News Release | Community
UTRGV Ballet Folklórico will present Alegría on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex in Edinburg. The 55th anniversary performance features new choreography, vibrant costumes, and dances from regions including Tamaulipas and Jalisco. (Courtesy graphic)
Thursday, July 10, 2025
Community, Arts
By Amanda A. Taylor-Uchoa
RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – JULY 10, 2025 – UTRGV Ballet Folklórico proudly presents Alegría, a breathtaking display of traditional Mexican dance and music that will leave audiences mesmerized. The single night performance will start at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 12 at the UTRGV Performing Arts Center in Edinburg.
Directed by Miguel Peña, Alegría brings to life the rich cultural heritage of Mexico through graceful movements, vibrant costumes, and impeccable choreography.
This year’s Alegría is especially significant as it marks the company’s 55th anniversary. New sections featuring dances from Tamaulipas and Jalisco, along with newly designed costumes, will debut in this special performance.
“This is an unforgettable journey through the diverse regions of Mexico,” said Miguel Peña, director of UTRGV Ballet Folklórico. “Our students have been preparing since September 2024, and their passion and dedication shine through in every step.”
The July 12 performance is the final encore of Alegría for 2025, following a successful debut in February that welcomed nearly 4,000 audience members.
“These performances are vital to preserving and celebrating Mexican traditions,” Peña said. “They educate and inspire our community through the beauty and depth of our cultural heritage—all through the powerful medium of dance.”
Tickets for Alegría are available for purchase through the UTRGV Arts Box Office at utrgv.edu/arts.
General admission is $15, with discounted tickets for UTRGV students and seniors at $10, and children ages 4-12 at $5. Early purchase is encouraged, as seating is limited.
ABOUT UTRGV
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) was created by the Texas Legislature in 2013 as the first major public university of the 21st century in Texas. This transformative initiative provided the opportunity to expand educational opportunities in the Rio Grande Valley, including a new School of Medicine and a School of Podiatry, and made it possible for residents of the region to benefit from the Permanent University Fund – a public endowment contributing support to the University of Texas System and other institutions.
UTRGV has campuses and off-campus research and teaching sites throughout the Rio Grande Valley including Brownsville (formerly The University of Texas at Brownsville campus), Edinburg (formerly The University of Texas-Pan American campus), Harlingen, Weslaco, McAllen, Port Isabel, Rio Grande City and South Padre Island. UTRGV, a comprehensive academic institution, enrolled its first class in the fall of 2015; the School of Medicine welcomed its first class in the summer of 2016, and the School of Podiatric Medicine in the fall of 2022.