Synopsis
Nanita is a shoemaker's daughter in a tiny Mexican town. Her First Communion is coming up, but her father is too busy to make her shoes. So during the night, she makes them herself, using colorful scraps. The shoes turn out to be magical, and make her sleepwalk away from the town and to the desert. The Moon rises and sings to the wandering girl. A coyote appears and sings to the moon. The sun rises with the new day. Nanita stumbles upon a ranch, where the cruel owners put her to work. She is forced to sweep floors and is taught how to make flan, a baked custard coated with caramel, for the Ranchero's dessert. A talking parrot befriends Nanita and helps her improve the recipe. Once the flan is made, the cruel Ranchero and Old Woman dance a rumba as they exult over Nanita's delicious treat. During the night, the parrot and Nanita flee the ranch, and find their way back to Nanita's town. Nanita is reunited with her father. The townspeople turn out for Nanita's First Communion. Afterwards, in the fiesta, Nanita offers flan to all the guests. They love the treat and everyone dances a Mariachi Son jaliscience to conclude the opera.