Mexican folkloric dance tells the story of the vibrant art form through the life and work of the internationally acclaimed artist and choreographer, Rafael Zamarripa. A former member of the Ballet Folkl脙鲁rico de Mexico, Zamarripa is an innovator who has kept the art form alive among young people, founding and inspiring dance companies in Mexico and the US. Mexican folkloric dance is a stylized, choreographed art form designed to display the cultural diversity of Mexico with energy, heart, and intricate technique. Rooted in the post-revolutionary period, folkloric dance blossomed in the 1960s and has become a thriving phenomenon in Mexico and the United States, and is performed all over the world. This documentary traces its development through the experiences and artistic productions of Rafael Zamarripa and the dancers he has influenced.
Olga N脙隆jera-Ram脙颅rez is Professor of Anthropology at UC Santa Cruz. Specializing in folklore, she has concentrated on documenting and critically examining expressive culture among Mexicans in both Mexico and the United States. She wrote, directed and produced two bilingual documentaries: La Charreada: Rodeo a la Mexicana, and Danza Folkl脙鲁rica Esc脙漏nica.