Google honors dancer Amalia Hernandez with new Doodle

Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Google is celebrating Mexican dance pioneer Amalia Hernandez on what would have been her 100th birthday with a new Doodle.

Google's homepage features artwork depicting the style and color of Mexican folk dances with a group of male and female dancers.

Hernandez, who developed a passion for dance early in her life, became a choreographer and teacher at the Fine Arts National Institute. After turning to traditional Mexican folk dances, Hernandez combined the dances with more choreographed movements to create her own style known as baile folklorico.

"In 1952, Hernandez founded the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico. Beginning with just eight dancers, the troupe grew to over three hundred in the years to follow. The company performed on television for the first time in 1954, after which they were featured in a weekly broadcast. This success allowed Amalia's group to tour North America and even represent Mexico in the Pan American Games in 1959," Google wrote of Hernandez.

"The Ballet Folklorico de Mexico still performs to this day. Since its inception, the group has danced for more than 22 million people. Hernandez remained involved with the company until her death in 2000, working alongside her daughters and grandson," Google continued.

Ballet Folklorico de Mexico continues to perform to his day.