Members of the La Encantada Elementary and San Benito Riverside Middle School ballet folklórico dance teams recently won top accolades after proudly performing at the Sixth Annual Competencia Folklórica de Tejas at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas.
The La Encantada dance team won second place for their performance of “El Astillero” (the shipyard) in the small group (ages 9-13) category, and the Riverside dance team won first place for their performance of “El Ángel” (the angel) in the ensemble (ages 9-13) category.
La Encantada Elementary’s After School Program site coordinator Gloria Garcia, who sponsors both the La Encantada and Riverside dance teams, explains the origin of ballet folklórico in San Benito.
“Four years ago, our After School Program looked for new ideas and activities that our rural area students were not exposed to. We decided to start a folklórico dance team to promote the cultural aspect of our roots,” says Garcia. “The After School Program, our parents, and the administration at La Encantada and Riverside have provided their unconditional support.”
She proudly adds that though the dance teams have performed in many community events locally and throughout the Rio Grande Valley, they are now international ballet folklórico dance competitors – and winners!
“Accomplishing the vision I had when we started this program 4 years ago brings about an immense feeling of joy and also validates all the work and time put in by the students. They have made a full transformation and have now become admirable and award-winning dancers,” adds Garcia.
Organized by Alcorta’s Folklórico Diamante, Inc. of Corpus Christi, the “Competencia Folklórica de Tejas” (CFT) is a Mexican folk dance competition that serves as an educational environment where both competitors and spectators can broaden their horizons by observing the many different styles of folk dances from Mexico.
CFT is the one of the few folklórico dance competition in the United States that has engaged international competitors and focuses on the aspect of group performance rather than individual performance.
Past winners include La Joya High School Grupo Folklórico Tabasco of La Joya, Texas; Mixteco Ballet Folklórico of Houston, Texas; and Ballet Folklórico Infantil Nayuroma of Chihuahua, Mexico.
