ENSAMBLES PROJECT DESCRIPTIONTHE GOLDEN ERA:A HOMAGE TO MEXICANCINEMA SHOWThis premiere dance project comes alive as Zenón Barrón, Artistic Director, draws inspiration from Mexico’s Golden Era ofCinema (Epoca de Oro). Zenón incorporates elements of some of the most iconic movies of this era into a selection of
tradition-based choreographies. The movies featured in the show include Bugambilia, María Candelaria, Salón Mexico,Los Tres Huastecos, Pueblerina, La Feria de San Marcos, Tizoc, Aventurera, Los Hermanos Centella, and Alla En
El Rancho Grande.
Bugambilia is a tragic love story between the daughter of a rich miner and a humble cockfighter (gallero) that puts loveof family, defense of honor, and loyalty to the test.
María Candelaria, is a story set in the indigenous populated Xochimilco in 1909, Ostracized by her people for being thechild of a prostitute, the beautiful and innocent María Candelaria dreams of getting married to the honorable Lorenzo
Rafael. Tragedy strikes when María falls prey to the dishonest white foreigner whose deceitful actions turn the town
against her. Convinced that María has followed in the footsteps of her mother, society will not forgive her dishonor. The
only person who truly knows María’s innocence, Lorenzo Rafael, proves his love for her and stays by her side heroicallydefending her until the end.
Salón México follows María Candelaria. This is the story of Mercedes, a young woman who makes a living dancing
with the clients of Mexico City’s famous Salón México. Mercedes works hard to pay for her younger sister Beatriz’sexpensive private school. Beatriz is unaware of her sister’s job. Troubles begin when Mercedes wins a danzón contest
with Paco, her pimp. When he refuses to share the prize with her, Mercedes steals the money, a daring move that canonly bring problems.
Los Tres Huastecos features the Golden Age of Cinema’s most revered star, Pedro Infante. Los Tres Huastecos tells thestory of three brothers separated at birth, upon their mother’s death. Raised by their respective godfathers, they growup into very different men: a priest, a soldier and an outlaw. Destiny forces their paths to cross again only to reveal thatthey are not so different after all. Playing all three roles, Infante’s charisma made Los Tres Huastecos an instant classic.
Pueblerina, is a film about a pueblerina (a village girl) who is abused by a rich man and becomes pregnant. Justice isserved when life gives her a good man, who loves and protects her.
Pieces in Act II are inspired by La Feria de San Marcos. It is the story of
two young men who compete for the love of a beautiful young woman,the singer at the famous Feria de San Marcos in Aguascalientes.
Tizoc: Amor Indio is about Tizoc, an indigenous man who falls in lovewith a white Mexican woman belonging to society’s elite. Acclaimed forbringing together the two most important film stars in the history of
Mexican cinema, Pedro Infante and María Felix, Tizoc tells the tragic
story of impossible love. True love is not enough in a society whereclass and racial prejudices prevail.

ENSAMBLES PROJECT DESCRIPTIONTHE GOLDEN ERA: A HOMAGE TO MEXICAN CINEMA SHOWThe film Aventurera was the inspiration for “Prende la Vela” and “Mambo.”When her mother runs off with a man and after her father commits suicide asa result, young Elena decides to make a new life for herself. Stranger in a newcity, Elena is befriended by “Pretty Boy” Lucio, who drugs her and sells her toRosaura, the owner of a nightclub turned brothel. As she becomes Aventurera,
the nightclub’s dancing sensation, Elena plans her revenge against those whohave wronged her.
Los Hermanos Centella sets the stage for “Mesquitón” and “El Fronterizo,”
dances from Northern Mexico. The film is the story of the Centella brothers,
two outlaws who decide to clean up their act and begin protecting people.
The closing the act is about Allá En El Rancho Grande, a film that takes placein the Rancho Grande, where two friends, the owner of the ranch and its
foreman simultaneously fall in love with the same girl. The ranch owner tries
to ‘buy’ her love, not knowing that she is in love with the poor foreman.

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