The Ballet Folklorico is theatrical work that combines the classic art of ballet with the legends and customs of a people, in order to pay homage to the past and create pride in the future.

In ancient Mexico, dances were performed during festivals and were meant to entertain the gods. Today’s ballets represent both the struggle and the daily joys of Mexicans over the centuries. Many groups, in both Mexico and the United States, continue to perform these dances as a way to honor their culture and heritage.

On the day of a young rancher’s wedding, the groom finds a beautiful young Indian girl on the way to the ceremony, and he cannot resist the temptation of a romance. Meanwhile, in the village church, his bride begins preparations for their wedding. When the groom finally arrives, the couple begin a dance in which all the neighbors and friends participate. In the midst of the general gaiety, a rival to the groom arrives unexpectedly. In seconds, the happiness of the celebration disappears. The two men grab their machetes and fight until the rival dies. According to the regional tradition, the party continues in all its splendor until the bride and groom depart for the church, leaving the mourners in the village square as the only reminders of the fighting and the death of the rival.