San Luis Potosí is the geographical heart of Mexico. The Spanish Colonial expansion into South America found the rich Minas del Potosí in Colombia. The name Potosí came to mean a rich mining center. The vast precious metal deposits of the Minas del Potosí caused the Spaniards to call the capital city San Luis Potosí.
The Río Verde valley is located between the city of San Luis and the Sierra of la Huasteca, a spectacular mountain range.
The "valona" is a form of son and is the most provincial and authentic representation of Mexico's rural music of the turn of the 20th century. Irreverent lyrics, fast music and an open passport for improvisation make this style a favorite among musicians. The origin of the valona can be traced back to eastern Europe. The structure of the valona is a musical introuction followed not by singing, but a sort of "rapping" verse, then a musical interlude, then another musical speaking of a verse, etc.
The stylized female costume is a modern creation designed to represent the area called La Región Naranjera that corresponds to the vast number of citrus fruit grown in this region of Mexico. La Región Naranjera is very prosperous, extremely warm and it neighbors La Huasteca in the Sierra of San Luis Potosí