Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl will be on the stage of Aurora’s Paramount Theatre on Oct. 31 with dazzling costumes, infectious music and energetic traditional folklore dance numbers found in the villages of Mexico’s different regions.

It’s a fall tradition in the Fox Valley to honor the area’s rich Mexican culture with an annual performance by Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl on the stage of downtown Aurora’s majestic Paramount Theatre.

Watch the stage come to life with an amazing pageant of dazzling costumes, infectious music and energetic traditional folklore dance numbers found in the villages of Mexico’s different regions, at 7 p.m. Oct. 31.

Tickets are $25 and $28 for adults, $18 and $20 for children 12 and under.

Feel your spirits rise and eyes light up as Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl shares an important piece of their culture.

Based in Aurora, this celebrated Mexican folk-dance troupe has been delighting audiences for over 30 years throughout Illinois and as far as Mexico with colorful costumes, wonderful music and electrifying, beautiful choreography.

The troupe is led by director and choreographer Juan Manuel “Nery” Cruz, from San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The group was originally formed to meet a need — the need to preserve the most important aspects of the Mexican culture, the folkloric dance.

Every year, Nery travels to San Luis, Mexico to polish his skills by taking lessons to learn new steps and dances from the country’s different regions. Throughout the year, he teaches his students these steps and dances that debut during the group’s annual fall performance at the Paramount.

The meaning of “Quetzalcoatl,” originating from the ancient Mexican and northern Central American civilizations, literally means Quetzal-bird snake or serpent with feathers of Quetzal (which implies something divine or precious) in Nahuatl Language.

Quetzalcoatl was the god of wisdom of the ancient primitive Mexicans, a god of the air or a sun-god and a benefactor of their race who instructed them in the use of agriculture and metals.

For more about Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl, visit bfquetzalcoatl.org.

The Paramount Theatre is located at 23 E. Galena Boulevard in Aurora.

For tickets and information, go to ParamountAurora.com, call the Paramount box office, (630) 896-6666, or visit the box office Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., or two hours prior to evening performances.

— Ballet Folklorico Quetzacoatl stages annual Paramount show —