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Xiutla Folkloric Ballet

by Josef Kandoll |

Though only in their tenth year, the Xiutla Folkloric Ballet has captured the hearts not only of the people of Puerto Vallarta but of numerous visitors as well. Just recently the dance troupe was invited on a tour to Seattle and Vancouver, two major cities of the Pacific Coast. In Seattle they were surprised to find fans with a collection of photos and videos from every season since their inception, possibly one of the only such collections in existence.

Growing and growing

This group of local kids has been winning hearts since they took their first tentative steps on the stage in front of the original Los Arcos. The space grew and so did the kids. So far, with 717 performances under their belt, they tighten it as the big world continues to beckon. A repertoire of 16 states and 23 regions comes in all shapes, sizes and colors with movement that is traditional and modern at the same time. These dedicated youngsters, 30 of them the first year, have grown in number to reach just under 200.

The teacher

It's not possible to talk about the Xiutla Ballet without beginning with founder Professor Enrique Barrios Limón. In actuality, he began his career in dance at the age of 12 when he was chosen to dance by teachers in grade school. Dance in Mexico was taken very seriously in the fifties and he studied under the "Balanchines" of Mexico, José Limón and Rosa Reina, among others. Getting a scholarship to the Institute of Fine Arts in Mexico paved his way to the next level, and he continued onwards to the National Academy of Dance. After six years of the daily practice of techniques, modern, classic and folk; classes in theory, design, history and culture; in addition to the complete study, including customs and cuisine of 16 states of Mexico, Enrique was ready for the world.

For the next decade, as he developed his dance, his passion grew. After time with Ballet Folklorico de México and other prestigious groups, he founded Oxpanixtli, his own dance company with 30 dancers. They traveled and toured throughout the Americas, from Brazil to the United States to Canada, and then onward to Europe. The troupe spend two months on tour from Monte Carlo to London, then went on to represent OPIC (the international organization of the promotion of culture) with two months in Tokyo, Japan.

Sometime thereafter, in 1990, on a visit to Puerto Vallarta, he looked out of his window at night at the sea and the lights of the city. "I'm going to conquer Puerto Vallarta," he thought. Today he says, "What actually happened is the reverse as Puerto Vallarta conquered me."

After a rest of over three years, he began the steps to work with youngsters again, early steps to form what became the Xiutla Ballet. (Xiutla is the word in Nahua, the original language of the people of the region, "the place where the vegetation grows.")

The next step

This year with the troupe he faces the greatest personal test so far, with the oldest kids, who began as children, ready to leave. "There comes the day when they must leave in order for the group to continue." Ready to begin the study of their careers, his principals are dancing their last performances now.

So even as the older of the Xiutla dancers move on to continue their education, we wish them the very best. Their growing years have given much pleasure to the community of Puerto Vallarta, both Mexican and foreign. After a few months of preparation, Professor Barrios says the next group will be ready for the stage, and life goes on.

As the troupe has traveled in the last couple of years around Mexico and in the USA and Canada, they have represented their country with pride and danced their hearts out. This year they received a number of recognitions, including the gold medal of the Fiestas de Octubre, the annual Vallarta Award in Arts and a special recognition from the city for their contribution. As the older ones hang up their dancing shoes, they can be sure they will never be forgotten.

The future

Prof. Barrios' dream is to establish the regional academy of Mexican dance and the national center of popular art. Actually authorized by the state of Jalisco since 2001 to found the institute, it now rests in the hands of the municipal leaders to see the value of traditional dance and culture to the local community. In the meantime, he looks forward to their having their own space with classrooms, a library, practice rooms, a stage for actual presentations and the appropriate materials to include the culture and traditions of every state and region of this country.

You can see the Xiutla Ballet preform during the Fiesta Patrias celebrations at Los Arcos Ampitheatre on September 15 at 8:00 p.m.

This article was reprinted from the September 10, 2004 edition of Bay Vallarta, number 13.

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