Ballet Folklorico dance classes start Monday, Sept. 8 at Fort Lewis College.
Ballet Folklorico de Durango will begin new youth and college/adult classes in September and the cultural educational dance group is now accepting new members.
The dancers and families will host an open house and open registration event from 2-3:30 p.m. tomorrow at Fort Lewis College's El Centro de Muchos Colores Hispano Resource Center.
Ballet Folklorico in Durango was originally founded in 1996 and exists today as a K-20 education program and partnership between the Durango Education Center and El Centro at FLC. Local grant-making organizations like LPEA and Mercury Gives have supported the new three-year pilot program so that both youth and adult dance groups will be working together as Ballet Folklorico de Durango.
"This has been a long-time dream that is finally coming true" said Jennifer Cossey, Ballet Folklorico de Durango dance instructor, originally from Houston, Tex.
The goals of Ballet Folklorico de Durango are to help students 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.
Classes for youth ages 5-17 will begin Monday, Sept. 8 from 5:30-6:30 p.m., at El Centro, located on the ground floor of the FLC student union (parking is free after 5 pm). Adult community members or FLC students are invited to join the Ballet Folklorico de Durango Club, which meets from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays at El Centro.
Several local performances are already booked and the dance group is available to book performances in the Four Corners for a suggested donation of $50-$100. The next performance will be FLC's Fiesta on the Mesa event 5-7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15 in the outdoor amphitheater located in the center of campus. The event is free and open to the public with donations for the dance group always accepted and appreciated.
To donate to Ballet Folklorico de Durango, or for more information about the dance program, please visit the El Centro website: www.fortlewis.edu/elcentro or call (970) 247-7290.
