University of Texas Permian Basin will host a Dia de los Muertos Festival starting at 4 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center.
The event will feature the UTPB orchestra, mariachi and Ballet Folklorico dancers, along with food trucks, exhibits, face painting and a community altar.
Jean Gomez Fonseca, director of orchestras and mariachi, said about 150 people are involved from performers to those working behind the scenes.
Gomez Fonseca said doors will open at 4 p.m. There will be exhibitions and student performances from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and the closing show starts at 7:30 p.m. The event is free and there are no tickets.
“We have a community altar where people can pay their respects and even share of the pictures of their loved ones. We have some dresses that they are bringing from Mexico. … The oldest one is almost 100 years old. We will have those in the lobby,” Gomez Fonseca said.
“Everyone is performing together — the mariachi, orchestra and ballet commemorating Dia de los Muertos,” he said.
Robyn Hernandez-Flores, director of the Ballet Folklorico of UTPB, said they are very happy to be participating in this event in partnership with the orchestra.
The mariachi program was in existence for about 15 years and then went on hiatus.
“This is kind of like their coming out show …,” Hernandez-Flores said.
She added that the Ballet Folklorico will be accompanying them on stage.
Hernandez-Flores said they wanted to take an educational approach to the holiday.
“It is not the Mexican Halloween. It’s more a remembrance and honoring those who have passed on and it’s a time when we can connect with those who have passed on, honoring them, their legacy and the things they liked to do. That’s the path that we chose to take, so we could help the community that maybe isn’t as aware of the meaning of Dia de los Muertos learn what the meaning of the holiday is,” she said.
There will be exhibits featuring several community artists, vendors, food trucks, an exhibit of antique regional costumes that have been brought in from Guadalajara and T-shirt printing to name a few.
Hernandez-Flores said it is a project across multiple departments — music, dance and art.
“We are very happy to host this for our community,” she added.
People will see and hear regional music and original scores created by Gomez Fonseca, Hernandez-Flores said.
She added that the Ballet Folklorico has accompanied many mariachi groups, but never a full orchestra so everyone will be able to hear the difference in how the music is interpreted.
The festival will continue throughout the evening and wrap up with the show at 7:30 p.m. with the orchestra, Ballet Folklorico and mariachis performing together.
She said she anticipates them doing all their shows together from now on.
