Celebrate Latinx Heritage All Year Long With Ballet Folklórico
Technically, Latinx Heritage Month is only from September 15 to October 15, but for students in Ballet Fólklorico Guadalupano, who celebrate and perform the traditional folk dances of Mexico, the party goes on all year round.
For more than a decade, Saint Mary's Folklórico dancers have learned and performed a wide variety of dances from Mexico, immersing themselves in the choreography, costuming, and music unique to each region. The student-run club is overseen by Professor Rogelio Lopez, Director of the MFA Dance Program, and frequently performs on campus and beyond.
Yolanda Ochoa, ‘23, a Sociology major and the Publicity officer for Folklórico, joined the club her junior year and has found the experience incredibly rewarding. “I feel like I never really fully experienced my culture until joining Folklórico,” she says. Now, Yolanda is dancing weekly with Latinx women of similar backgrounds, exploring their shared history together. “So I definitely get to learn more about my culture, myself, and grow in community.”
To anyone interested in joining Fólklorico, Yolanda encourages: go for it! “All levels of experience are welcomed, all ethnic backgrounds, everyone is welcome,” she says.
To hear more from Yolanda and see Ballet Folklórico Guadalupano in action, watch the video above.
And if you want to see Ballet Fólklorico Guadalupano live and in person, they’ll be performing in the Soda Center on Friday, October 28, at 8:00 pm as part of Saint Mary’s annual Dia De Los Muertos Celebration.
Hayden Royster is a Staff Writer for the Office of Marketing and Communication. Write him.