NELLIE CAMPOBELLO: BIOGRAPHY AND MAIN WORKS - HISTORY - 2025

Nellie Campobello Morton (1900 - 1986), whose real name was María Francisca Moya Luna, was one of the main narrators of the Mexican Revolution, of which she was an eyewitness. In addition, the great promoter of ballet in the country is considered the first.

Apart from these two main aspects in his biography, he also dedicated part of his life to poetry, choreography and studying the history of dance. One of his great successes on the scene was the performance Ballet 30-30, with which the anniversary of the Revolution was celebrated in 1931.

The work was commissioned directly by the then president of the country Lázaro Cárdenas. She also became director of the National School of Dance for almost 50 years. Her facet as a writer gave her the consideration of narrator of the Revolution thanks to works such as Cartucho or the study on the military life of Pancho Villa.

Not only did he dedicate himself to writing prose, as he has some works of poetry that were also very successful. His well-acquired fame allowed him to collaborate with many newspapers, taking advantage of his space to comment on the political situation in Mexico at all times.

Nellie Campobello's death was marked by horror and mystery, with a tragic story that was not revealed until 1999.

Early years

Born on November 7, 1900, Nellie Campobello Morton's real name was María Francisca Moya Luna. She came to the world in Villa Ocampo, Durango, the place where she spent her childhood and where she would later set some of her best-known works. Her mother was a welder in the Revolution, a fact that marked her artistic life.

His first years of life are not very well known. There are even historians who doubt his true date of birth. In the same way, they affirm that he did not go to school, although it seems that he already showed his love for literature at that time.

Although there is no data to prove it one hundred percent, it is thought that her stage name comes from that of the dog that her mother owned and that was called Nellie. The last name Campobello was taken from that of her stepfather, Campbell Morton.

Stage in Mexico City

In 1923 his mother died and the family moved to Mexico City. There she entered an English school, began to receive ballet classes and entered the circle of intellectuals and artists in the city. Ultimately, it is where your future life begins to take shape.

Nellie Campobello and the ballet

Nellie and her sister Gloria began to relate to ballet when they arrived in Mexico City in 1923. Their teachers were among the best of the moment, highlighting the Costa sisters, Carmen Galé and Madame Stanislava Potapovich

Both were fundamental for this discipline to settle definitively in the country. In fact, it was they and other professionals who founded the Ballet of Mexico City.

In 1930 he went to work in the public administration, more specifically in the Department of Music and National Dances of the Ministry of Public Education.

Presidential commission

One of the most notable events in his ballet career was the commission he received to commemorate the beginning of the Mexican Revolution. Lázaro Cárdenas, at that time president of the country, asked him to create a choreography to celebrate the date.

The premiere took place in November 1931 and was a success. Campobello presented the Ballet 30-30 at the National Stadium, with the students of the now called National School of Dance Nellie and Gloria Campobello as protagonists.

Primary school children also participated, in charge of embodying the people in the representation. Nellie herself reserved a role that symbolized the Revolution.

The work described the entire armed uprising and the successes and social improvements achieved after its triumph. After that first performance, the ballet toured all of Mexico with great repercussion.

National School of Dance

In addition to the Ballet of Mexico City, the artist was also the founder of the National School of Dance in 1931. She was its director during almost five decades of great artistic activity.

Among the outstanding works signed by Nellie Campobello are La virgen de las fieras, the Isthmian dances, the Tarahumara Ballet, the Republican Overture or Ixtepec.

Facet as a writer

As far as it is known, his first published book dates from 1928. Its title was Yo and it had five poems. The following year it was reissued by Dr. Alt, a pseudonym of the Mexican writer Gerardo Murillo Coronado.

Her fame as a writer of the Revolution was earned by her powerful narrative and the topics discussed.

Main works

Cartucho, stories of the struggle in northern Mexico

This is his most outstanding work written, in his own words, to "avenge an injury." She was referring to how some historians had treated such important revolutionary figures as Francisco Villa, one of the artist's idols.

In the book, published in 1931, Nelli describes the personalities of various women during the revolutionary war. The narrator of the whole story is a little girl of about 10 years old, which gives the text a very fresh tone.

Mom's hands

Published in 1937, it is a book that he dedicates to his mother. Tell what it was like to raise children during the war.

Notes on the military life of Francisco Villa

Nellie documented herself speaking to direct witnesses to Villa's life, including his widow, and in official documents.

It is a chronicle about the revolutionary focused on his military aspect. It also offers a great story about how the north of the country was during the Revolution.

Indigenous rhythms of Mexico

Research work, carried out together with her sister, which collected the different traditional rhythms of the Mexican indigenous people. It was published in 1940.

My books

Work of maturity published in 1960. The author reflects on her work and her life. It includes several poems written by her.

Disappearance and death

The death of Nellie Campobello constitutes one of the most tragic and mysterious events in the history of Mexico.

The beginning of the events that would end her life can be marked in the late 70s, when the artist begins to suffer from some senile dementia and is at the end of her career. Furthermore, the death of her sister Gloria only makes the situation worse.

In that moment of weakness, she meets a couple who are beginning to gain her trust. They were Cristina Belmont (a former student) and Claudio Fuentes. Both manage to go to live in the basement of Nellie's house and for her to sign a power of attorney to manage her financial affairs. Eventually he names them heirs.

Starting in 1984, Campobello vanished from the public life of the capital. Those who come to his house to see how he is doing receive excuses from their so-called friends and caregivers and leave without being able to talk to him.

Finally, the prosecution begins to investigate. Years later, already in 1998, the stark truth is discovered. Nellie had died on July 9, 1986, living in abduction for the last two years of her life. She had been secretly buried so that the matter would not be discovered.

The body of Nellie Campobello was taken to Villa Ocampo, where a monument was erected in her honor. Likewise, she received a tribute at the Palacio de las Bellas Artes.

References

1. López Mena, Sergio. Nellie Campobello. Biography. Obtained from cervantesvirtual.com
2. Lopez, Alberto. Nellie Campobello, the Mexican revolution through the eyes of a girl. Obtained from elpais.com
3. Drafting of The Process. the horror story of the kidnapping and death of nellie campobello. Obtained from proces.com.mx
4. Goodreads. Nellie Campobello. Retrieved from goodreads.com
5. Nickel, Catherine. Nellie Campobello. Recovered from books.google.es
6. María Claudia André, Eva Paulino Bueno. Latin American Women Writers: An Encyclopedia. Recovered from books.google.es
7. Alchetron. Nellie Campobello. Retrieved from alchetron.com
8. Werner, Michael. Concise Encyclopedia of Mexico. Recovered from books.google.es