In two free performances offered this Tuesday by the Instituto de Cultura de Mazatlan—at 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.—the doors of the Ángela Peralta Theater opened to welcome 1,380 kindergarten, elementary, and middle school students from urban and rural Mazatlán, eager to immerse themselves in the fantasy world created by the imagination of Pippa Longstocking, played by Camina Loaiza Mendoza.
Children and adolescents from various public and private schools filled the room with an energy that could be felt from the first second of the show presented as part of the Spring 2025 Season.
The story of Pippa Longstocking, with her red hair and inseparable braids, highlighted the power of imagination to fill voids and find happiness. Her companion, Mr. Nilsson, a monkey brought from Africa (played by Orlando Osuna Arenas), added humor to the story, while a trunk that holds the redheaded girl’s fantasies became a symbol of the power of dreams and creativity.
From young preschoolers to high school students, they joined in a single cry of excitement to be part of this adventure performed by students from the Municipal Classical Ballet School of the Instituto Municipal de Cultura, Turismo y Arte de Mazatlán, directed by teacher Zoila Fernández Fernández.
On the stage, transformed into a canvas of vibrant colors and sometimes dark to represent the night, reality and fantasy danced in harmony in this production where dancers Legna Ibarra Cabrera and Paula Plaza González personified the friends of the dreamy, red-haired girl, whose imagination created stories to fill the void while she waited for the return of her father, a sailor.
Stars, clouds, pirates, dolls, sunflowers, butterflies, Apaches, and birds appeared in Pippa’s dreams and came to life through dance, music (by various composers), TAP’s stage design, video projections, and artistic lighting.
The audience didn’t miss a single detail of the story and appreciated the agile movements of the fairies in the fields that accompanied Pippa’s magical walk, one of the most luminous and colorful moments of the show.
Aura Patrón’s narration helped unravel the story and introduce us to Pippa, the central character in the production by the Instituto Municipal de Cultura, Turismo y Arte de Mazatlan.
The adventure took an exciting turn when, one night, pirates flooded Pippa’s father’s ship.
The “mist on the stage” added a touch of mystery, alerting the young audience, who, with bright eyes, murmured and waved their hands. The students from CULTURA’s Theater School, responsible for bringing these intrepid characters to life, captured the audience’s imagination.
A moment of tenderness came when Pippa, played with grace and feeling, was left alone as night fell. Nostalgia filled her as she thought about the possible return of her father, a brave sailor who traveled the seven seas. This feeling resonated in the children’s hearts, who felt the warmth of friendship as they watched “Pippa’s friends” depart.
The general production by Raúl Rico González and Abril Márquez and the multimedia production by Karla Aguirre combined to create an immersive experience. Ángel Salomón’s lighting played a crucial role in enhancing every scene, from Pippa’s dreams to the exciting pirate battles.
The story, told through classical ballet, explored profound themes such as the pain of absence (Pippa is orphaned by her mother), the value of friendship, and the ability to find joy in imagination.
Attending schools:
Fovissste Kindergarten, Domingo Carballo Kindergarten, Mármol Kindergarten, Niños Héroes de El Walamo Elementary School,
Gabriela Mistral Elementary School, Juan Carrasco Elementary School, Benito Juárez Elementary School,
ICO, Federal Secondary School No. 8,
Morelos Elementary School, Benito Juárez Elementary School, Federal Secondary School No. 4, Technical Secondary School No. 77, and Canizalez Institute.
At the end, applause was the enthusiastic response from the children and young people who filled both performances and witnessed the success of this production, which will be repeated for the general public this Wednesday, April 30th at 7:00 PM at the TAP. Tickets: $300.00, $250.00, $200.00, and $150.00.
