Abilene’s Hispanic Heritage Display Committee presents: Entretenimientos: Música, Baile y Radio

The Hispanic Heritage Display Committee presents Entretenimientos: Música, Baile y Radio. This exhibition was created by Abilene’s Hispanic Heritage Display Committee, a group committed to archiving, preserving, and displaying the histories of Hispanics in Abilene for the community and its future generations.

This exhibition highlights just a small portion of the rich history of music, dance, and entertainment in Abilene’s Hispanic/Latino community. Music and dance are an integral part of Hispanic/Latino culture, as they incorporate native and Spanish traditions to create a unique blend of rhythms, beats, movements, and lyrics. Abilene has a long history and tradition of conjunto music and ballet folklorico, both of which are represented in this exhibition.

Conjunto music was the precursor to current Tejano music, where each band usually had an accordion, bajo sexto (12-string bass guitar), and drums (later, other instruments were added). In addition, Spanish radio stations in Abilene have led the way to promote both the conjunto and Tejano music we enjoy today.

Ballet Folklorico, derived from traditional folk dancing, incorporates religious topics, historical themes, and oral histories. It was mainly modernized in the 1950s in Mexico City and became popular in the United States in the 1960s. The dancers promote a sense of community and ability to share their heritage through the expressive form of dance. This exhibition highlights two local Ballet Folklorico groups that are vital to the culture of Abilene.