Thursday, October 10, 1996
DANCE:
Student group seeks new members to continue traditionsBy
Kathleen Rhames
Daily Bruin Contributor
Dance is a universal language.
It sounds like a cliché, but without saying a word a
gesture can relate a feeling, and a sequence of steps can
communicate across cultures.
For Grupo Folklórico, dance is a means of
self-identity.
"Our primary goal is to share and to preserve some of the
traditional dances of Mexico with the UCLA community and the
community at large," says choreographer/dancer Yuri Batres. "We
want to make our presence known on campus and show people that our
culture is very diverse and rich in music and dance."
Today, Batres and the 25 members of Grupo Folklórico will
demonstrate their culture at an orientation performance for the
UCLA community. Representing different styles of Mexican dance, the
evening’s effort will showcase the group’s repertoire and encourage
anyone that is interested to join.
Because it is a student organization, many members leave the
group when they graduate. By holding an orientation, Batres hopes
to recruit students interested in performing traditional Mexican
dance.
"We always need new members," he says. "There is always a need
for new blood, new participants."
The evening doesn’t follow a planned theme, although Batres and
Folklórico coordinator Moises Carlos insist the nature of the
performance carries a natural theme: a culture that is rich in its
diversity and style.
"Sometimes, before people know anything about Folklórico,
they recognize only the main regions of Mexico like Veracruz and
Jalisco," Carlos says. "They don’t realize that there are so many
different regions within Mexico and they each have different
dances."
It isn’t just geography that distinguishes these dances from one
another. The steps themselves, paralleled by elaborate,
illustrative costumes, reflect their diversity as well. The white
costumes worn by dancers in Guerrero characterize that state’s
tropical coastal climate. The trademark of the dance is a single
white handkerchief that, when spun in a specific motion, results in
what Batres describes merely as "awesome."
"Dance steps link people to their culture," he says. "The people
of the region identify with the steps and costumes and together,
they make a very distinct impression."
Carlos agrees.
"I didn’t realize the extent of it myself until I joined the
group," Carlos says. "I didn’t appreciate the distinctions that
exist between each state. The way the steps coincide with the music
is something you just don’t understand until you’re actually into
the dance."
It is this impression which Carlos and Batres hope to give to
their audience tonight. Anxious to encourage membership, the group
will talk to the audience between performances, explaining the
symbolism and story behind each number.
Although there is a serious need to recruit dancers, there is an
overall lighthearted attitude among Folklórico members.
According to Carlos, the main idea of the group is to have fun.
"The thing we want people to see is that we’re having fun doing
this," he says. "I’ve seen so many performances where the
participants are just kind of there, you know? They’re not really
having fun. When I go out there, I try not to worry so much about
the perfection of the steps but just try to have a good time."
And he can, thanks to Batres’ choreography. While keeping to the
traditional framework of Mexican dance, he implements his own
creativity, giving the performance a more flexible style.
"Many choreographers tend to put strict margins on how things
are done," says Batres. "I’m very aware that people within cultures
are flexible. Cultures allow for personality and personality
affects culture equally. I’m able to express that through my
dances."
Grupo Folklórico has long had a hand in expressing Mexican
heritage for UCLA and Los Angeles audiences. Originally founded in
1966, the group began as part of the university’s dance department.
In 1982, however, due to numerous budget cuts, the group was
dropped from the academic curriculum and has since become a
student-affiliated, student-run organization.
"I think being in a student group, I feel more at home
performing at UCLA," says Carlos, a fourth-year undergraduate. "Not
only do I go here, but we’re completely student-run. We’re not very
stringent and rigid or strict about what we do. Plus, we always
socialize after every practice and performance  we’ll go to
Tommy’s or throw parties. It’s a very friendly environment."
But today’s performance will also be an educational tool that he
hopes will erase some negative stereotypes about Mexican
culture.
"There are mistaken views that there is no flourishing art or
culture in many underdeveloped countries," Batres says. "We want to
show people that we are rich and diverse and that everybody can
find some common ground for understanding through our music and
dance."
DANCE: Grupo Folklórico holds their dance orientation at
7:30 p.m. today in the Dance Building, Room 208. For more
information, call 390-9195.
Grupo Folklórico
Angel Colmenero and Ana Pacheco perform a Ballet Folklórico
dance from Mexico’s Jalisco region at the Wadsworth Show in
April.