MARIA CLARA IS HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY THE SPANISH DURING ITS COLONIZATION PERIOD FROM THE 1500S TO THE 1800S. DANCES FROM THIS SUITE REPRESENT THE WEALTHY MESTIZAS AND MESTIZOS (THOSE OF MIXED PHILIPPINE AND SPANISH HERITAGE) OF THE PHILIPPINES, CAPTURING THEIR ELEGANCE AND BOLDNESS. AS THE DANCERS PERFORM WITH A SMILE AND CONFIDENCE, THEY TELL A STORY OF COURTSHIP, LOVE, AND FLIRTATION. THE DANCES WERE HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY COLONIZATION AND STILL ENCAPSULATE THE NATIVE FLARE AND STYLE OF THE PHILIPPINES.
