Following a successful season in Puerto Vallarta and a one-off performance at the city’s Teatro Diana, the popular Fandango theater show has arrived for good in the Guadalajara suburb of Santa Anita.
“We wanted a big show in Guadalajara to rival those of Paris or Buenos Aires. Finally we have it,” announced one of the organizers at Tuesday night’s inauguration.
The show, which takes place at an old hacienda converted into a theater, is a homage to the culture of the state of Jalisco, replete with charreria, mariachi, folk dancing and, of course, tequila.
The evening’s entertainment features a fine tequila tasting session and a unique dinner menu. Tuesday’s fare featured quesadillas served with strawberry jelly, a mango salad doused in balsamic vinegar, gazpacho soup, lime and tequila sorbet and a choice of salmon or steak, followed by traditional Mexican desserts.
The master of ceremonies clearly made the most of the free bar on the night, accidentally declaring it was time “to cut the tequila” instead of the inaugural red tape.
The main event began with dancers clad in Aztec-style costumes, performing before a big screen to the sound of tribal drums and wood pipes. A raucous dance number followed, with howling, whistling and flames shooting up at the side of the stage.
The routines were intercut with mariachi interludes, while the soundtrack also incorporated strings and electric guitar. The eclectic dance routines included charros with lassos, campesinos dueling with machetes, and male tap dancers clad in sombreros and unreasonably tight trousers.
The Fandango spectacular will take place every week from Wednesday to Friday at the Fandango Hacienda, Camino al Colomos 300, in Santa Anita. Although this lies several miles outside the periferico (city beltway), organizers promise to collect tourists from the Guadalajara’s main hotel zones and transport them to and from the venue.
Tickets are from 700-1,100 pesos (400-550 for kids). For more information and reservations, visit www.fandango.mx or call (33) 3122-9622 or 01-800-7191-1421.