La Jornada: OSN and Ceprodac join forces to celebrate four pillars of the national repertoire

The National Symphony Orchestra (OSN), under the baton of maestro Ludwig Carrasco, and the Contemporary Dance Production Center (Ceprodac), directed by Cecilia Lugo, will come together in a program that revisits four pillars of the Mexican repertoire: Héctor Quintanar, Salvador Contreras, Arturo Márquez and Silvestre Revueltas.

The dance group will participate today and on June 14 at the Palace of Fine Arts, where, to the rhythm of the Danzón no. 2, of Márquez, will dance Nicolasa (to Guillermina Bravo), piece that Lugo created 31 years ago in tribute to the pioneer of dance in Mexico.

In an interview, regarding the presentation of Ceprodac, Cecilia Lugo remembered Guillermina Bravo as “a great choreographer, director and teacher; she was and continues to be an example for national dance.”

She explained that her piece was born as a tribute to the founder of the National Ballet of Mexico, but also to other women who founded the art of dance in the country. “I was inspired by the teacher Bravo and by figures like Ana Mérida and Waldeen von Falkenstein. I imagined them as characters within the work, because the dance of this country was founded by great and powerful women.

“Mexican dance is supported by wonderful women: extraordinary choreographers and dancers. Nicolas “It is a tribute to Guillermina and, with her, to women in Mexican dance.”

The director of Ceprodac explained that the piece is a confrontation between powerful women. “It’s a fight for the scepter, for the leadership of the dance. That was my starting point.” He added: “Power is represented by a fan that the performers fight over on stage. It works as a baton that passes from hand to hand, as if to say: it belonged to all of them.”

For Lugo, Nicolas It is a work that remains alive, “because each dancer who performs it gives it a new value. That keeps it current,” he indicated. She maintained that with this piece, new generations discover Guillermina Bravo and also herself. “I already have my years in dance and there are young people who don’t know me or haven’t seen my work that much,” he added.

The teacher indicated that it is the first time that they will share the stage with the orchestra, and that it is a privilege for the company to dance to their live music.

With this program, the OSN traces a journey through the essential aspects of Mexican creation of the 20th century and confirms the validity of a repertoire that continues to challenge the present.

The performances are today at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 12:15 p.m. in the main hall of the Palace of Fine Arts (Juárez Avenue and Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas).