Santa Marians can’t get enough of that marimba beat.
The annual Big Show, a performance by the Ernest Righetti High School Marimba Band and Ballet Folklorico, will return to the Ethel Pope Auditorium stage at 3 p.m. on May 25 for an encore presentation of Mexican and Latino culture.
Ricardo Gabaldon directs the 45 musician and dancer students, who wear bright, authentic costumes as they share the culture of Chihuahua, Guerrero, Jalisco, Nayarit, and Veracruz. According to a press release from the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District, traditional mariachi-style songs will include rock ’n’ Español by La Quinta Estacion, Latin pop by Juanes, and hits by beloved Tex-Mex star Selena.
In the release, Gabaldon—who organized the group in 1975—explained that the program is the school’s bilingual/bi-cultural program.
“The Big Show is more than a performance; it’s an event that touches each person in a different way through the beauty of music, culture, and rich tradition,’’ Teresa Gonzalez, senior and president of the group, said in the release.
Buy tickets at the student business offices at Righetti, Pioneer Valley, and Santa Maria high schools. They cost $10 in advance, and $12 at the door.
Executive Editor Ryan Miller compiled this week’s Community Corner. Send comments or ideas to rmiller@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in May 22-29, 2014.