Calpulli Mexican Dance Company Will Present “Puebla"

In a celebration on the cusp of Cinco de Mayo, Calpulli Mexican Dance Company will present “Puebla: The Story of Cinco de Mayo” at the Wortham Center’s Cullen Theater on Friday, May 3 as part of its national tour after a premiere in New York City in April. The New York City-based Company – now in its 16th year - received a national award from the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) making the new production possible.

Under the artistic direction of Alberto Lopez Herrera, “Puebla” tells a universal tale of the underdog fighting impossible odds. The setting is the Battle of Puebla when a small army of Mexican soldiers and commoners defeated the French army, the strongest military force of the time, on the 5th of May (Cinco de Mayo), 1862. Through folkloric and contemporary dance, live music and elaborate costuming, the Company will elaborate on the history of the now-famous date and celebrate the culture and people of Puebla.

Friday, May 3rd, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.
Wortham Center/Cullen Theater
501 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77002
Tickets and Information: https://tickets.houstonfirstth...
Event link: https://calpullidance.org/perf...
Box Office: 832-487-7041● Tickets: $35-$150

“Growing up in Puebla, we commemorate Cinco de Mayo with local parades and history lessons at school. But people in the United States celebrate Cinco de Mayo in a much larger way,” said Mr. Lopez. “However, many times people do not know why they are celebrating. I wanted to take advantage of this cross-cultural opportunity to tell a story that brought the focus of Cinco de Mayo back to the brave people of Puebla, my first home, and the cultures that I love.”

The Company of 20 dancers, a core of musicians and guest artists will take audiences on an emotional and educational journey for all ages using the universal language of dance.

The Houston performance follows Puebla’s debut on April 13 and 14 at Queens Theatre in Queens, New York City, and a work-in-progress at the Kaatsbaan International Dance Center. In addition, all of Calpulli’s community classes reaching over 200 students every week will feature dance and music from Puebla for the coming six months, connecting all of the work of the Company and organization to this new production.

After Houston, the Company will continue to tour the production in the first half of 2020 with the continued support of NEFA, with an upcoming presentation on Monday, May 6, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, New Jersey; and then will make its European debut on May 16, in Istanbul, Turkey.

“Puebla” features new works by Artistic Director Alberto Lopez Herrera, a native of San Antonio Chiltepec in southern Puebla. The production also features commissions by former Artistic Director of the Company Noemy Hernandez, who specializes in the stylistic fusion of folkloric dance and contemporary movement. Grisel Pren Monje originally from Cancun, Mexico and Rehearsal Director for the Company choreographs several folk-based works in the story. Javier Dzul, Artistic Director of Dzul Dance Company and Juan Castaño, Co-Founder of the Company and Choreographer also premieres new work.

Music Director George Saenz is creating the rhythmic tapestry encompassing Native American traditions from Mexico, French war marches, European waltzes, to Hispanic songs of the era in Puebla.

As its first historical production, Calpulli began research in early 2018 to establish the basis for the artistic story developed for the “Puebla: The Story of Cinco de Mayo.” The information related to the chronological events around the Battle of Puebla and also connections to the USA and New York City inspired the work. Calpulli notes that immigrants from the state Puebla makeup one of the largest sub-groups within the Mexican immigrant community in New York City. Also, although there have been attacks on countries in the Americas since the Battle of Puebla, no country has been invaded by an army from another continent since. Interestingly, while in exile, Mexican President Benito Juarez sent his family to live in New York City during the French occupation of Mexico. His wife and children lived in what is now the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

Major support was received from the New England Foundation for the Arts via the National Dance Project Award. The project is also made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts, The Harkness Foundation for Dance, and the McGraw Foundation. Media sponsors and community partners include Rioult Dance Center, El Diario de México, the Center for Traditional Music and Dance, BRIC, and Spaceworks. This program and its performances in New York City is also supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Additional support was received via the Cultural Immigrant Initiative with New York City Council Members Jimmy Van Bramer and Daniel Dromm.

About Calpulli Mexican Dance:
Calpulli Mexican Dance Company’s mission is to celebrate the rich diversity of Mexican and Mexican-American cultural heritage through dance including live music. Founded in 2003, the Company continues to grow its domestic and international touring from its home base in Queens, New York. The organization designs arts-in-education experiences for students and teachers and offers free dance and music classes targeting Mexican immigrant and Mexican American communities in New York and New Jersey. It was hailed a “terrific company” by The New York Times. More information about the company is available at www.calpullidance.org.