Two special events at Washburn University will commemorate the local dance company’s five decades of preserving and sharing Mexican traditions.
TOPEKA, Kan. — A Topeka cultural organization that has shared traditional Mexican dance and music with generations of local families will celebrate its 50th anniversary with two special events at Washburn University.
Ballet Folklórico de Topeka, a cultural program of Justicia Inc., will mark the milestone Friday, Sept. 25, and Saturday, Sept. 26. The anniversary celebration will include live music, bilingual storytelling and a major dance performance featuring local and visiting artists.
The weekend begins with “Corridos of the Semiquincentennial: Voices of Courage and Hope” from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday in Room 118 of the Plass Learning Resources Center on the Washburn campus.
Presented by the acclaimed Sones de México Ensemble of Chicago, the family-friendly program will use traditional Mexican corridos to tell the stories of eight national heroes.
Corridos are narrative ballads with roots dating to the 19th century. Often passed between generations through music, they preserve accounts of courage, hardship, resistance and hope from a community perspective.
Juan Díes and other members of Sones de México will narrate Friday’s program in both Spanish and English. The performance will combine live music with projected visuals, storytelling and audience participation.
The project is supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts through the America 250 initiative, connecting Mexican musical traditions with the United States’ 250th anniversary.
The celebration will continue with Ballet Folklórico de Topeka’s 50th Anniversary Performance from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at White Concert Hall.
The free public performance will bring together Ballet Folklórico de Topeka, Sones de México and Topeka’s own Mariachi Habanero for an afternoon of traditional dance and music.
For Ballet Folklórico de Topeka, the anniversary represents more than the longevity of a performing group. It marks five decades of preserving cultural traditions, creating opportunities for young dancers and sharing Mexican heritage with audiences throughout the Topeka community.
Folklórico dance draws from the varied regional traditions of Mexico, using distinctive costumes, music and choreography to represent the histories and identities of different communities. The performances are known for their colorful dresses, rhythmic footwork and close relationship between movement and live music.
Through its work with Justicia Inc., Ballet Folklórico de Topeka has helped ensure those traditions remain visible and accessible in the capital city.
The anniversary celebration also gives former dancers, participating families and longtime supporters an opportunity to reflect on the organization’s influence. Over five decades, the program has introduced generations of Topekans to Mexican culture while giving young performers a way to connect with their heritage through the arts.
The inclusion of Mariachi Habanero strengthens the celebration’s local connection, while the appearance by Sones de México brings a nationally recognized ensemble to the Washburn campus.
Together, the two events will tell a larger story about how music and dance can preserve history—not simply as something remembered, but as something performed, taught and passed forward.
“Corridos of the Semiquincentennial: Voices of Courage and Hope” will be presented from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, in Room 118 of the Plass Learning Resources Center.
Ballet Folklórico de Topeka’s free 50th Anniversary Performance will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at White Concert Hall.
Both venues are located on the Washburn University campus in Topeka. Additional information is available through the official Washburn University announcement.
