Folkloric dancers
I get to meet the greatest people on my project, and yesterday was a perfect example. I spent some time back stage at the Tucson International Mariachi Conference Student Showcase, with the performers, their parents, their mentors and the conference volunteers.
I was invited to join the sponsor's VIP of the conference. We went into each class, where at least 100 students were rehearsing for the big show tonight. The trumpet, guitar, violins, guitarrons and vihuela sections for each level practice together, with about 10 students per instructor. The voice students and the folkloric dancers were also practicing in their own rooms. The conference serves about 1,000 students. Even the beginners sounded good, and the master's level students were awesome. And that was just rehearsal - after the performance, I have a whole new appreciation for the tradition of mariachi. All I can say is the cliched versions I've heard before bear as much resemblance to real mariachi as Cheez-whiz does to brie.
The participants are from all over the southwest, of every ethnicity, and about as many girls as boys. I asked one of the board members when girls started joining the fun, and she said about 30 years ago - I'll bet that raised some eyebrows with the traditionalists back then.
I came down here because I wanted a nice story about Tucson and it was a good decision. I am so impressed with the organization of the conference, the enthusiasm of the volunteers, the focus on the students and the music itself. There may be a few tickets left for tonight's Espectacular. If you are in Tucson, go get some, or make a plan to get to the Fiesta on Saturday. That's where I'll be.
