Founded in 1952 by Mexican ballet choreographer, Amalia Hernández, along with eight dancers, Ballet Folklorico de Mexico has pioneered the art form of baile folklorico, a collective term for traditional Latin American dances that emphasize local folk culture. In 1959 the ensemble grew to 50 performers and was commissioned to represent Mexico at the Pan American Games in Chicago, Illinois. Their success in Chicago launched the folk dance company on the road to greatness. Ballet Folklorico de Mexico has earned more than two hundred awards such as the Diploma from the Theater's Columnists Union (1969), National Arts Award (1992), and Fundacion Mexico Unido Award (2003), during its tours and at its headquarter, the Fine Arts Palace.

The creation of the Ballet Folklórico among the Mexico’s artistic institutions was not a result of a magic act. Although it seemed like it, because of the irradiation and astonishment that it caused along the country and abroad. It was, truly, years of work and passion against obstacles and incomprehensibility standing with firmness, willing and imagination — a lot of imagination is needed some times to approach reality! where others place dejection of mind.

Amalia Hernandez started to work at the Fine Arts National Institute, as a teacher and choreographer of modern dance. In 1952 she decided to leave the Institute and form her own company, to present, in total freedom, programs of Mexican folkloric dances.

A weekly television program was offered to the new company for which Amalia had to create, set a choreography and dance new ballets every week. But she had at least an opportunity to give away the richness of knowledge that she had accumulated about the music and folkloric dances of her country. Later, the small and spectacular company, brought the attention of the Tourism Department and it’s director asked Amalia to take the company, with official representation, to other countries of the continent. These cultural visits had a great success and after a triumphal presentation at the Chicago’s Pan-American Games, in 1959, the president Lopez Mateos offered the company all the support that was necessary to create for Mexico "one of the best ballets of the world".

And since 1960 Amalia Hernandez had created the choreography for 30 different ballets, composed by 56 different dances.