Arts and Culture of Mexico

A ? Manuel Alvarez Bravo (1902-2002): one of Mexico?s most renowned photographers, who formed part of a lively intellectual and cultural circle of international artists, among them U.S. photographer Edward Westin and Mexico?s famed muralist painter Diego Rivera. Alvarez Bravo was particularly inspired by the nude form, folk art and burial rituals and decorations.

B ? Ballet Folklorico de Mexico: Mexico's award-winning national dance company founded in 1952 by Amalia Hernandez, sponsored by the Mexican government and comprising 65 dancers and musicians on average. The company is recognized the world over as a premier ethnic ballet company, appearing at the most prestigious venues internationally as well as performing and running a dance school in Mexico. Its repertoire features a wide range of Mexican regional dances.

C ? Cantinflas (1911-1993): the professional name of Mario Moreno Reyes, a prolific Mexican comedian, writer and singer who appeared in more than 55 films, including (as Passepartoute) Around the World in Eighty Days (1956). Cantinflas was once described by Charlie Chaplin as "the world's greatest comedian." One of the actor?s former homes, located in Cuernavaca, a popular weekend retreat for Mexico City residents, now harbors the elegant restaurant Gaia.

D ? Danzon: a dignified, stately dance, which originated in Cuba but has since gained wide popularity in Mexico?s coastal cities, among them Mexico?s port city of Veracruz. Couples young and old gather in the city?s central plaza on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evenings to dance, attracting large audiences of locals and tourists alike.

E ?Julio Estrada (1943-): composer, born in Mexico City to parents who were exiled from Spain, Julio Estrada obtained his Ph. D. in Musicology at Strasbourg University and is the first music scholar to be honored as a member of the Science Academy of Mexico and by the Mexican Education Ministery as National Researcher. Estrada also created a Composition Seminar at UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico), where he has been teaching compositional theory and philosophy. Estrada is also the general editor of La Musica de Mexico, the most comprehensive publication on Mexican music history.

F ? Carlos Fuentes (1928-): renowned and prolific writer whose works, including The Death of Artemio Cruz, depict Mexico?s search for national identity and the country?s social realities. Born in Panama to Mexican parents, Fuentes lived most of his life in Mexico and also became a citizen. Among his many awards, Fuentes received Mexico's National Award for Literature for Orchids in the Moonlight. Fourteen of his novels have been published in the U.S., and one of his best-known, The Old Gringo, was made into a movie starring Gregory Peck, Jane Fonda and Jimmy Smits.

Maria Felix (1914-2002): famous Mexican actress, Maria Felix was one of the sexiest movie stars in Mexico and is a cultural icon, often referred to as Mexico?s Marilyn Monroe. As a leading lady in nearly 50 films, Maria Felix became a star in the 40s after her performance as "La Doña," in Doña Bárbara (1943). Other top films include "Rio Escondido," "Enamorada," and "Fever Mounts at El Pao." Maria Felix?s love life was as famous as her film career, with her personality, sex appeal and lifestyle keeping her in the news for decades.

G ? Guitars: as the story goes, a monk introduced the guitar to Mexico in the 16th century. Since then, the guitar has become an essential part of Mexican music, and guitar-making in Mexico has taken off, with a large variety of hand-made guitars available - jaranas, requintos, leonas, boconas, etc. Paracho, just 90 miles west of the Michoacan?s capital city of Morelia, is Mexico?s guitar-making capital, and the entire town of 15,000 is devoted to making guitars at prices ranging from $50 to $500usd. In 1995, Paracho opened the Center for Research and Development of the Guitar - CIDEG (Centro de Investigacion y Desarrollo de la Guitarra), which houses a guitar museum, music school and concert hall, and the town also hosts an annual guitar festival in August.

H ? Huasteca: a region of Mexico and a particular music style developed by Mexico's Huastec people in central Mexico, Huasteca is a genre which has been gaining in popularity in recent years. Two guitarists sing in falsetto accompaniment by a violinist and improvisation is common. Los Camperos de Valle and Trio Tamazunchale are especially influential performers.

