Witness the billowing, swaying and whirling of endless folds of vibrant fabric, set in motion with calculated steps of a dance rich in multi-cultural history. Every flourish of perfectly arching limbs and bounding bodies draws from a deep wellspring of artful, indigenous movement, passed along for generations and reinvented for a theatrical dance production unlike any other. Parisian ballet meets Mexican folklore, in a specialized production that has grown from one woman's passion into a high demand show.

The current incarnation of Ballet Folklórico de México, founded by Amalia Hernández in 1952, has been travelling and performing together for the past decade. The dance company has presented resplendent shows worldwide, promoting the rich culture of Mexico, while maintaining a professional dance academy, the School of the Ballet Folklórico, in Mexico City. Although the once modest-sized company was initially controversial for flouting conventional dance norms, Hernández persevered, eventually achieving cross-cultural renown.

The impactful and dynamic dances performed for audiences around the globe are "very strong and versatile [with] contrast among different dances," which provides a striking texture of movement, describes Salvador Lopez, executive director of Ballet Folklórico de México and grandson of Amalia Hernández.

"[Hernández] was able to introduce what happens in our culture and put it on stage, [making] it stylish and elegant," Lopez said. "When you take the dance from the place where it happens and you put it on stage, you have to change [it] in terms of time and space. The challenge is to introduce the essence of a dance that lasts a very long time and make it into three minutes of dance."

The creation of the company began when the highly trained Hernández traveled throughout Mexico and "brought people from [different places] to take what they do and subtract the essence of that dance or ceremony into short song and dynamic dance essence," said Lopez.

Fusing indigenous dance with modern ballet conventions, Hernández shaped an impressive dance sensation, with the troupe garnering more than 200 awards and recognition from cultural figures, including a weekly television spot and visits with presidents, like John F. Kennedy.

The 2010 tour of Ballet Folklórico de México holds special emphasis as it coincides with the bicentennial celebration of Mexico's revolution and independence.

Experience firsthand the unique meld of dance that crosses cultures and disciplines, not only pairing historic, indigenous dance styles with ballet, but also blending a wide range of local dance forms together to create a colorful showcase of skilled movement.