AT&T Performing Arts Center Completes Third Annual North Texas Ballet Folklórico Contest

*Spanish Translation below / Traducción al español a continuación

400+ Students From 35 Schools Participated from schools across Texas

(DALLAS) – The nonprofit AT&T Performing Arts Center announced that 35 schools from across Texas participated in The North Texas Ballet Folklórico Contest on Thursday, February 15 at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre. Baile folklórico or Ballet Folklórico is a genre of dance that is a mix of traditional folk cultural forms. It is best recognized for its brightly colored costumes and twirling dresses. Different regions of Mexico and the Southwest United States have their own unique styles, and the genre has become a huge tradition in Texas.

The Center created the North Texas Ballet Folklórico Contest in collaboration with local dance educators as an online competition in 2021 to help public and private schools across Texas build and grow folkloric dance programs in their schools. In 2022, the program expanded to an in-person event; still maintain virtual option for schools unable to travel to Dallas to compete. Students present solo, duet, small ensemble, and large ensemble performances; adjudicated by a panel of judges with awards given in each category similar to Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL).

Following the familiar path of Mariachi, which became a UIL event in the 2018-2019 school year, educators hope to position Ballet Folklórico for an eventual proposal to the UIL Legislative Council.

“Ballet Folklórico is such a vibrant, rich and celebrated art form here in Texas, and you can’t help but be amazed at the history and range of talent on display here at the Wyly Theatre,” says Center President & CEO Warren Tranquada. “Students should be able to see their culture and heritage and culture reflected in the performing arts and this artform would be a perfect addition to the UIL’s fine arts competitions. The Center is proud to play a role with our education partners in setting the stage to someday achieve status for Ballet Folklórico as a UIL program!”

The eight-hour live competition showcased students in eight solos, 10 duets, 46 small ensembles, and 20 large ensemble groups competing in non-varsity and varsity classifications.

The AMALIA HERNANDEZ Award goes to schools that submitted three or more dance pieces, varsity and non-varsity, and have received a superior rating on most criteria:

• Ballet Folklorico Orgullo Mexicano
• Creekview High School
• Grand Prairie High School
• South Grand Prairie High School

The SILVIA LOZANO Award goes to schools that have submitted three or more dance pieces, varsity and non-varsity, and have received an excellent rating on most criteria:

• Bowie Elementary School
• Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep Catholic High School
• Fannin Middle School
• Nolan Catholic High School
• Richardson High School
• Sam Houston High School
• Seguin High School
• Sunset High School
• Turner High School
• E. Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy
• Woodrow Wilson High School
• Young Women’s Leadership Academy Middle School
• Young Women Leadership Academy High School

The ANITA N. MARTINEZ Award goes to schools that submitted one or two dances, varsity and non-varsity, and have received an excellent rating on all criteria:

• J. Pearce High School
• North Garland High School

The DIANA ELIZABETH GALLEGO Award goes to the school that submitted one or more dances, varsity and non-varsity, and have received a developing rating for most criteria:

• Adams Middle School
• Jésus Moroles Expressive Arts Vanguard
• Little Elm High School
• Vickery Elementary School
• Vivian Field Middle School

For the JUDGES AWARDS, the panel selected the Best Solo, Best Duet, Best Small Ensemble, and Best Large Ensemble for both non-varsity and varsity categories.

Non-Varsity

Best Solo: Fannin Middle School

Best Duet: Woodrow Wilson High School

Best Small Ensemble: Turner High School

Best Large Ensemble: North Garland High School

Varsity

Best Solo: Ballet Folklorico Orgullo Mexicano

Best Duet: Ballet Folklorico Orgullo Mexicano

Best Small Ensemble: Ballet Folklorico Orgullo Mexicano

Best Large Ensemble: Ballet Folklorico Orgullo Mexicano

The AT&T Performing Arts Center would like to thank our contest emcee, Jon Fisher, and our judges: Adriana Villalba, Juan Orona, David Marroquin, Anastasia Flores, Daniel Alvarado, and Walquiria Perales. The Center would also like to thank dance educators Karla Hardaway, Leah Huggins and Daniel Negrete for their guidance and support in the planning of the competition.

For more information on The North Texas Ballet Folklórico Contest, please visit: https://attpac.org/learn/students-educators/folklorico-contest

El AT&T Performing Arts Center Finaliza El Tercer Concurso Anual De Ballet Folklórico Del Norte De Texas

Participaron más de 400 estudiantes de 35 escuelas de todo Texas

(DALLAS) – La organización sin fines de lucro AT&T Performing Arts Center anunció que 35 escuelas de todo Texas participaron en el Concurso de Ballet Folklórico del Norte de Texas el jueves 15 de febrero en el Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre. El Baile Folklórico o Ballet Folklórico es un género de danza que combina formas culturales folklóricas tradicionales. Se reconoce sobre todo por sus trajes de colores brillantes y sus vestidos que giran. Las distintas regiones de México y del suroeste de Estados Unidos tienen sus propios estilos únicos. El género se ha convertido en una gran tradición en Texas.

El Centro creó el Concurso North Texas Ballet Folklórico en colaboración con maestros de danza locales como una competencia en línea en 2021 para ayudar a las escuelas públicas y privadas de todo Texas a construir y hacer crecer programas de danza folclórica. En 2022, el programa se extendió y pasó a ser un evento presencial; aún se mantiene la opción virtual para las escuelas que no pueden viajar a Dallas para competir. Los estudiantes presentan actuaciones individuales, de dúo, de conjunto pequeño y gran conjunto; evaluadas por un panel de jueces y con premios otorgados en cada categoría similar a la Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL).

Siguiendo el camino familiar de Mariachi, que se convirtió en un evento de UIL en el año escolar 2018-2019, los educadores esperan posicionar el Ballet Folklórico para una eventual propuesta al Consejo Legislativo de UIL.

“El Ballet Folklórico es una forma de arte tan vibrante, rica y celebrada aquí en Texas. Uno no puede dejar de sorprenderse por la historia y la variedad de talento que se exhibe aquí en el Wyly Theater”, dice el Presidente y CEO del Centro, Warren Tranquada. “Los estudiantes deben ser capaces de ver su cultura y patrimonio  reflejados en las artes escénicas y esta forma de arte sería un agregado perfecto a las competiciones de bellas artes de la UIL. ¡El Centro se enorgullece de desempeñar un papel con nuestros socios educativos en el establecimiento de la etapa para lograr algún día el estatus de Ballet Folklórico como un programa de UIL!”

La competencia en vivo de ocho horas mostró a los alumnos compitieron en ocho presentaciones individuales, 10 dúos, 46 conjuntos pequeños y 20 grandes conjuntos, tanto en categorías no universitarias como universitarias.

Los resultados del concurso se pueden encontrar aquí.

Para más información sobre el Concurso de Ballet Folklórico del Norte de Texas, visite: https://attpac.org/learn/students-educators/folklorico-contest