La
Zambra
del
Zorro
"La Zambra del Zorro" is a vibrant celebration of the rich cultural tapestry of "New Spain" or colonial Mexico and its struggle for independence and social justice. Our dance troupe -- American Liberty Ballet -- brings to life a legendary story of adventure, romance, and heroism through mesmerizing performances.
“LA ZAMBRA DEL ZORRO” – A FOREWORD BY ITS CREATORS
We humbly and proudly present our re-casting of the story of “El Zorro” as innovative and more relevant today than when this champion of freedom and justice first appeared. He made his debut in “The Curse of Capistrano” serialize novel by Johnston McCulley in 1919, and the film versions, The Mark of Zorro, in 1920 and 1940. Inspired by these and later iterations including novelist Isabel Allende’s 2005 “reboot”, our humorous “take” on Zorro also draws upon the historic struggle of Mexico (including California) for independence from colonial Spain. Our ballet story speaks to social issues such as racism, sexism, poverty and tyranny that prevail to this very day, while it celebrates cultural roots and diversity in music, song and dance – including “La Zambra”, a form of shoeless or barefoot Flamenco.
“La Zambra del Zorro” presents the ethnic under-castes of colonial “New Spain” – our character El Zorro being of Native Mexican, African and Spanish descent. We are also proud and pleased to reveal, perhaps for the first time since 1910, something forgotten about the “Father of Mexican Independence”, Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. Not only a secular priest ahead of his time, supporting liberal and progressive causes, such as “Land & Liberty” – “Tierra y Libertad” – for the Natives, along with the abolition of slavery -- and not only suspected of “heresy” and persecuted by the “Holy Office of the Inquisition” – and not only to be ultimately tried and executed by the colonial government of Nueva España (New Spain) for treason in 1811 – Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla earned the nickname “El Zorro” (“The Fox”) while a university student, and this nickname stuck with him for life. Mexico won independence in 1821 and abolishes slavery in 1829, and one might well say Don Miguel’s martyrdom was not in vain.
SEPT 28, 2024
DIGITAL PROGRAMMME
CLICK HERE
“La Zambra del Zorro” acknowledges and pays tribute to this historic “El Zorro” and the banner of La Virgen de Guadalupe, under which he led the first movement and people’s army for Mexican independence and social justice. We are grateful for the permission granted by Zorro Productions, Inc. * which holds the rights to “Zorro” as created by Johnston McCulley. We are honored to collaborate with American Liberty Ballet ** and its Director, Valerie Mae Browne, in presenting our imaginative tale of Zorro in music, song and dance, drawing on the Native Mexican and Californian heritages that contribute to the wonderful diversity of our shared American culture and story. -- Mark A. Sullivan, Librettist [and “Fray Felipé”] MarkAelredCFS@aol.com – Osamu Uehara, Choreographer [and “Bernardo de la Vega”] OsamuUeharaFDT@aol.com * www.zorro.com “Zorro ® & © Zorro Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved” ** www.AmericanLibertyBallet.com AmericanLibertyBallet@gmail.com
About
La
Zambra
del
Zorro
Our
Inspirational Roots
La Zambra del Zorro is a vibrant celebration of the rich cultural tapestry of colonial Mexico and New Spain. Our dance troupe brings to life the timeless story of adventure, romance, and heroism through mesmerizing performances.
LA ZAMBRA DEL ZORRO will delight people of all ages. Told in ballet and dance, the story is set in California during the early 1800s – against the backdrop of Mexico’s struggle, under the banner of Our Lady of Guadalupe, for independence from colonial “New Spain”. The Pueblo de la Reina de los Angeles is under oppressive military/caste/class rule – the indigenous Natives are dispossessed and subject to heavy taxation and enslavement by a “pure-blood” Spanish power structure.
Behind the Story
Our current collaborators
American
Liberty
Ballet
Valerie Mae Brown, Artistic Director
Learn
More
March 2024
September 2024
presents
La Zambra del Zorro
Theatre at St Jean's
150 E 76, NYC 10021
March 2 @ 3PM / 7PM & March 3 @ 3PM
International Ballet Festival
of Union City presents
in
La Zambra del Zorro
Union City High School Theater
2500 Kennedy Blvd, Union City, NJ 07087
September 28 @ 7PM
