Ballet
Viva La Musica presents a Ballet Gala featuring solo pieces, pas-de-deux and ensemble pieces with the acclaimed Ballet de Jalisco under the direction of Dariusz Blajer, Friday, February 2, 6 p.m., at the Auditorio de la Ribera in La Floresta.
The Ballet de Jalisco is this state’s only full-time professional classical dance troupe. Tickets, 300 pesos, are available at Diane Pearl, Mia’s Boutique and LCS, Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to noon.
Vespsers
The fourth annual Musical Vespers/Benefit for Villa Infantil will be held Wednesday, February 7, 4 p.m. at Ajijic’s historic San Andrés Church.
U.S. organist Neal Biggers, local vocalists Patteye Simpson and Juan Navarro, and trumpeter Norma Province join together for a Vespers service of classical and inspirational music. Music will range from works by Bach, Handel, Schubert and Vaughan Williams to the popular song “You’ve Got a Friend” and a selection from the musical “Songs for a New World.” Donations for Villa Infantil orphanage would be much appreciated.
Rising
Pamela Mariel is presenting a contemporary dance performance, “Rising,” with live music by jazz ensemble Trialogo at the Ajijic Casa de Cultura, Thursday, February 8, 7:30 p.m.
Mariel is a recent resident of Ajijic who began her dance studies in 2016 with Leonor Zertuche, as well as at the Auditorio de la Ribera. She is now dancing to fund a four-year degree of dance studies at the Instituto Superior de Artes Escenicas. She is both performer and choreographer and her show will consist of five numbers with original themes.
Tickets, 150 pesos, are available at Diane Pearl, Jardin de Ninette, Juan Café, the Casa de Cultura and White Moon Gallery.
Sculpture
An artist’s reception for sculptor Robert Burns Wilson will be held at Galeria Sol Mexicano Friday, February 9, 3-6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, February 10 and 11, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Also showing at Sol Mexicano are photographs by Karen Spencer and whimsical paintings by Adriana Perez Cadena.
Trips to the opera
Viva La Musica! continues bus trips to see live opera telecasts from the New York Met at the Teatro Diana in Guadalajara.
Trips to the opera are 450 pesos (550 for non-members), available at LCS ticket booth Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to noon, or by calling Rosemary Keeling 766-1801.
Saturday, February 10: “Elixir of Love” by Donizetti. A comedy of love with Pretty Yende as Adina, Matthew Polenzani as Nemorino, and Devide Luciano as Belcore. The show runs three hours. The bus departs at 9:30 a.m. for the 11 a.m. show
Saturday, February 24: “La Boheme” by Puccini: this popular opera features some of the most ravishing opera arias and stars Sonya Yoncheva as Mimi and Michael Fabiano as Rodolfo. The show runs three hours. The bus departs at 10 a.m. for the 11:30 a.m. show
Saturday, March 10: “Semiramide” by Rossini. This masterpiece of dazzling vocal fireworks stars Angela Meade as Semiramide, Elizabeth DeShong as Arsace, and acclaimed Mexican tenor Javier Camarena. The show runs four hours. The bus departs at 10:30 a.m. for the noon show.
Affair of the Heart
A fundraising performance of music and dance by the children of Villa Infantil Orphanage and the Lake Chapala Chorale will be held at La Huerta Eventos in West Ajijic, Saturday, February 10, 12:30 p.m. Lunch and a surprise guest gift package and concierge service will be on the menu. Tickets, 350 pesos, or VIP for 1,000 pesos, are available at Diane Pearl and Mia’s Boutique
Organizers report that La Huerta now has a professional sound system – eight speakers, stage ambient mikes, etcetera – and guarantee that the show will be very enjoyable.
Miss Conception fundraiser
Kevin Levesque takes his over-the-top creation, Miss Conception, around the world in a fundraiser for the Ajijic Cares Foundation at the Auditorio de la Ribera, Sunday, February 11, 6 p.m. The show promises to be an outstanding musical tribute to Miss Conception’s world travels! Tickets are available at Dianne Pearl, The Dildoria and Jose Melendez.
Ajijic Cares is a non-profit committee that provides HIV/AIDS education, awareness and prevention through its relationship with VIHas de Vida, Guadalajara. For further information on Ajijic Cares, go to Facebook/Ajijic Cares.
LLT musical
Lakeside Little Theatre is preparing for a huge musical production of “Fiddler on the Roof,” with show dates of February 16-27. Dave MacIntosh directs this play written by Joseph Stein, with music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and based on stories by Sholomo Aleichem. Ann Swiston directs the music and Flemming Halby is choreographer.
“Fiddler” is one of the great musicals of our era, full of laughter and tenderness. It captures the essence of history with sentiment and radiance.
Tickets, 300 pesos, are available at LLT’s box office Wednesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to noon and one hour before curtain. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Bravo!
An encore production of “I, Claudia,” starring Jayme Littlejohn in a one-woman show playing four different characters, will be held at the Bravo Theatre, February 23 and 25 at 7:30 p.m. and February 28 and March 4 at 4 p.m. It is a touching and funny look at a pre-adolescent’s view and experience of life and family that reminds us of our youth (and how lucky we are to be past it!). The original production was directed by Lynn Phelan. This encore is directed by David Wharff. Reserve at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Levi Kreis is back
That’s Entertainment Ajijic brings back Levi Kreis’s over-the-top performance of “Piano Men,” playing his very own versions of works by Jerry Lee Lewis, Elton John, Billy Joel, Peter Allen, Stevie Wonder and others. Two shows will be presented February 20, 3 and 7 p.m. at the Auditorio de la Ribera. Tickets are available at Diane Pearl, Jose Melendrez and The Dildoria or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Lakeside Singers
This month’s Sing-a-long will be Wednesday, February 28, 4:30 p.m. at OHANA’s in San Juan Cosala at Calle La Paz 6. Some who want to eat out after the event suggest Viva Mexico! in San Juan Cosala. All welcome.
Famous People Players
In March Diane Dupuy is bringing her world-famous troupe, Famous People Players, to Ajijic’s Auditorio de la Ribera.
This black-light puppeteer group was discovered by Liberace and toured with him all over the world. Paul Newman saw the show on Broadway and fell in love, providing the funding for their Toronto-based Restaurant and Dinner Theatre.
Utilizing black light imagery, with life-size puppets, the show is an extraordinary combination of colors, music , choreography and movement, all performed by artists with developmental disabilities.
This will be their first trip to Mexico, where they will be performing four shows.
A special show for The School for Special Children and their family and staff is scheduled for March 6. This is a chance to for the students at school to see the marvel of what a person with developmental concerns can achieve.
Another afternoon show for students of various schools in and around Ajijic takes place March 7 and is almost sold out.
Tickets, 350 and 400 pesos, for the two evening performances at the Auditorio, March 6 and 7, are now on sale at the facility’s box office. All the net proceeds from the two performances will be donated to The School for Special Children.
Painters Guild
The Lake Chapala Painters Guild will hold their next show at Galeria CALLI Intra Muros (Calli is the Nahuatl word meaning Casa) at Ocampo 30 in Ajijic, Friday, March 23, 5-7 p.m.