For more than 30 years, this dance studio has been teaching students of all ages the culture of Mexican Ballet Folklórico dance.The sound of music and heels clicking is a small part of what goes into traditional Mexican Ballet Folklórico. Director at Baila Baila! Dance Company Israela Garcia said, “A lot of these students find something that they really love and they, it's a connection that they don't expect to have. And once they have it it's just natural.” Garcia has taught folklórico for 32 years.Although it was not in her life plans to run a dance studio she's happy it's made a positive impact. Garcia said, “I saw the changes it made in children's lives and how it added so much to their life as far as a connection to their culture. And something that they could be proud of, something that helped them that helps them concentrate on that was something other than getting in trouble. Help them in their schoolwork.” Students start dancing as young as 2 years old and some of the oldest students in their 80s.Julie Weaver dances in the intermediate class at Baila! Baila! She said, “It's a unique style of dancing and it's new to me because I never did the heel work and it's challenging.” For dancers, discipline and practice also come with lessons.“Dancing is storytelling to me so every dance has a history behind it has a story behind it and I think that's really important to learn,” Garcia said.Garcia says it's not all about turns, waltzes and costumes.She said, “It just really brings the families a lot closer together. It's something that I'm glad I can provide to the students because it's something that they're missing and they didn't even know it.” With every step, is a message. “Joy. That's the first thing that comes to mind is joy. The joy of actually doing and dancing and performing for others and the joy of being able to see it,” Garcia said.Watch the video above for the full story.
For more than 30 years, this dance studio has been teaching students of all ages the culture of Mexican Ballet Folklórico dance.
The sound of music and heels clicking is a small part of what goes into traditional Mexican Ballet Folklórico.
Director at Baila Baila! Dance Company Israela Garcia said, “A lot of these students find something that they really love and they, it's a connection that they don't expect to have. And once they have it it's just natural.”
Garcia has taught folklórico for 32 years.
Although it was not in her life plans to run a dance studio she's happy it's made a positive impact.
Garcia said, “I saw the changes it made in children's lives and how it added so much to their life as far as a connection to their culture. And something that they could be proud of, something that helped them that helps them concentrate on that was something other than getting in trouble. Help them in their schoolwork.”
Students start dancing as young as 2 years old and some of the oldest students in their 80s.
Julie Weaver dances in the intermediate class at Baila! Baila! She said, “It's a unique style of dancing and it's new to me because I never did the heel work and it's challenging.”
For dancers, discipline and practice also come with lessons.
“Dancing is storytelling to me so every dance has a history behind it has a story behind it and I think that's really important to learn,” Garcia said.
Garcia says it's not all about turns, waltzes and costumes.
She said, “It just really brings the families a lot closer together. It's something that I'm glad I can provide to the students because it's something that they're missing and they didn't even know it.”
With every step, is a message.
“Joy. That's the first thing that comes to mind is joy. The joy of actually doing and dancing and performing for others and the joy of being able to see it,” Garcia said.
Watch the video above for the full story.
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