International exposure began in 1973 with the BFM’s first tour to Mexico.  After a short four-year existence, Director Moreno-Samaniego was faced daily with questions from his young company members about the nature and history of the dances they were learning.  The eagerness in these young Mexican-Americans to learn the history and culture of their parents prompted Carlos to begin the groundwork for creating the Intercambio Cultural.  In 1973, a year later, the BFM established the Intercambio Cultural/Cultural Exchange Program with the Grupo Folklorico de La Universidad de Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.  This program provided company members the opportunity to study Mexican dance at the University of Guadalajara, under the tutelage of the internationally recognized director and choreographer Rafael Zamarripa.  They toured the city’s historical sites, experienced first-hand the regions culture and traditions, and had the opportunity to perform as well.

 

The Intercambio Cultural continues to this day and offers members of the BFM an opportunity to learn first hand about the Mexican culture and traditions.  Over the years dancers have toured, performed and learned about states of Aguascalientes, Baja California, Campeche, Chihuahua, Durango, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico Distrito Federal, Michoacan, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Yucatan, and Zacatecas.  A cultural exchange program would not be truly successful if a true cultural exchange did not occur.  In 1971, the “exchange” ensued and a Ballet Folklorico Dance Company from Mexico visited the San Francisco Bay Area by special invitation of the BFM.  Other famous companies that have participated in BFM’s Intercambio include the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico, the Ballet Folklorico de Emma Pulido, the Ballet Folklorico of the states of Hidalgo, Aguascalientes, Veracruz, and Oaxaca, Grupo Huichol from Durango and Grupo Temamatztli from Guadalajara.

 

Since its inception, BFM’s goal is to promote Mexican art forms, particularly dance and music.  As such Director Moreno-Samaniego has worked with other interested individuals (include co-founders of DU) to create an association of Mexican folklorico dance troupes.  This new association in turn developed the Danzantes Unidos Festival (DUF) where groups from throughout California gathered to teach, learn and perform with other Mexican folklorico groups.

 

The success of the BFM is also reflective of the success of organizations it collaborates with.  In 2005 and 2006 BFM teamed up once again with the Chicano/Latino Education Association (CLEA) of Chabot College in Hayward, California, and hosted the Danzantes Unidos Festival, considered two of the most successful years of DUF history.  Over 1000 dancers and interested individuals registered at each of these events.