Since its early beginnings, prominent and influential individuals have recognized this BFM talent and extended opportunities for performances in prominent venues.  In 1980 the Mexican television show Siempre en Domingo recorded one of its shows at the San Francisco Cow Palace, and the producers invited the BFM to perform.  The show’s host, Raul Velasco introduced the group as “….the best and most authentic Ballet Folklorico group in the United States….a Company with precision and flair.”  As a result, later that year the Mexican Consulate of San Francisco named the BFM as a special emissary to represent California as part of a Cultural Exchange Program with Mexico.  Over the years, recognitions such as these have fostered relationships and collaborations with Mexican Universities and dance academies that have opened research opportunities for the directors, as well as touring, performing and learning opportunities for the company’s dancers.

 

The BFM has gained the respect and admiration not only of Mexican authorities and artists, in the United States and abroad, but also the respect and admiration of other equally respected traditional and ethnic dance companies.  Traditional and non-traditional venues have served as the stage for the BFM.  The BFM has three times participated in the prestigious San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival held at the Palace of Fine Arts (1999, 2001, 2003 & 2007).  Other venues include the San Francisco 49ers and the San Jose Clash.

 

Throughout the year the BFM performs in a variety of venues, including local schools, corporate events, festivals, sporting events, in addition to BFM’s own full-productions such as “Christmas in Mexico.”  This annual production has drawn audience from throughout the stat and has been in production since 1978.  Its popularity has grown to the extent that cities throughout the Bay Area and Northern California have requested that the company take this production to their city.

 

The success of the Intercambio Cultural exceeded everyone’s expectations, so much that the company was invited to return to Guadalajara.  The second Intercambio brought new opportunities for both national and international exposure when in its 1977 Mexico tour the company was invited to perform in the then popular Mexican television show “Siempre en Domingo.”  Opportunities of this magnitude continued throughout the years and in 1980 BFM was asked by the Mexican Consulate in San Francisco to serve as a United States representative in the Feria Internacional Tuxtepec 80 held in Tuxtepec, Oaxaca.

 

Year after year, the Intercambio Cultural provides professional opportunities for the company as well as new learning opportunities for its members.  In 1983 the BFM was honored with an invitation to perform in the prestigious Teatro Dogollado in beautiful Guadalajara, Jalisco.  Hilda Moran, critic for the performing arts section of “El Informador” attended this performance and reviewed the BFM as “…technically, artistically, and authentically a superb rendition…the Mexian folklorico dance, as well as the costumes, suits them right.”  This performance, and the review of this reporter, opened many opportunities that would otherwise not be available.  Over the years invitations of this nature have continued, including an invitation from Mayor Virgilio Cruz Parra of the City of Veracruz;  from Oaxaca’s Festival de La Guelaguetza Organizing Committee to perform in La Guelaguetza, a traditional and internationally recognized festival dating back hundreds of years and celebrated by the people of the State of Oaxaca, Mexico; Michoacan’s Department of Tourism; from Jalisco’s  Department of Fine Arts to perform and participate in the State’s “Muestra de la Nacion,” an annual event that takes place in the prestigious Teatro Degollado in the city of Guadalajara and showcases Mexico’s top folklorico companies.  In 1998 from the state government of Yucatan and the city of Merida as well as in their 2000 tour……