I ? International Cervantine Festival: held in the city of Guanajuato every October for more than 30 years, this festival?considered one of Mexico?s largest and most famous--showcases music, dance and theater performers from all over the world. The festival is dedicated to the Spanish writer Miguel Cervantes, author of Don Quixote, since his works inspired the plays staged by University of Guanajuato students that are considered the origins of the festival.

J ? Jarabes: traditional Mexican folk dances considered to be descended from gypsy dance and which evolved into regional dances in some Mexican towns. The best jarabes are said to be those danced in the country?s coastal towns. Participants usually dance on a board suspended over a hole or buried pot to produce resonance.

K ? Frida Kahlo (1907?1954): arguably Mexico?s most original painter, many of whose works were inspired by the pain she suffered as a result of breaking her back in a bus accident. The Museum of Frida Kahlo, located in the colonial Mexico City neighborhood of Coyoacan, is where the painter was born, lived with husband Diego Rivera and painted. The house is preserved much as it was when they still lived there.

L ? Agustin Lara (1897-1970): one of Mexico?s most creative songwriters, who mastered a variety of musical styles and wrote such favorites as "Granada," "Solamente Una Vez," "Palabras de Mujer" and "María Bonita." His songs have been sung by such famous artists as Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Celia Cruz and Plácido Domingo, whose Por Amor album is dedicated entirely to his compositions.

M ? Mariachis: bands whose elegant suits and emotional songs are one of Mexico?s most successful cultural exports. Mariachis originated in Jalisco State in the 19th century but the popular music style quickly spread all over the country. Mariachis from as far as Japan gather in Guadalajara, Jalisco?s capital city, for the annual International Mariachi Festival, to perform and share their love for this quintessentially Mexican musical and performing style.

N ? Jorge Negrete (1911-1953): famous Mexican singing idol and movie star of the 1930s, 40s and 50s who was also related to several heroes of the war for Mexican Independence. Negrete made significant contributions to the rights of actors and other industry professionals and was a founding member of the Mexican actor?s union ANDA (Asociacion Nacional de Actores). Negrete?s contribution to film and music are still appreciated by countless fans today ? and his distinctive baritone voice will not soon be forgotten.

O ? Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Mexico: founded in 1928, the Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Mexico is one of the country's most prestigious and influential musical organizations, guided over the years by the most legendary composers of our time. Led by preeminent Enrique Arturo Diemecke, the symphony has established an illustrious musical legacy that heralds the works of classical masters alongside those of Mexico's most cherished composers.

Dolores Olmedo (1908-2002): the wealthy collector and friend of Diego Riviera, whose beautiful 17th century mansion in Xochimilco, known as Finca Noria, houses the largest private collection of Rivera paintings in the world. The 137-work collection, including several self-portraits and studies for large works, spans many periods of the artist?s life. Also on display are 25 works by Frida Kahlo, more than 600 pre-Colombian artifacts and works by Angelina Beloff, Riviera´s first wife.

P ? Octavio Paz (1914-1998): a prolific writer, poet and diplomat, Octavio Paz received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1990. Born in Mexico City, both Paz?s grandfather and father were active political journalists, and due to his grandfather?s extensive library, Paz became exposed to literature early on. Among Paz?s most famous poems is Piedra de Sol (1957, Sun Stone), referring to the planet Venus. The poems were modeled on the famous Aztec calendar stone, starting and ending with the same lines, uniting nature and love. In 1980, he was named honorary doctor at Harvard. Publishing over 40 books and a remarkable prose stylist, Paz also wrote a prolific body of essays, including several extensive studies in poetics, Mexican history, politics and culture.

Pastorela: a shepard?s play reinacted at many Mexican homes and theatres during the Christmas holiday season to represent the long, arduous journey made by Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. The pastorela is Mexico?s Nutcracker, with entire families attending the season performances.

