NOTE: Be sure to take a virtual tour of the city of Zacatecas at the end of this story. But if you just can't wait, let's go right now !

It was a virtual love-in between Glengarry's most famous exports, the MacCulloch Dancers, and some of the warmest people anywhere. "Thousands of Mexican people were lined up in the streets during the parade. They would come up to us - perfect strangers - and tell us they loved us," said Alexandria's Jessica Goulet, one of the 46 dancers who participated. "People were holding out their children for us to kiss them."

"The Mexican people are warm and gracious, absolutely beautiful people," assessed Rae MacCulloch, who ranked the Zacatecas, Mexico trip between August 19th and September 3rd as the most fun.

"Spain was the most pleasant, China the most interesting," MacCulloch recalled about her dancing organization's previous two memorable tours.

Some MacCulloch Dancers even attracted their own fan clubs. Groups of young teenagers often serenaded the Canadians from below their residences until 2:30 am said Dana McDonell.

While the Canadian entourage was sometimes overblown by the reception, there were rare downsides. "Our first major show was not incident; it was an outdoor concert held in the heart of Zacatecas.

"On our arrival, we were again met by throngs of people and one lonely dog. The concert just got underway when suddenly our lonely dog appeared on stage. Not a bit impressed with the quick movement of the feet and sound of the tap shoes, he proceeded to nip the ankles of our young dancers. The music was drowned out by the shrills and screams from both the performers and the audience - the dancers quickly left the stage with the dog in hot pursuit. The dog was removed and the concert continued. The upside of this incident was to watch our young people capture the hearts of the Mexican people. As they returned to the stage, their ashen faces and looks of utter fear soon turned to smiles as broad as the ocean - after all we are Canadians, we can here to entertain the people of Mexico and entertain we will."

When possible, the dancers left the stage and mingled with the crowd, handing out as many Maple Leaf flags as possible to young children.

The MacCulloch Dancers were just one of several representatives of visiting countries that included France, Russia, Germany, Cuba and Israel.

Every performance thereafter went off without a hitch and was aided by the great Mexican audiences, beautiful theaters ans good sound systems that brought out the best of the dancers' accompanying musicians.

Each show was unique as new choreographic twists were addes by Dennis Carr and Deborah Wheeler.

The most elaborate concert was held in an old bullring. Three of the dancers climbed to the highest ledge and danced. "It was a picture to behold as the sun captured the colourful kilts in motion against the grey stone walls"

Carr, the lead vocalist and bodhran player, tamed up with pianist Clara MacLeod, violinists Kenton McBean and Shelly Downing and piper Lindsay Leroux.

There were also moments of hilarity.... many Mexicans assumed the dancers Highland gear was in fact, their regular dress. Of course, their hosts probably laughed at one dancer's attempt to eat authentic Mexican food that included steaming red chili peppers. Willy McKiver filled his face and then hastily gulped down five glasses of water to put out the fire.

Near the end of their stay, the Canadians toured an abandoned silver mine and planted trees with the other festival participants.

As they prepared to return home, the dancers had a very different perspective of Mexico. "We had heard so many horror stories about the water, the pollution." McDonell said. Nonetheless, the dancers were grateful they were not steered away from scenes of poverty.

But for the most part, the people were well taken care of, and of course, expressed such a healthy attitude that it was refreshing and contagious.

END

Come on, let's visit the Mexican city of Zacatecas.