Throughout the Mexican Revolution (1910-1917), Mexican women held different roles such as nurses and cucarachas (camp participants) gather supplies and sometimes fight in battles. Women involved in the revolution became known as Soldaderas and Adelitas, inspired by the corrido “La Adelita”, published during the Mexican Revolution. Likewise, Ballet Nepantla’s ‘Valentina’ is based on the 1915 corrido ‘La Valentina’, which tells the story of the life and daring actions of Valentina Ramírez Avitia.

Born in 1893, Avitia grew up in one of many rural communities in the state of Durango, in northern Mexico. When the Mexican Revolution broke out in 1910, she expressed a desire to fight alongside her father. However, he died before he had the chance. After his death, Avitia disguised himself as a man and joined the revolution in November 1910 at the age of 17.

Under the pseudonym of Juan Ramírez, Avitia’s willingness to sacrifice herself and fight for a better Mexico catapulted her into the ranks of her regiment, and she eventually became a lieutenant. It wasn’t until a fellow soldier spotted her trenzas (hair braids) that her true identity was revealed. Avitia’s involvement in the Mexican Revolution ended in June 1911, seven months into his campaign. However, the corrido released in her name several years later inspired the 1966 film “La Valentina” and later “Valentina” by Ballet Nepantla.

The transformation of Mexican femininity in Ballet Nepantla’s ‘Valentina’ mirrors the transformation of a nation during the Mexican Revolution. Throughout each performance, the dancers embodied the decline and upheaval of the revolutionary state through the collapse and reconstruction of a woman’s identity. Through their participation, Mexican women personified the revolutionary spirit of Mexico.

Although the stories of Soldaderas and Adelitas have been widely shared in popular culture, these women are conveyed as archetypes and anomalies. Complex narratives of female identity have been largely overshadowed by macho narratives and conflicting social constructions. However, contemporary storytelling gives us the opportunity to re-examine history and how we share history.

Ballet Nepantla interprets themes of rebellion, resilience and empowerment through the eyes of women, reintroducing women into Mexican history as more than bystanders and collateral damage, but as shapers and saviors. of the case. “Valentina” expands the public’s perception of a “traditional Mexican woman” by seeing her adapt to various challenges, from supporting her husband to leading a regiment.

Through reexamination, we can understand how the actions and legacies of the women of the revolution contributed to the ever-changing identity of Mexican and Mexican American women today.

Cristóbal López is a graduate student in history and Nau Fellow at the University of Texas at San Antonio. His areas of interest include Spanish border regions and immigration. Victoria Villaseñor is a recent graduate of St. Mary’s University with a Masters in Public History.