Q -- Quintanar, Hector (1936-): musician, composer and conductor, Quintanar was born in Mexico City in 1936 and studied at the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico. Composer and director of the national orchestra in Mexico, he founded the Contemporary Music School of Authors and Composers (Escuela de Música Contemporánea de la Sociedad de Autores y Compositores de Música). Quintanar is a fellow of the Guggenheim Foundation.

R ? Diego Rivera (1886-l957): one of Mexico?s finest muralist painters, and considered one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. Schooled both in Mexico and in Paris, he was heavily influenced by post-modernism and cubism, which he found particularly interesting and later used significantly in his art. His works, many controversial, depict import social issues and historic periods.

S ? Son Jarocho and Son Mexicano: one of Mexico?s most unique musical forms from the Veracruz region and a dynamic variant of the music/dance genre son mexicano. This traditional folk music originated during the colonial period and features a mix of Spanish, African and indigenous music and dance, using improvisation and contrasting regional styles. Out of the more than 1000 popular sones, one in particular, reached international fame and has been adapted into many forms, including a popular 50s song in the U.S?"La Bamba."

T ? Tavira, Luis de (1948-): theater director and playwright, Tavira was born in Mexico City and earned his degree in drama from the UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico). Among his many academic positions, he was the founding professor of the Centro Universitario de Teatro and the Nucleo de Estudios Teatrales, and professor of the Universidad Iberoamericana, the Escuela Nacional de Artes Plasticas and the Escuela de Arte Teatral del Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes. Tavira founded the theater group Taller Epioco, and also worked as theater director for several institutions, directing more than 40 plays and also directing television productions. His works have been presented in many countries including Germany, Canada, the U.S., Italy, Holland, Switzerland, Venezuela and Yugoslavia. Tavira has won several national awards, and in 1986, received the best director award from the Theater Festival of the Americas in Montreal.

U - Urreta, Alicia (1930-1987): award-winning pianist and composer, born in Veracruz State. Urreta graduated from the National Conservatory in Mexico and later specialized in electronic musical composition from the Schola Cantorum of Paris. Urreta performed as a soloist for the philharmonic of the UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico) and Harvard University, as well as the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional. Urreta was known for her choral music compositions, and also composed for opera and film, including the Romance de Doña Balada, Narda o el verano and La muerte viva.

V ? Ramon Vargas (1960-): a Mexican tenor acclaimed for his portrayal of Rodolfo in Puccini's La Boheme at London's Royal Opera House. Vargas made his professional debut in 1983 and won the Enrico Caruso competition in Italy in 1986.

W ? Whistles: used in prehispanic music. Single and double, zoomorphic and anthropomorfic with one, two or three different sounds. Bone whistles and flutes made with animal and human bones were common.

X ? Xylophone: Mexico?s version of the xylophone, the marimba was brought over to Central and South American by African slaves in the 16th and 17th centuries and further developed in Guatemala and southern Mexico. Today, the marimba is a common folk instrument used mostly in Chiapas and Mexico City. Although in other countries, the marimba is used as a solo instrument, in Mexico, it is common to see groups of musicians or "marimbistas" playing together. For a real treat, raft the canals of Xochimilco, southeast of Mexico City, and let the floating marimba bands tie their boat to yours.

Y ? Yañez, Ricardo (1948-): poet and journalist, Yañez studied in the University Autonoma de Guadalajara and the UNAM. Among his many positions, Yañez worked as editor of the El Ciervo Herido, editor of Radio Universidad, reporter for the newspaper Unos mas Uno, and was the founder of poetry workshops throughout Mexico. Author of Divertimiento, Escritura sumaria, and Ni lo que digo. Winner of the poetry prize awarded by the Punto de Partida (1971).

Z ? Zapateado: the fancy footwork that accompanies Mariachi music, whose name comes from the Spanish word meaning shoe ("zapato") and originates from Spain. When dancing the zapateado, performers skillfully drive the heels of their boots or shoes into the dance floor, pounding out swift rhythms which complement those of the musical instruments.