Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl Returns to the MAC

Coinciding with Hispanic Heritage Month, the McAninch Arts Center (MAC) welcomes back Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl, the internationally renowned, Aurora-based Mexican folk-dance troupe at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, October 12. Guest vocalist Goyo (“Goyito”) Cruz joins the 70-person troupe for this performance featuring brilliantly colored costumes, joyous dance numbers and beautiful music. To encourage families to share this rich cultural experience with their children, tickets for youth under the age of 18 are only $10.

Baile folklórico is the Spanish translation of “folkloric dance.” The term encompasses a variety of traditional Mexican dances that incorporate ballet characteristics creating the beloved cultural Spanish dance category. Each dance style is taken from different Mexican region’s local folklore and can vary widely from one another. Often performed by children in schools during holidays or other special occasions, folklore dancing is meant to bring people together and is passed down through generations.

Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl was founded in 1983. Since then, Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl has performed in national folkloric dance competitions garnering honors including a first-place trophy, three second-place trophies, and one third-place trophy at the Buc Days Folklorico Competition in 2011.

Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl is led by director and choreographer Juan Manuel “Nery” Cruz. Originally from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, he resides and practices with the troupe in Aurora, Ill. Every year, Cruz travels to San Luis, Potosi to polish up on his skills by taking lessons to learn new steps and dances from different regions of Mexico.  

Guest vocalist and Mexico’s-own Goyo (“Goyito”) Cruz is the brother of Nery Cruz. Career highlights include performances at the San Luis Potosi International Festival, Palenque’s of Mexico’s national fairs and the Paramount Theatre in Aurora, Ill. Throughout his career, he has acted in 14 plays at the Insituto Potosino De Bellas Artes (IPBA) in San Luis Potosi, Mexico and photonovelas with artists including Ofelia Medina in Mexico City.   

Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl returns to the McAninch Arts Center, located at 425 Fawell Blvd, on the campus of College of DuPage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, October 12 in the Belushi Performance Hall. Tickets are $35 for adults and $10 for youth. For tickets visit AtTheMAC.org or call 630.942.4000. The McAninch Box Office is open Tuesday – Saturday, noon – 6 p.m. and two hours prior to performance.

Attendees arriving early to Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl MAC performance are invited to visit the educational exhibition in the MAC lobby supporting the current Olmec Trails: “Culture and Legacy” DuPage County-based public art project, featuring work by 33 artists from Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. The exhibition is on display through October 15. For more information, visit olmectrails.com.