Arts Alive San Antonio

By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF, Editor —

With a name like Nepantla, a company can expect a lot of questions about its name. And they are indeed frequent, acknowledged founder and artistic director Andrea Guajardo. So, she was ready to answer that query when we brought it up. The word is an Aztec term that translates to “the space in-between,” she explained. “It’s a perfect name for what we do and who we are.”

A South Texas native, Guajardo founded Nepantla in 2017, with partner Martin Rodrigues, to explore a fusion style of dance that embraces a choreography inspired by both ballet- classical and contemporary – and Mexican folkloric genres. Though young, the company has already made its mark on the New York dance scene and nationally, including here in San Antonio where it performed twice in the past couple of years. And now it’s back “by popular demand.” Its newest full-length ballet, Valentina, will have its San Antonio premiere Friday, Feb. 28, at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center.

Valentina tells the stories of legendary folk heroines from the time of the Mexican Revolution, women known as Adelita, La Chamuscada and Juana Gallo, who joined the fight against the Mexican government forces and fought with the men, sometimes leading the men. Their courage and stories were depicted in vivid folk ballads known as corridos.

Though these female revolutionaries are often featured in folkloric dances, her company “takes their stories to a different level,” said Guajardo. “What we have done, is bring all these characters together in one place. Though individual stories are told, they all come together at the end.”

She chose the name Valentina for the title to symbolize the valor and resilience of the women and to refer of the revolutionary period when the name was popular. But the ballet is not really about a particular Valentina. It’s about all of the Valentinas, all the women of the revolution.

So, get ready to see on-pointe ballerinas brandishing guns, as well as twirling skirts in many colors, heeled leather boots stomping, serapes and bandoliers.

Guajardo started dance training in her native Edinburg in the Rio Grande Valley, but left home for New York at age 17 to study at the famed Alvin Ailey School. At the time, she also auditioned for the dance program at UT Austin but was a bit dismayed by the fact that she was the best dancer in the group. With her mother’s encouragement, she chose to go where she would be challenged and have an opportunity to develop her skills.

Indeed. Following graduation, the young woman joined the renown – and highly original – MOMIX company – and toured around the world.

Back then, she wanted to distance herself from her borderland background, aspiring to become a successful ballet dancer. But when she saw a job posting for dancers for a folklorico group, she was suddenly intrigued. And she got the job. That’s when she had a bit of a revelation. “I got back in touch with my roots,” she said. “I realized how important it was to me. This is what I should be doing: to represent my culture.”

And that’s how, after some research and preparatory work, Ballet Nepantla came to be. She was soon joined by Rodriguez, who also left his job to explore their new vision. “What I wanted to do was something new, innovative, holding onto my experience in ballet but with a different focus.”

At this point, the young company produces only one new production a year but Guajardo hopes to eventually have a fall-spring season as most dance companies have.

For now, “We are having a blast!” she said.

Co-presented by the Guadalupe Cultural arts Center and Munoz Public Relations, Valentina  will have a single performance Feb. 28, at 8 p.m. at the Guadalupe Theater, 1301 Guadalupe St., 78207; tickets 210-271-3151 or guadalupeculturalarts.org