Today, while I was doing some research on upcoming festivals in Shreveport-Bossier, I had the opportunity to visit with Guillermo “Willie” Ortiz, event chairperson for the 17th annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta. The Fiesta will take place, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday, May 3 in downtown Shreveport’s Festival Plaza. The schedule of live entertainers is still shaping up, but Ortiz did share that the Alegre Ballet Folklórico of Dallas-Ft. Worth will be performing at the event.
Led by well-known folklórico instructor Pedro Perez II, this elaborately costumed folk dance troupe performs enormous dance showcases throughout the United States and Mexico. Ortiz expects Alegre Ballet Folklórico to take the stage at Festival Plaza around 1:30 p.m., and to perform two full hours of programs. Traditional dances will take center stage in another program following Alegre Ballet Folklórico, which will present Aztec dancers in their ornately feathered costumes.
I’m no expert on dance, but I know fun when I see it, and this group looks like a lot of fun. In fact, instead of writing about this, I should just embed the following video:
Admission to the 17th annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta is free until 4 p.m., after which there is a $5 admission fee. Watch this blog for updated information on the event as it draws nearer.
