El Festival de Los Danzantes, a conference of cultural and folkloric dance and workshops at Fresno State, returns for its 7th annual celebration April 12-14.

Hundreds of dancers of all ages and ability from throughout California and México will attend the festival, which is open to the public. Some events are free.

Headlining the concert is Ballet Folklórico Nacional de México Aztlán de Silvia Lozano, Mexico’s national dance troupe, which will perform 7-9 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at the Warnors Theatre in downtown Fresno. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

The concert also will feature Fresno State’s own Los Danzantes de Aztlán and others like Javier Escamilla, floreador extraordinaire; Ballet Folklórico Alta California; Ballet Folklórico Costa de Oro; Mestizos del Valle; and Ballet Folklórico Orgullo Mexicano.

Pre-sale tickets for $15 may be purchased at Arte Americas (1630 Van Ness) and at Pepa’s Mexican Restaurant (6656 N. Cedar Ave). Tickets can also be purchased for $20 at the door.

Dancers from Ballet Folklórico Nacional de México Aztlán de Silvia Lozano and other accredited directors from Mexico and California will teach many of the dance workshops at Fresno State on April 13 and 14.

A recital featuring the students of each workshop will begin at noon in the Peace Garden north of the Henry Madden Library.

The weekend festival will conclude with a showcase concert 4-6 p.m. April 14 at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in downtown Fresno. General admission is $10.

The festival is hosted by Los Danzantes de Aztlán, Fresno State’s premier student folkloric dance troupe, with support from the Department of Chicano and Latin American Studies.

Conference information and registration is available at Danzantes de Aaztlan Juvenil. For more information, contact Dr. Victor Torres, Chicano and Latin America Studies professor and director of Los Danzantes, 559.278.4115 or victort@csufresno.edu.

Related Link:

Fresno State FOCUS video report April 15, 2013  (Mass Communications Journalism television program that airs weekly during the spring semester).

(Copy prepared by University Communications news student assistant Alejandra Garcia.)