2012-283 EDC - Arts - Glenwood Elementary School PTA for Spring 2012 Grassroots Arts Awards $ 1,000

Browse Search

The Liberty News,Wednesday,April 28, 1999-11 • Afestyle s • Mexican ballet draws rave review By Milburn Gibbs The Ballet Folklorico Mexico de los Hermanos Avila startled on-lookers with its dramatic dances and elaborate costumes. The Avilas — director Jesus and his sister, Carmen — founded the company 25 years ago. They now have been joined , by a second and a third genera- tion of Avilas. The group pres- ents regional and traditional folk dances from Mexico. The dances date iron, .is mid- forrteenth century and portray Aztec dances, including the Paso de Camino (A walk in the road literally). This dance honors the - four directions.The costumes are Milburn Gibbs photo majestic to say the least. Six foot Ballet Folklorico dancers . . . pheasant tails,suede and colorful Eight Ballet Folklorico dancers whirled and jumped and brought five beads adorn highly symbolic hundred-year-old dances to life on stage Friday night.Elaborate costumes authentic dress. It is difficult to and authentic plumage was the order of the day.Three generations of the say if the high-energy dances or Avila family perform in a troupe that travels the world from their Wiscon- the costumes are the most engag- sin base. ing. Several other equally elaborate panic dancers on stage. dances depicted other periods in A highlight of the evening was Mexican history throughout the Javier Lorenzo Escamilla, the centuries. National Roping Champion of "We wanted some Hispanic Mexico. attractions," Randolph Arts Javier twirled two lariats at Guild executive director Philip once and made the ropes"walk." I Shore said as he gathered tickets He later performed a very ath- at the performance at the North letic jump rope trick where he F Asheboro Middle School on jum ed his hoops as he twirled April 23. "Our intent was to his lariat over and under his body make a tangible showing of the in one large loop. culture of Mexico by some local "I have never seen anything Hispanics." like that," a surprised Nati G. de he roue put on three short Avelar of Mexico City said after performances s for three local the performance.She has been to , schools on Friday m well as the the national Ballet Folklorico in '- sold-out performance in the eve- Mexico, but claimed Javier did ning. tricks no one else had attempted, > "A RCC (Randolph Commu- so far as she knew. nity College)teacher told me she Javier was saved for last. As made this performance a require- dramatic as his performance was, ment for her students to attend," it could not overshadow the ath- Milburn Gibbs photo Philip said. letically difficult dances the The Ballet Folklorico was the troupe performed so well. Sev- Roping Champion . . . brainchild of Arts Council pro- eral dancers placed their feet and Javier Lorenzo Escamilla gram director, Christine A. legs directly over a burning demonstrates a trick he must have Brown. She was selling tickets at flame and showed their ability to invented as no one had ever seen it the performance, and had help defy them being burned through before. He is the current National from an assistant who spoke flu- faith and mind-control. Roping Champion of Mexico. He ent Spanish, something which All in all, a dramatic and a dif- spoke no English but did say this was needed by some theatre- ferent evening's entertainment. was his first trip to N.C.and he had been very well received in previous goers. "Que fabuloso," Nati said as There was a good mix of His- she quit the theatre. schoolsstrauons at three local panics in the audience and an Christine Brown had a good even more robust group of His- idea.