Bay Area Hispanic cultural dance groups are stepping into the spotlight – weaving themselves into their local communities.
And while members of these dance groups report feeling united and connected to their heritage through dance, group founders add it’s a way to keep their culture alive.
Valverde Dance Ballet Folklórico’s mission is to bring and preserve traditional dances and music of the Andes mountains, which include Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador, as well as parts of Argentina, Chile and Colombia. The San Francisco-based group uses storytelling and theater to perform its dances, which group founder Luis Valverde says helps meet the requests of the city’s large Hispanic community.
“People are homesick sometimes and want to see a particular dance that reminds them of home,” Valverde explained.
Folklórico dance has deep roots in Mexican history. It weaves together the rich traditions of Indigenous cultures and the influences brought by Spanish colonization. It is performed during ceremonial rituals and community celebrations to express the vibrant stories and customs of diverse regions. These differences can be spotted by the design and color of the costumes to show its roots alongside the different types of dances.
There also are different dances spread throughout the Americas, including Marinera from Peru, salsa from Cuba and Danza del Vando, or Deer Dance, from Guatemala. These dance groups allow for the revival of dances far from home and engage younger generations to appreciate and learn about their cultural backgrounds. This commitment goes beyond artistic expression; it creates a sense of unity and belonging within the community.
Valverde Dance not only brings dancers together, it trains them. Through its dance school, it teaches several different techniques and forms of dance from a variety of teachers, also offering free classes on Tuesdays. Valverde said he does this to keep alive traditions that would have otherwise been forgotten and that are incredibly important to their mission of providing knowledge of South American culture.
Valverde Dance also hosts festivals that promote Indigenous customs and cultures. One is the Festival of the Sun, in which food related to certain dances is served, with an explanation of the connection between the two and/or the ritual being highlighted.
In Antioch, Deer Valley High School’s folklórico club allows students to immerse themselves in Hispanic culture by learning the dances taught by Giselle Acosta, a 12th grader who danced folklórico professionally for six years. Acosta said she was inspired to found the club earlier this year because of the lack of Hispanic culture shown in school. Dancing is her way of connecting to her roots and making her family proud. It is something she adores and considers it a part of her identity, she added.
“I love all of these girls and us goofing around from time to time lights up this room and makes it so cozy, ” Acosta said. “I could have a bad day at school, but come here and feel like everything is going to be alright.”
Yalena Moya, a member of the folklórico club, agrees.
“Folklórico for me means a way of representing the beautiful country you come from,” Moya said. She added that even though she is from Nicaragua, she is interested and eager to learn dances that are similar to hers.
Ballet folklórico Así se siente México is a dance school in Antioch. Founded by Sagrario Ibarra, it focuses on Mexican tradition and culture, as well as educates those on the significance of music and dance.
“Whenever people saw their children dance they would tell me, ‘Asi siento Mexico.’” This is why I named the company this,” Ibarra said. “Asi siento Mexico means ‘this is how I feel, Mexico.’”
“I could have a bad day at school, but come here and feel like everything is going to be alright.”
Giselle Acosta, a 12th grader and folklórico dancer
The dance groups are based on age and welcome everyone regardless of dance ability. Ibarra said he is pleased and proud whenever a new student improves in their dancing. The dance groups often dance for free at events to share their culture with the community. Beyond just educating, being in a dance group has brought unity in its members, Ibarra said.
“I would like to say thanks to all teachers who teach folklórico or other dances,” Ibarra said. “When I started Ballet folklórico there were very few groups near me and now I have seen it grow. It has brought me so much joy to express this dance and share it with others.”
Emma Mayta Canales is an 11th grader at Deer Valley High School in Antioch.
This story originally appeared in CCSpin.
