SAN BERNARDINO--The best of Christian culture was fused together into music, dance and storytelling on Saturday, December 20 for "Navidades: A Christmas Celebration,"a holiday program performed by the Ballet Folkloricode Mexico de Amalia Hernandez from the California Theater.

The Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez has represented Mexican culture through mainly productions of dance that have developed from the research of Mexican culture. 50 years and still running, the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez this time offered traditonal Mexican ritual and dance intermingled with Arabic, Afro-Caribbean, and European influences. The first part of the show featured Amalia Hernandez's versions of pre-Hispanic indigenous dances and regional pieces along with the popular festivities of the Carnival of Tlacotalpan, Veracruz.

The scene depicting the birth of Christ and the visit from the three wise men presented the audience with an array of cultural influences in dance technique including Arabic, African, and Asian. The performances were also topped with detail down to the piatas, song, food, and drink items in the dances.