Mambomania & Que Bonito Amor
SDB celebrates the Latin soul this Fall, bringing back two of it’s audience favorites on one program! Get swept away in the evocative and romantic QUE BONITO AMOR set to a rapturous score of Mariachi music played live by Mariachi Garibaldi from Southwestern College and MAMBOMANIA, one of Artistic Director Javier Velasco’s sizzling signature works.
Mariachi Garibaldi from Southwestern College
Jeff Nevin, Director
900 Otay Lakes Rd. • Chula Vista, CA 91910 • USA
jnevin@swccd.edu • (001) 619-888-9509
Mariachi Garibaldi is the performing ensemble from Southwestern College, the first school in the world to offer a college degree in mariachi music. Many former students have moved on to receive Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music, perform mariachi professionally including with some of the top mariachis in the country, and they are beginning to fill the great need for mariachi instructors that exists across the US today. Mariachi Garibaldi has been featured in both American and Mexican national news broadcasts and several documentaries, they have performed across the US and Mexico, and recently performed in Brazil (2019 & 2014), Egypt (2018), Belgium (2017), Germany (2016), India (2015), Canada (2015), Russia (2012 & 2009), France (2012 & 2010) and China (2010).
Director’s Notes
San Diego Ballet is committed to the presentation of work that speaks to our Southern California audiences. Our annual Ritmos Latinos program is just one of the ways we do this. These offerings feature ballets set to Latin music in a way that celebrates both the music and the dance equally. We are thrilled to bring back this tradition with 2 audience favorites.
The evocative QUE BONITO AMOR is set to rapturous score of Mariachi music. No matter what your ethnic background, as Southern Californians, we all know that when you hear Mariachi music, there has got to be a party around the corner. So this piece is a valentine to that sense of joy and community. The title comes from a son my aunt sang at a family wedding (which appears in the ballet). Que Bonito Amor – How Beautiful is Love.
MAMBOMANIA is probably San Diego Ballet’s signature piece. Set to the music of my childhood, it is also deeply personal. Although it is meant to be danced with a great deal of dynamism, it also doesn’t take itself too seriously. When we have a new crop of dancers, it is good to have them exposed to it, as it hits the 3 E’s of the San Diego Ballet (To excite, enrich, and entertain) so squarely. After last year’s season of challenges, I also thought that including MAMBOMANIA is the season opener would also be a great way to let our patrons know that we are open for business. Welcome back to the San Diego Ballet!