Swirling skirts and mariachi music mean only one thing – Ballet Folklórico is in the house.
This fall, Fort Lewis College’s Club Baile Folklórico as well as Ballet Folklórico, which is organized under the auspices of the Durango Education Center, become the jointly sponsored Ballet Folklórico de Durango. The group will offer classes for youths 5 to 18 as well as classes for college-aged and adult dancers. It also will be available for performances of traditional Mexican dances.
“This has been a longtime dream that is finally coming true,” said Jennifer Cossey, Ballet Folklórico de Durango dance instructor.
Bringing the younger students up to Fort Lewis is intended to achieve a number of goals, said Shirena Trujillo Long, coordinator of FLC’s El Centro de Muchos Colores, the host organization for the new group. “Their goals are to help students of underrepresented populations learn and promote pride in Mexican cultural heritage, provide a safe and positive after-school activity with college-age role models and expose these populations to a campus community.”
Local donors such as MercuryGives and La Plata Electric Association are providing some of the funding for the three-year pilot program.
abutler@durangoherald.com
If you go
Families and dancers will host an open house for youths and adults interested in learning traditional Mexican dances with Ballet Folklórico de Durango from 2 to 3:30 p.m. today at Fort Lewis College’s El Centro de Muchos Colores, which is on the ground floor of the Student Union.
Classes for youths 5 to 18 will run from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Mondays starting Sept. 8. Adult community members and FLC students will meet from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays. All classes will be held at El Centro. Parking is free on campus after 5 p.m.
The group is available for performances for suggested donations of $50 to $100. The next performance will be at FLC’s Fiesta on the Mesa, which will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 15 in the amphitheater on campus.
To donate, or for more information about the dance program, visit www.fortlewis.edu/elcentro or call 247-7290.
