Members of the Santa Maria High School Ballet Folklorico recently brought home first place honors from the La Feria De Sur Tejas Folklorico Competition in Texas.
The group sealed the recognition with its El Jarabe Nayarit dance performance from Nayarit, Mexico. The dance takes place in the sugar cane fields and highlights the men’s abilities with machetes while the women’s colorful dresses blow gracefully in the breeze.
Senior Marylinn Flores-Cornejo said she found the experience inspiring.
“It was one of the most unforgettable, amazing, and fun memories of my life,” Flores-Cornejo said in a press release. “Bringing back Mexican culture is special for us and what we like to embrace.”
Beginning Mexican Dance/Folklorico Teacher Angel Hoyos said his students worked hard to earn the spotlight.
“They were so happy,” Hoyos said in a press release. He added that the students tirelessly raised several thousand dollars to be able to attend the event.
This article appears in Jun 2-9, 2016.