For the first time, Heartbeat of Mexico will feature an indoor performance at Chapman University’s 1,000-seat Memorial Hall. This comes in response to overwhelming community interest in Ballet Folklórico groups in past years. Those events were held outside, however, and this year's performances will be inside and take advantage of theatrical lighting and sound to create an exceptional experience.

The performers, selected through a "self-nominated curation process," have been chosen to provide a balance between local and regional groups of all ages, as well as the traditions they represent in their songs, costumes, and dances.

Among the highlights of the Ballet Folklórico program will be Ballet Folklórico Estrellas de OSCA, the premier performance group from the International Dance Conservatory of the Orange County School of the Arts; Paso de Oro Dance Company de Alicia, the 24-year-old dance company directed by Alicia Mendibles and Alejandro Rey; and OC Music & Dance, a community music school that welcomes students regardless of ability to pay. OC Music & Dance will present a showcase of traditional folk dances to three songs representative of the music of the small Western Mexico state of Colima.