FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Livermore Valley Arts
Contact: Ruth Egherman (925) 583-2306
A Thrilling and Moving Tri-Valley Favorite, Returning this October to The Bankhead
Livermore, CA – (October 11, 2024) – As Livermore Valley Arts continues its 2024-2025 Bankhead Presents Season, LVA is thrilled to welcome back a Tri-Valley favorite next week. A past Bankhead sellout, the dance and music spectacular Día de los Muertos from Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Carlos Moreno is returning on Sunday, October 20 for a feast for the eyes, ears, and hearts of Tri-Valley audiences as this renowned troupe honors ancestors with traditional Mexican folk dances, immersing guests in Mexican culture, celebrating life and death through captivating dance. This breathtaking matinee performance will be at the beautiful Bankhead Theater in Downtown Livermore.
Paying homage to those who have passed on, Día de los Muertos is a celebration of the life of loved ones and a time to share the wonders that our dearly departed enjoyed. Guests at this beautiful performance will delight in the diversity of indigenous dances from the various regions of México, with each dance featuring different vibrant costumes, music, and unique Pre-Columbian era dance styles. The group behind this powerful performance, the Mission of the Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Carlos Moreno (BFM) is to empower our community and educate the general public by providing a greater understanding and appreciation for Mexican culture and folklore through music, dance, and traditional art forms. Founded in 1967 by Carlos Moreno-Samaniego, the Ballet Folklorico Mexicano has achieved recognition both in the United States and in México, and in 1980, the Mexican consulate in San Francisco named the company the official ambassador for ongoing cultural activities with México. It has held that distinction for over forty years during which time it regularly conducts tours in Mexican cities such as Guadalajara, Oaxaca, Aguascalientes, and Durango. BFM maintains an active performance agenda, touring regularly in the western and southwestern United States as well.
Drawing on the artistic variety of México’s different regions, the Ballet Folklorico Mexicano has a dance repertory of 120 pieces. Many of these are presented in their traditional form while others have been restaged to include artistic elements from more contemporary choreography. In this way, the indigenous rhythms of Tarascan Indian dances from central México stand in sharp contrast to the Spanish military and courtship dances from that region. Similarly, the African influences that characterize dances from the Gulf of México are juxtaposed by Mexican polkas that mark the influence of eastern Europeans from the north. In her review of the company, Jennifer Fisher, the celebrated dance critic for the Los Angeles Times, noted that the Ballet “has much appeal. They are tightly rehearsed and (their) choreography is inventive.” The BFM is proud of its vast regional repertoire but also excels at thematic choreography. In the “Día de Muertos” production, audiences are treated to the “Danza de Muertos” and “Danza de Diablo y Calaca,” two BFM original choreographies.
The “Día de Muertos” production originated in 2005. In this production the BFM shares many of the danzas and more ritualistic pieces which pay homage to those who have passed on, showing how Día de Muertos is a celebration of the life of loved ones, a time to share the wonders our loved ones enjoyed. Día de los Muertos can be traced back several hundred years before México existed as a country. The Aztec’s cyclical belief in life and death resulted in a celebration of death, rather than a fear of death. Death was simply a continuation of life, just another plane of existence. Once a year the Aztecs held a festival celebrating the death of their ancestors while honoring the goddess Mictecacihuatl, Queen of the Underworld or Lady of the Dead. They believed that the deceased preferred to be celebrated rather than mourned. During this festival, they first honored los angelitos, the deceased children, as well as those who passed away as adults. The festival lasted for an entire month and coincided with the corn harvest. After the Spaniards conquered the Aztecs in 1521, they tried to make the Aztecs adopt their Catholic beliefs. As Catholics, they tried their best to eradicate the old Aztec rituals and fully convert the indigenous people to their Catholic beliefs but they failed; what resulted was more of a blend of beliefs. The Spanish conquerors succeeded in shortening the length of the Mictecacihuatl festival to 2 days which conveniently corresponded with two of their own Catholic holidays, All Saints Day, November 1, and All Souls Day, November 2. The Spanish convinced the indigenous people to attend special masses on those days to commemorate the dead as they tried to shift the
original Día de los Muertos meaning to best suit their own Catholic purpose. Over the centuries these traditions have transformed into the present Día de los Muertos, bestowing it with color, flavor, and fervor that has made it a world-famous holiday. Even the Aztec goddess Mictecacihuatl found a new identity as the modern “Catrina” the lanky, skeletal female figure dressed in luxurious clothing and a giant ornate hat, who serves as a reminder that death is fate and that even the rich can’t avoid. The Day of the Dead in México represents a mixture of Christian devotion and pre-Hispanic traditions and beliefs. As a result of this mixture, the celebration comes to life as a unique Mexican tradition including an altar and offerings dedicated to the deceased. All are invited to relish in the beauty of and get insight into the lively celebrations of this thriving culture, right at The Bankhead on October 20.
Tickets for shows in the 2024-2025 Bankhead Presents season are available online, by calling 925-373-6800, or at the box office windows. For a complete list of events, visit livermorearts.org.
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Livermore Valley Arts is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit offering wide-ranging programs that provide access to the arts for the Tri-Valley community and beyond. The Bankhead Theater and Bothwell Arts Center are home to eight resident performing arts companies, over 40 studio artists, and cultural arts instructors. LivermoreArts.org
Show: Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Carlos Moreno Día de los Muertos Date/Time: Sunday, October 20, 2024 at 3:00pm
Tickets: $25—$50 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20% Dates, times, and ticket prices for other events available at www.LivermoreArts.org
