Bailes Folklóricos

Mexico is the birthplace of some of the greatest things mankind has ever created: cajeta, saunas, Salma Hayek Pinault, chewing gum, popcorn AND Baile Folklorico — also known as Mexican folk dancing. These folk dances are native to regions throughout Mexico and incorporate styles from Mesoamerican, African, Spanish and other European dances. Many bailes folklóricos (folk dances) date as far back as the 16th century; however, their popularity blossomed as a result of rising Mexican nationalism following the 1910 revolution. Following the revolution, bailes folklóricos were embraced as a part of Mexican identity and expression — which was (and still is) HUGE for the beleaguered indigenous movement in Mexico, as most of the dances have Mesoamerican roots.

In the 1950s and 60s the Mexican government began encouraging public schools to teach folk dances and started subsidizing dance companies around the country. Hands down the most popular folk dance company in Mexico is the Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernandez (Ballet Folklórico de México), which was founded by Amalia Hernandez in 1952 and is now the official folk dance company of Mexico. The founding of the Ballet Folklórico de México was a huge milestone for Mexican culture. Amalia, the director and choreographer of the company, painstakingly researched, curated and choreographed the dances to showcase the ethnic diversity of post-Columbian Mexico, while highlighting Mesoamerican culture and traditions. The style and choreography of the Ballet Folklórico de México has inspired hundreds of dance companies in Mexico and around the world, from the Ballet Folklórico Nacional Argentino to the Ballet Folklórico Mexicano de Georgetown here in Washington, DC.

Check out the Ballet Folklórico de México dance el baile de Huapango on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45KAm_pUEFE

Read more about baile folklórico here: http://revista.drclas.harvard.edu/…/ballet-folkl%C3%B3rico-…

And here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baile_Folklorico

This is the super sparknotes history of the baile folklórico. Anything to add? Something I missed? Comment below!