The Mexican Music and Dance Concert debuted last Thursday with a spectacle of traditional mariachi songs and choreography highlighting Mexico’s lavish culture. Showcasing the various regional types of mariachi found throughout the country, there was never a dull moment, with numerous variations of the genre displayed for everyone to see.
Interchanging between live musical performances by the Mariachi Los Alteños de UCR and intricate dances pulled off by the Ballet Folklórico de UCR, the concert was a fun way to celebrate the country’s artistic pride while also serving as an illustrious introduction to the elaborate art of mariachi for those less acquainted.
The concert celebrated Mexican arts while paying homage to Laura Garaciano Sobrino. Also known as “The Mariachi Queen,” Sobrino created UCR’s mariachi program and advanced Latinx studies and art across the University of California (UC) system. The concert marks 10 years since her passing and celebrates Sobrino’s life and accomplishments.
When it came to visuals, vibrancy remained an integral part of mariachi, which the concert handled with utmost grace. Performing behind a foreground of radiant carnation bouquets, the music and dance ensemble wore charros and dresses that were equally colorful and appealing to the eye. Band members were dressed in blue and black traditional mariachi outfits. In contrast, the dance performers had a bit more to do, changing through various clothes reflecting the different regional styles of both the music and the people of Mexico.
From black jackets and tassels reflecting the state of Nuevo León’s industrial culture to the more traditionally vaquero-esque attire representing the state of Jalisco’s agricultural history, each costume was a love letter to the different provinces and customs found throughout the country.
As stunning and appealing as the dancers’ outfits were, they played a substantial role in their performances. Long, colorful, tapestry-like skirts emphasized graceful movements, while hard-soled shoes made for thunderous stomps in the zapateado dance style. Overall, visual aesthetics were a major highlight of the concert, in which beauty can be seen in practically every act.
The concert’s musical numbers had no shortage of passion and commitment either. Playing culturally significant ballads such as “María Isabel” and “El Sinaloense,” Mariachi Los Alteños de UCR members had a chance to showcase both instrumental and vocal chops. Some performers wooed the crowd with their own choreography while others, appearing to be reserved at first glance, gave heartfelt singing performances to the astonishment of the audience.
With the musical leadership of band director Cynthia Reifler Flores, the dances of the show were accompanied by tight and synergistic melodies from instruments ranging from violins, guitars and horns. In between breaks by the mariachi band, energetic instrumentals such as “Pato Asado” accompanied the dances in a way that made audience members stomp, clap and holler to their heart’s delight. Alongside traditional folk songs were contemporary tracks such as “Homenaje a Selena,” which made it seem like a walkthrough into Mexican music’s lively history and evolution.
With participation being an integral part of the overall liveliness of the concert and mariachi in general, members of the audience were openly encouraged to cheer and move along to the beat. Dr. Chavez, the master of ceremonies, taught concertgoers how to perform successful gritos, or celebratory shouts, as well as phrases associated with mariachi, which many of them utilized in many of the show’s acts. On a similar note, listeners were invited to sing along to the more recognizable songs of the concert, making for a boisterous performance for all of those involved.
The choreography of The Mexican Music and Dance Concert encompasses various dances seen in mariachi. From slow and steady waltzes to fervent cha-chas, the different styles of dances reflected African, European and indigenous people’s influence on Mexican culture. Each dance sequence was entirely distinct from one another, setting out to show the regional and class differences found throughout Mexico.
One standout act was Los Machetes, in which male dancers performed with literal machetes to accentuate agrarianism and working-class values of strength and skill. Especially when it came to the more uptempo songs, the swaying of the skirts served as a visual treat for audiences to bask in. Every step made by the performers was concise, with stomps and pirouettes synchronizing with the beat of the music.
As if the elegant sights and sounds weren’t enough, the Mexican Music and Dance Concert also served as a farewell to seniors within the Mariachi Los Alteños de UCR and Ballet Folklórico de UCR programs. Seniors were called up to the stage, where parents adorned them with sashes symbolizing their involvement in the program. Receiving laudatory remarks from the crowd, seniors expressed emotions of pride, gratitude and everything in between.
Although somewhat heartbreaking, the graduating seniors were given a bombastic send-off in which their achievements within the programs were recognized. After getting their sashes, the seniors followed up with their own separate and unique acts. The concert ended the night with one big performance in which the Mariachi Los Alteños de UCR and Ballet Folklórico de UCR programs shared the stage.
The Mexican Music and Dance Concert provided a jovial insight into Mexico’s diverse culture and art. Serving as both a cultural exchange and a celebration of Mexican heritage, the concert was lively and fascinating from start to finish. If anything, it proved that the spirit and finesse of Mexican song and dance are still alive and kicking.
