Folklórico!

Documentary on "folklórico," a term referring both to folkoric dance forms and performing groups, and its role as a symbol of Mexican heritage. The program highlights the Ballet Folklórico de San Antonio, represented by company member Pat Medina. An overview of the historical background of folklórico in the southwestern United States examines its links with events and movements in Mexico (such as the post-revolutionary Romantic Nationalism movement), the achievements of individuals such as Berta Almaguer, who taught Mexican dance and music in San Antonio beginning in the 1930s, and the impetus provided by the Chicano movement in the U.S. in the late 1960s and 1970s, which encouraged expressions of ethnic identity and pride. Teresa Vélez, artistic director of the Ballet Folklórico de San Antonio, discusses questions of authenticity and stylization in choreography and costumes. The program closes with a montage of various dances performed by the Ballet Folklórico de San Antonio.