Danza Floricanto/USA Presents ALMA LLANERA-SPIRIT OF THE PLAINS at Three Stages, Now thru 10/7

Danza Floricanto/USA-Los Angeles' most acclaimed Mexican folklorico ensemble, now 38 years old-blends the vocabulary of traditional Mexican folk dance-indigenous, African, influenced and contemporary movement expressions-to create a contemporary evening length dance work. Alma Llanera-Spirit of the Plains is a 90-minute dance work inspired by the well-known Chicano classic novel, Bless Me Ultima, written by Rudolfo Anaya.

Executive Director Dave Pier notes "in conjunction with the Sacramento World Music and Dance Festival, we wanted to offer something special to families here in the capital region. Danza Floricanto/USA will join Lula Washington Dance Theatre and Lily Cai Chinese Dance Company for three delightful days of world dance at Three Stages."

Danza Floricanto/USA will perform in Three Stages for four shows, beginning tonight, October 5, 7:30 pm; Saturday, October 6, 2 pm & 7:30 pm; Sunday, October 7, 2 pm. Tickets are $19-$29; students and children, $12. Tickets may be purchased online at www.threestages.net or from Three Stages Ticket Office at 916-608-6888 from 10 am to 6 pm, Monday through Saturday, and two hours before show time. Three Stages is located on the west side of Folsom Lake College campus in Folsom, Calif., facing East Bidwell Street.

Gema Sandoval's 14-member company takes the audience on a thrilling exploration of a young boy's rite of passage into manhood, the straddling of two cultures and the importance of the values that span across our cultural divide. Blending the vocabulary of traditional Mexican folk dance-indigenous, African influenced and contemporary movement expressions-choreographer Gema Sandoval and her company Danza Floricanto/USA bring to the stage a vibrant dance rendition of a boy's coming of age story.

With this work Floricanto strives to expand world dance by imbuing it with a social and political conscience. "This program is Floricanto's evolution into a more personal vision of dance, informed by over three decades of exploring folklorico and my sensibility as a woman of color living in Los Angeles at this critical point in time," states Artistic Director/Choreographer Gema Sandoval.