Puerto Vallarta Dancers

The Puerto Vallarta Dancers sculpture presents a couple of dancers performing the “Jarabe Tapatío” (Mexican Hat Dance). This striking piece of fine art is unique in town for their colored patina; the white, red and blue colors of the woman`s dress in a Jalisco representative custom divergence with the pure bronze of the man with typical dress of a Mexican horseman. These exquisite figures were shaped by Jim Demetro, one of the most dynamic sculptors in the Northwest of the United States with 47 sculptures featured in public locations and many others in private collections. He brings his artistic work to Puerto Vallarta with these two life-sized statues of dancers.

He was first inspired to create this impressive sculpture on the Xiutla Municipal Folkloric Ballet through the youthful energy, in the subtle movements and the colorful regional costumes that the Xiutla dance troupe wears during its shows. He studied the performances, pictures and videos of the Xiutla dancers to create an authentic portrayal of the dance. Demetro has succeeded by sculpting the woman with her left hand swirling her skirt as high as her head, her right hand flaring the dress somewhat lower, all the while maintaining a graceful scarf across her shoulders and arms. Every facet of the woman, from eyelashes to the carefully braided hair, is true to life. The male dancer is equally well done, with details like a finely trimmed mustache. The Puerto Vallarta Dancers sculpture was unveiled on November 28th, 2006. You can find this lovely carving on the extension of Puerto Vallarta’s Malecon. It is the first sculpture to highlight a traditional Mexican dance.