This educational video from 1987 takes a closer look at the development and purpose of folklórico, or traditional Mexican dance, in the United States. Focusing on dancers from the Ballet Folklórico de San Antonio, the video looks back at the emergence of folklórico stage performances during the Mexican Revolution and its importance during the Chicano movement of the 1960s and 1970s. It also surveys the many reasons why Mexican-American dancers choose to participate in folklórico, from connecting to and learning about one’s cultural heritage to preserving ethnic identity. At the conclusion of the film, the dancers perform at the San Antonio River Walk. This video was written and produced by donor Felicia Kongable.

San Antonio Bexar County

TFC 1980s 1980’s San Antonio Bexar County educational film Folklorico Folklórico baile Folklorico baile Folklórico baile music Spanish-language music Mexico Mexican culture Mexican-American culture Spanish shoes dance dancer dancing shoes dance studio studio folk dance folkloric dance Latin American culture folk folk culture heritage traditional dance tradition dance group dance form dance style Mexican heritage dance troupe Ballet Folklórico de San Antonio Ballet Folklorico de San Antonio class dance class

dance company Mexican dance Spanish dance dance floor history Mexican Revolution performance stage performance Revolution of 1910 culture cultural heritage performer dance performer choreography choreographer costume Yolanda Almaguer Jensen Jensen, Yolanda Almaguer SAn Antonio Parks and Recreation Elvira Cisneros Cisneros, Elvira dance form ancestry song immigrant diaspora immigration homeland Chicano Chicano movement cultural identity Olga Najera Ramirez Ramirez, Olga Najera ethnic identity nationalism romantic nationalist movement Pat Medina Medina, Pat authenticity sew

seamstress dance step Teresa Velez Velez, Teresa artistic director prop machete weapon practice rehearsal River Walk San Antonio River Walk tourism tourist make up make-up preparation dressing room dressing stage Hispanic Telecommunications Network