The splendor of moonlight reflected in the vast expanse of Lake Chapala was the inspiration for “Espejo de Luna” (Mirror of the Moon), an original modern dance and live music stage spectacle that will debut Sunday, December 3, 5 p.m., at the Auditorio de la Ribera in La Floresta.
The performance by Ensamble Chapala stems from a unique collaboration between two artistic groups operating under the University of Guadalajara’s high school education system, involving 12 students enrolled in the contemporary dance workshop at the Preparatoria Regional de Chapala and ten members of the Cantoamérica musical troupe from Guadalajara’s Preparatoria 10.
The program was conceived over a year ago by accomplished choreographer Víctor Arce Castro, who is the instructor for the local school’s extracurricular dance program. He brought in Cantoamérica director Eduardo Buendía Flores, a long-time friend and colleague, to match up traditional Latin American songs with dance themes touching on the lake’s natural attributes, its traditional fishermen and ancient legends of alluring mermaids inhabiting the waters.
The 40-minute show is made up of a series of stories told through music and movement with the two groups appearing together on stage. They worked independently for several months prior to coming together in early October for their first integrated rehearsal.
Arce says he is thrilled by the enthusiasm and dedication the students have demonstrated in tackling such an ambitious project.
While ticket sales have been brisk within the academic community, seats for the debut are still available. Advance tickets, priced at 80 pesos for general admission, 60 pesos for students, may be acquired at the Centro Cultural Ajijic, open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., closing at 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission at the door on the day of performance will cost 100 pesos.
A second performance of Espejo de Luna is scheduled for December 13, 8 p.m., at the Teatro Experimental located at Guadalajara’s Agua Azul Park.