WEEK OF JANUARY 23, 2025
VOLUME 37| ISSUE 4
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Mexican Rodeo showcases heritage in every stitch
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Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza Director Jerry Diaz,on the white horse at the center of the ring, performs during the show’s grand finale on Jan. 12 at the Denver Coliseum during the National Western PHOTO BY JACKIE RAMIREZ Stock Show.
BUSINESS
BY JACKIE RAMIREZ SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
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LOCAL
The 30th Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza, directed by fourth generation champion charro from Texas, Gerardo “Jerry” Diaz and his family, showcased cultural pageantry through magical and inspiring performances of Mexican-style bull riding, mariachi music, Portuguese-style bullfights and many other attractions on Jan. 12 at the National Western Complex in Denver. While the performances left the audience excited and anticipating next year’s show, the fashion was definitely a component of that pageantry. Colorado’s Princess: Raquel Garcia 3 5 8 11
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Singer Raquel Garcia, 19, who announcers Luis Canela and Scott Grover deemed as “Colorado’s Princess,” not only sang the National Anthem but accompanied the show’s Folklore de Mexico performance
with her strong voice. This was Garcia’s first time singing at the Denver Coliseum. A powerful voice must be accompanied by a bold dress. During the anthem, Garcia wore a long, royal blue dress with gold ribbon detailing with a wide yellow colored ribbon around the waist. “The first one is inspired from charro style, so it’s a more feminine charro, which, when I first bought the dress, I really loved,” Garcia said. During the Folklore de Mexico performance, Garcia sang “La Charreada” by Linda Ronstadt and “Viva Mexico” by Antonio Aguilar, and wore a long, black dress adorned with multicolored embroidered flowers and a yellow ribbon at the waist. “My favorite part has to be the color, the way that it was made you can tell it was by hand. It’s just something so beautiful to see, so many people put so much effort into … the flowers,” Garcia said. The first dress was from Mexico; the sec-
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ond dress was from a good friend of Garcia’s. “I just like to show off the Mexican culture every single time, not just today, but every single time I have the opportunity to perform the songs that are from my culture,” she said. Las Adelitas de Colorado
The Adelitas de Colorado captured the hearts of the audience with the “Escaramuza Charra,” a performance depicting side-saddle horse riding with stick horses. This year, the Adelitas wore three different colored dresses, purple, turquoise and orange. Madeline wore a purple dress, and her favorite part of the costume was a beaded decorative Our Lady of Guadalupe broach and an embroidered cross that hung onto her waist. Victoria wore an orange dress, and her favorite part of the dress were the embroidered flowers. Both Madeline and Victoria were given the dresses by their dance teacher. When Victoria saw her dress, she
said she loved it. Both Madeline and Victoria said they were excited to come back again next year to perform at the Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza. The Folklórico dancers from Lisa T’s Dance Academy
One thing the Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza at the National Western Stock Show has taught us is that you cannot have a Mexican rodeo without Folklórico dancers. Lisa Trujillo’s Dance Academy not only added a colorful kinetic energy to the rodeo as the official dancers for the extravaganza, but they showcased fashion from different states of Mexico in their performance clothing. Abrianna Luis-Garcia wore what she said is a traditional dress from Jalisco, which was made in Mexico. Her favorite part of the dress? SEE HERITAGE, P6
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