Attempt to break record for biggest attendance at Quinceaneras

SHOTLIST 1. Various of "Quinceaneras" (or teenage girls that have turned 15) arriving on sightseeing buses in pouring rain, getting off the bus 2. Audience members watching performance 3. Wide of girls performing traditional waltz dance beneath the Angel of Independence monument 4. Mid of couple dancing 5. Audience members watching 6. Wide of girls during performance 7 SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Viridian Monroe, participant at Quinceanera event: "They tell us that this is a party which will be unforgettable. And it is going to be unforgettable; it''s raining, I''m wet and so this is an experience I will never forget." 8. Mid of mothers watching 9. Various of girls dancing to song composed especially for them 10. Various of girls cheering 11. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico City Mayor: "This city welcomes you and your rights, we wish you the best." 12. Wide of Ebrard surrounded by girls STORYLINE A massive "Quinceanera" ball took place in Mexico city on Saturday, with some 382 girls turning out for the annual coming of age ceremony. According to the city''s mayor, Marcelo Ebrard, the event set a new record for the most quinceaneras celebrating their 15 years at the same time in a single place. Wearing specially-designed dresses and clutching umbrellas, the girls arrived at the Angel of Independence monument on sightseeing buses provided by the authorities. Officials closed Reforma Avenue, one of the city''s most important thoroughfares, in order to host the event. Although authorities were forced to cut short the event due to pouring rain, the girls were able to dance the traditional waltz with their families looking on. They also performed a dance to a song promoting their rights. "They tell us that this is a party which will be unforgettable. And it is going to be unforgettable; it''s raining, I''m wet and so this is an experience I will never forget," said one participant, Viridian Monroe. Ebrard greeted the teenage girls, saying: "This city welcomes you and your rights, we wish you the best." The traditional celebration can be a financial burden for struggling families and many save or borrow to be able to put on lavish events. The large public celebration began four years ago aimed at teenagers with less economic resources that perhaps couldn''t afford to pay for a party to mark their fifteenth birthday. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/35e80bad121c98779166375b99e6aad9 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

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