Cultural Harmonies

What is ballet folklórico?

Ballet folklórico is traditional Mexican-style dancing. The main components are music, footwork, costumes and even color schemes! Each region of Mexico has its own unique style of dance, and our goal is to introduce the Bryan-College Station community to our culture through performances.

What is most rewarding about performing?

I was a senior in high school when I was introduced to Ballet Folklórico Celestial, and just looking at performance photos on a fellow Aggie’s Twitter account made me feel seen. When I’m performing for an audience, it makes me happy knowing I might be helping someone experience the same feeling of representation I felt a few years ago.

Which dance is your favorite?

The dances from the Mexican state of Jalisco have captured my heart. They feature brightly colored costumes with striped ribbons and showy routines. A Jalisco dance was the first skirt routine I learned and performed, and it really stuck with me.

Where do you perform?

Our performances vary from quinceañeras to events hosted by other campus organizations like the Hispanic Presidents’ Council or Class Councils. In recent years, we’ve also started to perform beyond Bryan-College Station.

How do you appeal to a broad audience?

Not everyone is familiar with ballet folklórico, so we’ve been working to include modern twists that audiences may recognize to help them feel more connected, like dancing to “Un Poco Loco” from Disney’s “Coco.”