Lane Arts Council is proud to present Ballet Folklórico Tlanese on Sunday, October 9th at 4pm at Oregon Contemporary Theatre (194 West Broadway). This event is a part of Lane Arts Council’s Fiesta Cultural, a county-wide initiative to celebrate Latino arts and culture, emphasize the many Latino artists in Lane County, and increase opportunities for integration of Latino individuals into the broader community. Ballet Folklórico Tlanese is a group of dancers ages 5 to 25 years old who perform traditional Mexican dances from Oaxaca, Veracruz, Jalisco, Nayarit, Guerrero, Yucatan, Sinaloa, and more. Each dance showcases the specific movements and gorgeous flowing dresses of the area. As the featured area changes, so do the costumes. This one-hour performance will be followed by a short reception in the lobby, in which attendees can meet the dancers. Ballet Folklórico Tlanese was founded in Salem in 2004. Paola Sumoza attended North Salem High School and was a part of M.E.Ch.A (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán), the group responsible for organizing the Cinco de Mayo assembly for the school. Paola helped put together some traditional Mexican dances for the group to present. Word spread throughout the community and the group was invited to continue performing at various cultural events. Soon, Ballet Folklórico Tlanese became a dance group for teenagers and younger kids, as many parents recognized the value of teaching their children about Mexican culture and traditions. The group now includes approximately 35 members, ages 5 to 25. You can learn more about Ballet Folklórico Tlanese at [hidden]. “This is an incredible opportunity to see young people proudly embracing their cultural heritage,” states Jessica Watson, Fiesta Cultural Coordinator. “Twelve years after the initial performance, Ballet Folklórico Tlanese continues to fulfill their mission of educating the youth and the community about the customs and traditions of Mexican culture.” Tickets can be purchased at Oregon Contemporary Theatre for $5 at the box office, or $7 by phone [hidden] or online at [hidden] This performance is possible due to additional support from the Valle-Wuite Family, Oregon Cultural Trust, and Oregon Contemporary Theatre. More Info below.