The acclaimed Universidad de Guadalajara (UdeG) folkloric ballet troupe is returning to its ancestral home at the Degollado Theater in Guadalajara for the first time in eight years.
The troupe’s upcoming “Alma Mestiza” season will feature a series of galas from July 17 to 20, with around 80 dancers and musicians participating. Tickets are expected to go on sale soon.
Meanwhile, the troupe has embarked on the first of two U.S. tours, titled Mexico in the Heart. During May, they will give free performances in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Utah. The second tour will kick off in Iowa at the end of August and will visit ten states, including Texas and Illinois. On September 16 (Mexican Independence Day), the troupe will perform in Times Square, New York City. In total, the group will give 23 performances in the United States.
Mayor Verónica Delgadillo saw off the troupe last week, describing the tours as “a bridge of love” between the United States and Guadalajara, “bringing a little more oxygen to those who live far from their homeland.”
Founded in 1960, the UdeG Ballet Folklórico gained international recognition after performing at the opening ceremony of the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games. For decades, the troupe delighted locals and visitors with Sunday morning performances at the Degollado Theater. However, in 2006, they were ousted by state authorities following the installation of a new stage, as the dancers’ hard-heeled shoes were deemed too damaging for the brand-new floor. The troupe last performed at the theater in 2017 for a one-off show.
The troupe is renowned for its meticulously researched interpretations of regional Mexican folk dances, though it always concludes its performances with exhilarating and beloved Jalisco dances, including the Jarabe Tapatío, Son de la Negra, and La Culebra.