Photo: Jarocho

By THÉRÈSE MARGOLIS

Twenty years ago, British-born dance director Richard O’Neal, who spent five years as the assistant director of “Riverdance,” the internationally acclaimed dance phenomenon based on Irish folk traditions, decided to use his stage and choreographic knowhow to create a Riverdance-like spectacle that showcased Mexican ballet based on the rousing, foot-stomping dance style known as jarocho, native to the southern state of Veracruz.

Photo: Jarocho

Fusing the captivatingly synchronized moves of “Riverdance” and traditional jarocho beats and patterns, O-Neal created a one-of-a-kind show that soon took the world by storm.

And while O’Neal’s journey to immortalize the spirit of Veracruz music and dance took him through a maze of cultural awakenings, the end product, titled simply “Jarocho” was both uniquely Mexican and distinctively international, a colorful swirl of guitar- and harp-based sounds, toe-tapping spins and festive emotion.

As part of this year’s Independence Day celebration in Mexico and in honor of the group’s porcelain anniversary, the “Jarocho” dance troupe will offer a one-day-only performance of this spectacular show at the National Auditorium on Wednesday, Sept. 14.

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or at the National Auditorium ticket office.