The birth of lakeside’s first regional dance company is on the horizon following an open audition for prospective artists held on Friday, August 2 at the Auditorio de la Ribera. The new group is expected to be ready for a public debut by mid-November in the performance of a novel dance program.
The 31 candidates appearing at the casting call for the Compañia Regional de Danza de Chapala were put through their paces in a full hour of warm up exercises and routines of basic folk dance steps. The company’s co-director Luis Guzman Zamora kept a keen eye fixed on each dancer’s skills and natural aptitude, assisted in the evaluation by Chapala culture office director Emmanuel Medeles and alderwoman Luz Mendoza who chairs the city council culture commission.
At the end of the session Guzman announced that all 20 young women and 11 guys under consideration were accepted to join the troupe. The principal corps de ballet will be made up of 12 couples selected from the top dancers. The others will train on par as a string of understudies to fill in case of absences.
“We’re pleased and surprised to see so much talent among you,” Guzman said with the warning, “Rehearsals will be just as intense as today’s work-out, with no time out for cell phones and other distractions.”
Places in the company remain open to beginning and advanced level dancers from all municipalities in the lakeshore region. Initial rehearsals are scheduled for three evenings per week, shifting to a daily practice agenda in October.
Breaking from the conventional presentation of regional dances from different parts of Mexico, the group’s choreography and staging will crafted from scratch to represent local history and native traditions, with an original musical score composed to match the Chapala folklore theme.
“Chapala deserves to have its very own distinctive dance spectacle,” said Mendoza. “This group will represent Chapala, the Ribera and the state of Jalisco.”
The alderwoman is actively seeking financial support from the state culture ministry to get the new dance company off the ground. Major expenses include costuming for the performers, modest salaries for instructors and a portable rehearsal platform.
In the meantime, Mendoza is spearheading an effort to drum up community support by booking top quality cultural events such as the Sonidos y Movimientos dance and mariachi show held in June.
The next fund-raiser is the appearance of Big Band Jazz Guadalajara coming up this Sunday, August 11, Noon, at the Auditorio de la Ribera. Last minute tickets, going for 100 pesos each, may be purchased at Yoly’s Unisex beauty salon at Plaza Bugamibilias, or at the door prior to the concert.