Walking across the Quad with the sun setting and the early fall feel in the air, the sounds of music and the bright lights from the Student Center call people to the doorway. Peering in, a small group of people can be seen setting up for an event. Someone in the corner is dancing a complicated but beautiful folk dance. As time passes and the music continues, a young woman steps to the front of the room and announces that it is time to start.
Lorena Ruedas and her dance troop from Grupo Follorico Raices de mi Tierra came to help City College celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a folklorico dance workshop Oct. 7.
Folklorico is a form of Mexican folk dancing that has its roots in Spain and requires teamwork between dancers.
As the workshop began there were only a handful of students, but as the evening wore on people kept pouring in with curious eyes. At 7 p.m. Spanish professor Andrea Lucas brought her Spanish class to observe.
“When you learn a language you need to learn about the culture associated with that language in order to better understand it,” said Lucas. “This was a great opportunity
to learn more about the traditions of Mexico.”
The workshop then turned into a fiesta. Nearly the whole class joined the dancing. When the Spanish class arrived, Ruedas began instructing the dancers in Spanish at the request of Lucas.
“It will help the students to hear instructions in Spanish,” said Lucas.
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At the height of the event there were approximately 30 people dancing and enjoying the music.
City College student Jaime Rosario was drawn in by the music.
“I was walking to the Café when I heard the music so I came in to see what was going on,” Rosario said. “I stayed so long that when I went back to class it was over and my books were locked inside. I had a great time though.”
Lucas’ Spanish class thinks it’s interesting to have not only learned a traditional dance (La Bamba) but also the history behind it. La Bamba is a guapango dance from the Veracruz region of Mexico. In this dance, a scarf is placed on the floor and the dancers’ make a bow with their feet while dancing a complicated “zapateado” — a dance of Spanish origin characterized by a lively rhythm punctuated by the striking of the dancers shoes. The dance ends with the partners showing their bow to the public.
“My class thinks it is wonderful the way the group keeps traditions ‘alive’ through their work,” Lucas said.
“It is also important for [my] students to know that anybody can visit their dance studio and/or join the group. You don’t have to be Mexican to learn how to dance Mexican Folklore,” Lucas said.
For more information on folklorico dancing, visit http://www.raicesdemitierra.co/index.htm.
Video produced and edited by Cecilio Padilla, with footage by Cecilio Padilla and Kayla Nick-Kearney, and reporting by Nick-Kearney.