Amalia Hernández
She transformed the dances of Mexico's villages and traditions into a spectacular, world-touring theatrical phenomenon.
1919–2000 (age 81)·Mexican folkloric choreographer·Birthday: September 19·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Amalia Hernández was a force of nature who turned her back on the conventions of classical ballet to unearth the soul of Mexico. In 1952, she founded a small dance group with just eight performers, driven by a mission to research, codify, and elevate the nation's vast folkloric traditions. This became the Ballet Folklórico de México, a company that grew into a national institution. Hernández didn't merely preserve steps; she crafted vivid, large-scale theatrical productions, blending pre-Hispanic rituals, colonial-era *jarabes*, and revolutionary *adelitas* into a cohesive and explosive visual narrative. Her work, performed for decades at the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City and on stages across the globe, defined how Mexico presented its cultural identity to itself and the world.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Amalia was born in 1919, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Amalia Was Born
The biggest hits of 1919
Amalia's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1919Born
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1924Started school
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1932Became a teenager
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1935Could drive
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1937Could vote
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1940Turned 21
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1949Turned 30
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1959Turned 40
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1969Turned 50
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1979Turned 60
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1989Turned 70
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1999Turned 80
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2000Died at 81
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
Key Achievements
- Founded the Ballet Folklórico de México in 1952, building it into a world-famous institution.
- Created over 60 choreographic works that encompassed Mexico's diverse regional dances.
- Established a permanent home for the company at the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City in 1959.
- Received the National Prize for Arts and Sciences in 1992 for her cultural contributions.
Did You Know?
She was initially a student of modern dance with teachers like Waldeen and a dancer for the National Symphony Ballet.
Her first major break came when her television program "Ballet Folklórico de México" won a contest in 1954.
The company's signature opening number, "Deer Dance," is based on a Yaqui ritual from Sonora.
Her daughter, Norma López Hernández, succeeded her as the company's artistic director.
“I wanted to dance the Mexico that I loved.”
