms. Hernandez, Mexico’s highest award, The National Prize of Culture.

In 1997 the Hispanic Women’s Council honored Ms. Hernandez as its International Woman of the Year. And in 1999, Amalia Hernandez received the Estrellas De Nuestra Cultura award from the Mexican Cultural Institute. Ms. Hernandez died in 2001. Under the leadership and direction of her family—Norma Lopez, artistic director, Viviana Hernandez, director of the school and choreographer Salavador Lopez—the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico De Amalia Hernandez returns to the United States for its 50th Anniversary Tour.

Bob Cowan and his late wife, Phyllis, endowed the performing arts series at Midland College in fall 2000. “Funds distributed from the endowment shall be used to continue the rich tradition of excellence in the Midland performing arts community by offering. . .the finest artistic and cultural performances available... The Phyllis and Bob Cowan Performing Arts Series shall be open to the public and free of admission charge,” according to the endowment agreement. Other Bob and Phyllis Performing Arts Series entertainers at MC have included Tony-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch, classical pianist Andre Watts, comedian Bob Newhart and jugglers/comedians The Flying Karamazov Brothers.

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