By RAUL GARCIA JR | Lansing News Wire
On May 5, during the Lansing Lugnuts Baseball game a local dance studio, Ballet Maria Luz, will be performing on the field in honor of Cinco De Mayo and Mexican American Culture in Lansing.
They have a special dance routine named “Aguas Calientes” (Hot Waters) that is sure wow the fans at the baseball game.
The Lugnuts host South Bend Cubs at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 5, at Jackson Field in Downtown Lansing.
“We haven’t presented this piece in more than eight years,” said Maria Luz, Ballet Maria Luz dance instructor. “In Lansing we have people who are from Aguas Calientes, and when we presented it they come over and they were kind and enjoyed taking pictures with the girls. Nobody does this dance routine.”
The dancers will perform dances inspired from bull fightings, and culture from “Aguas Calients,” Mexico.
“The girls are going to have their dresses also colorfully designed,” Luz said.
Ballet Maria Luz Folklorico began teaching students in the Lansing area in 1984. Luz is a professional dancer who has trained in Mexico, and brought the dancing tradition to Lansing. Over the years the dance team has entertained, and also serves as a means of cultural preservation and identity. They have performed at festivals, special events, and celebrations in Lansing over the many years.
This will be the second time the dance team comprised of Lansing Area youth and adults put on a show for the crowd in-between the innings of the Lugnuts game since COVID.
ABOUT AGUAS CALIENTES
The Mexican tradition of “Aguas Calientes” (Hot Waters) is deeply rooted in the country’s rich cultural heritage and is often celebrated through various forms of art, including the vibrant Ballet Folklórico performances.
Aguas Calientes refers to hot springs or thermal waters, which have been cherished for their therapeutic and rejuvenating properties since ancient times by indigenous cultures such as the Aztecs and Mayans. These hot springs are often found in areas with volcanic activity, and Mexico boasts numerous natural hot springs that have become popular destinations for relaxation and wellness.
In Mexican folklore and tradition, Aguas Calientes hold spiritual significance as places of healing, purification, and renewal. People visit these thermal waters not only for their physical benefits but also for their spiritual and emotional rejuvenation.
The Ballet Folklórico, a traditional Mexican dance form, often incorporates themes and elements from cultural traditions such as Aguas Calientes. In performances depicting Aguas Calientes, dancers often wear colorful costumes inspired by the attire of indigenous peoples, adorned with intricate patterns and designs reflective of Mexico’s diverse heritage.
The choreography of Ballet Folklórico performances interpreting Aguas Calientes typically reflects the rhythmic movements of water, as dancers fluidly glide and swirl across the stage, evoking the sensation of being immersed in the soothing embrace of hot springs. The dances may also incorporate props such as scarves or fans to mimic the flow of water and create visual representations of steam rising from the thermal waters.
Through music, dance, and costume, Ballet Folklórico performances celebrating Aguas Calientes capture the essence of this cherished Mexican tradition, inviting audiences to experience the beauty, vitality, and cultural significance of these natural wonders.
Tanya Garcia