In April, the Victoria ISD Ballet Folklorico hosted the Ballet Folklorico Los Angelitos from Manzanilla, Colima, Mexico, who performed and gave a dance Master Class to the Folklorico students. Students were able to watch performances in the auditorium during first and second periods.
Ballet Folklorico Los Angelitos also performed at the Leo J Welder Center, and members of the VISD Ballet Folklorico attended this high-energy performance.
“My students will be impacted for life by this outreach,” said Ballet Folklorico teacher Elsa Pena. “I think our students in the audience will remember seeing this performing group. Cowboy boots, couples dancing, machetes, and the beautiful voice of the singer. Gotta love the dances and culture of Mexico.”
This Ballet Folklorico is part of the expressive arts program through Casa Hogar Los Angelitos, a children’s home. Since 2007 it not only involved the children in the home but began to include youth and students from the local community as an outreach and leadership development program.
In the Master Class, students were able to warm up with the performing group, learn steps to a song, and dance to that song with the visiting dancers. For many of my students, this was their first time to experience something like this.
“Folklorico students who participated in the master class worked hard,” said Pena. “Students were sweaty, smiled, laughed with each other, and made new friends to network with in the future. These opportunities are rare and so special for both sets of dancers from both the USA and Mexico.”
Through exposure, exploration, and experiences, ballet folklorico students were able to learn more about themselves, what they enjoy, and what they are good at, opening the doors for each student's genius to come to life.