Fresno State’s Los Danzantes de Aztlán, a Mexican folkloric dance troupe, opens for Latin Grammy-nominated Trio Ellas of Los Angeles, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, at the Tower Theatre (815 E. Olive) in Fresno.
Local singer Krystal Moreno will also perform at the event, “Año Nuevo con Trio Ellas.”
The troupe’s performance with the all-female mariachi-style trio is a unique showcase opportunity for students to work with acclaimed musicians, said Dr. Victor Torres, professor and director of Los Danzantes de Aztlán in the Department of Chicano and Latin-American Studies.
“We are honored to perform with such high-caliber, very talented artists,” Torres said. “Trio Ellas is a rising star in the Latino community music scene and our students will benefit immensely from this experience. We encourage Central Californians to come out and enjoy this event and hopefully we can continue to bring such top talent here.”
The young trio is composed of Suemy Gonzalez (violin and vocals); Nelly Cortez (guitarron and vocals), a fourth generation mariachi musician; and Stephanie Amaro (guitar and vocals), a versatile musician who performs and records in genres ranging from electronica to mariachi.
Trio Ellas’ combination of traditional mariachi and classic romantic boleros with a contemporary twist earned its debut album, “Con Ustedes,” a nomination for a 2012 Latin Grammy for Best Ranchero Album in the Regional Mexican Field.
The mariacheras have recorded with artists such as Benjamin Gibbard and Lady GaGa, and performed live with El Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán and Mariachi El Bronx.
Los Danzantes was founded in 1970 by the late Chicano and Latin American Studies professor Ernesto Martinez and is the only group of its kind to be officially recognized as an ambassador of the university. Torres has been directing the troupe since 1997.
At the Año Nuevo event Friday, the troupe will feature two dance suites from the northern Mexican States of Nuevo León and Chihuahua. Also, Los Danzantes de Aztlán, Juvenil, a youth group mentored and instructed by the Fresno State dancers under Torres’ direction, will present dances from the state of Jalisco.
“Being invited to open for Trio Ellas is a reflection of Los Danzantes’ reputation as a high-caliber troupe, which in turn reflects positively on the university,” Torres said. “Los Danzantes de Aztlán contributes to the mission of the university by promoting its core values of discovery, diversity and distinction.”
The dance troupe just completed an audition at University of California, Berkeley for the World Arts West: San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, the largest of its kind on the West Coast. Notification is expected the next few weeks.
The next major spring event is Los Danzantes’ Third Annual “Cal State Folklórico Show” Feb. 15 followed by its Eighth Annual, “El Festival de Los Danzantes” April 11-13, both at Fresno State.
Tickets for Año Nuevo con Trio Ellas are $37.50 reserved and $22.50 general and can be purchased at the Tower Theatre Box Office, 559.485.9050, and online at www.towertheatrefresno.org.
They are also available for $20 at Arte Americas, 1630 Van Ness Ave. in Fresno, 559-266-2623.
Fresno State students may purchase tickets for $15 from members of Los Danzantes by contacting Ashley Avalos at ashleya94@mail.fresnostate.edu.
Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30 pm.
For more information about Los Danzantes, contact Dr. Torres at 559.278.4115. For the event, contact Stephen Rico at 559.365.1412.
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