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As new dancers, folklorico students jump in feet first

In a demand for more culturally sensitive after-school activities, Goodyear soccer moms are directing their kids’ feet toward zapateado.

The new folklorico group Estrella Azul - which has children ages six to 14 – was founded by the Southwest Hispanic Culture Association and has gained 25 members in three months and more offers for performance opportunities than can be fit into one school year.

Although the group is mostly of Hispanic descent, it includes children from all backgrounds and has several members of mixed heritages.

“I wanted her to know that part of her, of her heritage,” says Michelle Pacheo mother of biracial Katrina, “She was in regular ballet and American dance, so I wanted her to able to have both perspectives.

“She loves it. She actually stopped regular ballet because she likes this a lot more,” she says.

“I wanted her to know where her father’s coming from,” echoed Pomoko Pakaba, mother of nine-year-old Mindy, “I thought it would be nice for her to learn culture, and she likes dancing.”

Director Kathi Soria says response from the children has been good, and that many of the girls have performed dances in school talent shows. Mindy Pakaba performed for relatives.

In addition to the technicalities of the dances and zapateado (footwork), a half-hour of each class is devoted toward learning Spanish and the culture and geography of Mexico.
The group makes its professional debut next month at SHCA’s Fiestas Patrias celebration.

Until then, the group will focus on practicing their routines. Soria says she has received many requests for performances, but feels her students are “not ready yet.”

“As soon as they’ve got some performances behind them for the Southwest Hispanic, they’ll be available to do weddings and quinceañeras and that kind of thing; (we’ll be) using the money we get for more costumes.”

In the meantime, the kids have been earning their $75 to $100 costumes through monthly fundraisers such as bake sales and car washes.

Expenses of joining the group include $60 monthly tuition, $37 to $42 for shoes, $35 for a practice skirt and the expense of two costumes for their first performance.

Estrella Azul is helping parents out by starting a costume exchange program and looking for sponsors for individual children. For now, tuition is waived for students whose parents cannot pay.

Parents are grateful for the chance for their kids to be part of a traditional folklorico group.

“I’m glad that… these types of things are coming over here,” says Pacheo, who lives in Buckeye, “I had been looking for something on this side of town.”

More information can be found at: www.southwesthispanic.org/balletfolkorico.