Support the Arts: Guayabitos Folk Dance Lessons
Tara A. Spears
Mexican folk dancing evolved over five centuries. Today the government encourages teaching children traditional dances as a mean of learning the history and culture of Mexico. Recently, the Guayabitos Citizen Action Committee initiated an after school folk dance class in the town plaza. The dance instructor, Estefany Dennis Rivera Ramos, is a graduate of the Tepic Institute of Fine Arts and Education. “Finally, my long-awaited dream which was to become a Mexican Folkloric Dance Teacher is fullfilled when I graduated. I’m so happy to be working with children.”
This Folkloric Dance workshop just began February, 2022, with only five children but has increased to 12 members presently. As with many fledgling programs, much is needed in order to be a success. The parents currently pay for the lessons that are held in the town plaza three nights a week. Unfortunately, until the dance classe get sponsors, low income children are unable to participate. The instruction fee is not the only cost: the performance costumes and special shoes are pricey. The dance troupe is hoping to get gigs to dance at special events and will need help with transportation costs.
The biggest challenge for Senorita Dennis “is not having a suitable place for rehearsals. Currently the classes are taken outdoors but when the rains start they will need an indoor place. Ideally, a large room with a smooth floor is suitable for the children to practice. Having mirrors so that the dancers can see themselves will improve their physical development during classes.
Dennis’s love of Mexican dance began when she was 12 years old. “A Cultural Mission arrived in her community. The cultural mission is defined as an itinerant out-of-school education agencies, made up of multidisciplinary work teams that provide job training, basic education and that promote community development, through economic, cultural and social improvement in rural communities, with the purpose of fostering and promoting individual and collective development.” It was from this experience that Dennis joined the dance group of that cultural mission, participating for seven years.
The children are being trained with regional dances from different states of the country. Each of the thirty one states in Mexico has its own unique dance style including a particular song and costume. Most of these dance styles are heavily influenced by the complex history of Mexico, which includes the Spanish Colonial Period, the Mexican War of Independence and the 1910 Mexican Revolution. These regional dances with identifying costumes showcase a unique mix of the cultural influences on the indigenous cultures in Mexico.
The goal of each dance class is to foster a love of dance besides learning the execution and sequence of the different steps that make up the dance. In addition, the children get to know the music and the costumes that represent each state. Mastering the unique rhythms and dance styles is typically the biggest challenge for the student.
Dennis is excited about the future of the modest dance school. “I see the progress we have made already! It makes me happy to know that the kids enjoy the classes, that they are constant and attend rehearsals. As a teacher I love when the children are always eager to do things better. It fills me with great pride because they are wonderful children who enjoy and love to dance, and in these few months we have become a great family.
A look into the diverse Mexican folk dancing styles reveals the stunning vividness and cultural richness of this beautiful dance form. Performed by both men and women, this unique traditional form of dancing has come to exemplify the beliefs and regional attitudes. The spirit of these folk dances remains rooted in the creative expression and the history of this amazing country.
If you wish to become a sponsor, please contact teacher Dennis Riviera 322 242 6259 or on Facebook, Dennis Rivera. Any donation will be very appreciated by the children and open doors for their dream to entertain.
