Grupo Folklorico Colonias de Jalisco is sponsoring a dance workshop featuring Maestra Irene Hernandez from Los Angeles, CA., August 24 through the 26 at the Cheyenne YMCA. These fun and energetic workshops will be taught by Maestra Irene Hernandez, founder and director of Grupo Folklorico Sabor de Mexico from Los Angeles, California. Maestra Hernandez has over 25 years of dance experience. She will be teaching traditional dance styles from the states of Nuevo Leon, Guerrero, Colima and Nayarit.
Maestra Irene Hernández has over 25 years of dance experience and has trained a with dozen of folklórico maestros. In 1999, she founded Grupo Folklórico Sabor de México in 1999 and has been teaching folklórico to Lakewood and Redondo Union High School students in California. She has also conducted folklorico workshops in Las Vegas, Wyoming, and was the guest instructor at East Los Angeles College in August 2006. In addition to her normal dance instructions, Irene participated as a judge in the 2005 Escencia de México folklórico competition alongside Amalia Hernández's daughter, Viviana Bastante Hernández. Most recently, Irene made her debut as MAESTRA for Danzantes Unidos 2007 in Whittier, California.
Irene graduated from college with a degree in Liberal Studies. She has been a High School ELL Educator since 1994 and continues to educate herself by attending workshops and training under master teachers such as Juan Gil Martínez Tadeo, who trained her in the art of Calabaceados, the traditional dances of Baja California Norte. Tadeo personally invited Irene to showcase her dancers at the Calabaceado Festival in Mexico in May 2004.
When conducting workshops, Irene includes a short lecture to the participants on the historical influences of Mexico. Her mission is to promote and educate the public in the art of Mexican folkloric dancing. The Mexican culture is preserved through our youth.
Session I:
Friday, August 24, 8:00 a.m. – Noon: Costume/Make-up Design for Stage Presentation.
Maestra Hernandez will teach participants the appropriate style for costumes of each state listed below. Students will learn tricks to designing costumes and hair pieces, as well as stage make-up for performances. Parents and students are welcome to attend this session.
Session II:
Saturday, August 25, 9:00 a.m. – Noon: Nuevo Leon
Nuevo Leon is a northern Mexico desert state. Their musical influences derive from Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Scotland. Their music is played with an accordion and is upbeat.
Saturday, August 25, 1 :00 – 4:00 p.m.: Guerrero
Guerrero is a coastal state located near Acapulco, Mexico. Their musical dances are divided into four regions that depict four different diverse costumes.
Session III:
Sunday, August 26, 9:00 a.m. – Noon: Colima
Colima is a neighboring state of Jalisco and has music that sounds extremely similar to Jalisco. The dresses are ALWAYS WHITE, adorned with red, burgundy and/or hot pink lace and ribbon. This is homage to the white coconut candy that has either hot pink or red food dye around the edges. As in Jalsico, there are some dances where the male dancers use machetes.
Sunday, August 26, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.: Nayarit
Nayarit is a coastal state in Mexico and some costumes are similar to the state of Sinaloa. This is the state in which the male dancers show off their skills in machetes.
Location: Cheyenne Family YMCA, 1426 East Lincolnway / 307-778-9125
Cost: $20.00/person for all three sessions or $10.00 for each session. Payment due at the door (cash or check only).
Who can attend:
Students and adults ages 11 and up.
Lunch on your own
What to wear:
Please dress in workout clothes (no tennis shoes)
Males – boots or dress shoes
Females – dress shoes with small heels
