It’s a world premiere in the World’s Borough.
Ballet Nepantla debuts Nacimiento at Queens Theatre on Friday, Dec. 22, at 8 pm.
The dancers explore pre-Colombian rituals and European colonization’s impact on the Americas in this piece which fuses the birth of mestizaje culture with the emergence of Christianity in the New World. Act II demonstrates the festive nature of Mexican Christmas traditions through celebratory dances and a retelling of the Nativity scene.
Attendees will get takes on hallowed Mexican folklore such as the stories of La Malinche, Juan Diego’s encounter with the Virgin of Guadalupe, and La Llorona.
Ticket prices run from $22 to $42.
Founded in 2017 and based in New York City, Ballet Nepantla was founded by Andrea Guajardo, who specializes in classical ballet and contemporary dance, and Martin Rodriguez, whose background is in traditional Mexican folklore. Their goal has always been to fuse genres and explore Mexican, Mexican-American, immigrant, and trans-cultural realities. The word “Nepantla” refers to the indigenous people of Mexico in Nahuatl, the language that the Aztecs spoke.
Queens Theatre is located at 14 United Nations Ave. S. in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Several free parking lots are within walking distance.
Images: Ballet Nepantla