The National Folkloric Dance Company, founded 50 years ago by Maestro Nieves Paniagua, started as the Folkloric Ballet of the General Directorate of Industrial Technological Education. In 1974, the Ministry of Public Education approved its name as Mexico Folkloric Ballet. In the 1980s, the company toured Europe and Latin America, gaining recognition for its artistic and pedagogical quality.
The National Folkloric Dance Company stands out for its efforts to engage the public through ancestral customs and for respecting the faithful interpretation of the dances and traditions of ancestors. Maestro Paniagua, at 90 years old, continues to lead the group and has been a key figure in the dissemination of Mexican folkloric dances in foreign embassies.
To commemorate its fiftieth anniversary, the company has scheduled the "Gala 50th Anniversary: A Legacy of Roots and Folklore" on Friday, February 21, at the “Esperanza Iris” Theatre. The show will take attendees on a journey through various Mexican states, featuring original choreographies and those of Maestro Roberto Vallejo, with participation from dancers, musicians, and the group Los Hijos de la Matraca.
Nieves Paniagua has had a distinguished career in the Ballet of Fine Arts, Waldeen Ballet, National Ballet of Mexico, and Popular Ballet of Mexico, working with renowned choreographers. Her work as a pedagogue and cultural promoter has left a significant mark in the field of folkloric dance in Mexico.
