Youth Folkloric Ballet

Youth folkloric ballet - Artistic group Ander the direction of the Merida Muncipial Government Cultural Group.

Big little dance professionals proudly show their incredible skills in each performance when they show one of the Yucatan's famous characteristics - their festive spirit. Made up of 24 children between the ages of eight and 12 years, each and every child possesses a great presence on stage and enthusiasm in each performance.

With continual classes and practice sessions, these children are always working on enriching their repertory. At the moment, they are not only promoting our regional folklore locally but also to opening doors in the Mexican states of Aguascalientes, Michoacan and Chiapas where they are showing our Yucatecan dance and culture.

The Youth Folkloric Ballet does presentations at many traditional weekly events that include Merida on Sunday, Regional Monday and Mexican Night (on Saturday) along with other events they are asked to participate in by the different cultural, educational, civil and religious institutions and groups in the state.

To be a part of this prestigious group folkloric dancers the children must be willing to go to practice, participate in all the events they are invited to, keep their grades up in school, take care of their outfits, do their hair and make-up for each performance and do it all with a huge smile on their face. In each performance their repertory includes at least ten different jarana dances so that is a lot to remember.

The girls all wear the tradition terno Ð the gala Mayan huipil that is made up of the fustan- the white lacy edged underskirt that also has colorful embroidery; and the white over dress that has more colorful embroidery around the neck and at the 3/4 length hem. A red ribbon and colorful flowers adorn the head while orange coral and gold filigree rosary necklaces adorn the necks. The boys all wear long white pants, a white Filipino dress shirt, open sandals, a straw hat and a red bandana in their pants pocket. And all wear huge smiles as they proudly dance their cultural heritage.

The children that make up this privileged group are: Alexandrina Aranda Solis, Jennifer May Daza, Paola Kao Cabrera, Diana Rosado Kuk Herrera, Heidi Martinez, Yazuri, Chay Quintal, Melissa Herrera Conrado, Jessica Koh Carrillo, Maria Jose Martin Alonzo, Rosa Elena Mena Quintal, Paulina Perez Basulto, Arturo Castilla Herrera, Javier Regueira Ruiz, Pablo Suarez Chel, Alan Uh Cauich, Eduardo Ruiz Keb, Eduardo Perez Estrella, Victor Pech Alvarez.