Folklorico de Mexico Marks 50th Year

Not for nothing has the venerable institution Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez been going strong for 50 years. With unbridled artistry, rampant enthusiasm and a high-kicking technique, this troupe has raised the bar for folklorico around the globe. To commemorate its golden anniversary, the 75-member company, under the artistic direction of Norma Lopez (daughter of the late Hernandez), landed at the Universal Amphi- theatre on Saturday as part of a 22-city United States tour.

Overflowing with a psychedelic-like cornucopia of costumes--from hot-pink stockings paired with chartreuse leggings to virginal white lace gowns and your garden-variety silver-studded toreador pants--Folklorico’s nine-part “greatest hits” program also delivered virtuosic brio with its scorching mariachi band, albeit an overamped one.

Of course, none of these accouterments would mean much without exceptional choreography, which Folklorico has in spades. Jump-starting the evening was “Los Matachines,” a thundering stomp-fest a la “Riverdance” intended for Christian gods. Regional suites from Michoacan and Tixtla followed, the former characterized by buoyant hopping and skipping turns, the latter featuring shoulder-shimmying women and agile, tongue-darting iguanas.

“Revolution” saw 14 rifle-brandishing gals (think Annie Oakley) execute sharp turns in multitiered dresses, with the same suite showcasing the tireless twirling of lariat ace Lorenzo Escamilla. Another crowd-pleaser: “Festival in Tlacotalpan,” in which giant puppets--”Mojigangas”--moved to Caribbean rhythms and fandango dancers pounded out lively beats on special platform boxes in a work celebrating the Virgin of Candelaria.

No Folklorico concert would be complete without the Yaqui deer dance, here given feral life by Jorge Torres Chavez, and a confetti-strewn “Jalisco,” the jubilant finale that includes the traditional Mexican Hat Dance. With its fervent kineticism, the company offers a kind of MTV folklorico that had the crowd continually hooting in appreciation.