by | Jo Ann Jones, COEHD | March 22, 2017

The College of Education and Human Development's Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies recently created Ballet Folklórico de UTSA, a new student organization dedicated to the performance and cultural preservation of folkloric dance.





The department celebrated the creation of the organization with a special performance in the University Center on the UTSA Main Campus on March 6.





"I am so proud to be part of this project," said Dr. Sidury Christiansen, assistant professor in the Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies and faculty advisor for the organization. "Ballet Folklórico de UTSA is a way for students to feel more connected to campus, and to know that no matter where you came from, and who your parents where, you have a place here at UTSA."





Ballet Folklórico de UTSA brings together students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels who are passionate about dance, culture, and performance.





"Our goal is to spread the culture we share and teach others about the history of the story behind each dance," said Alyssa Aguilera, president of the organization, and bilingual education student. "The music and the outfits are from different states of Mexico, where each state has its own way of dancing."





Ballet Folklórico de UTSA was developed through a collaboration between Christiansen and Aguilera, both of which performed in various folklórico groups prior to UTSA. Their passion for the dance and culture inspired them to work together and create the organization.





"Entering college back in 2014, it was hard for me to leave my dance group back in Austin," said Aguilera, who has been a folklórico dancer since she was six years old. "Now living in San Antonio and attending UTSA, I knew I was going to make it a goal of mine to start up my own ballet folklórico organization."





With the support of the Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies and the Bilingual Education Student Organization, Ballet Folklórico de UTSA has arrived at UTSA and fulfilled Aguilera's goal.





"There is so much diversity on campus, and this is the heritage of many of our students, so what better goal is there than to preserve culture through dance," said Christiansen.





The organization has already been invited to perform at the National Latino Children's Literature Conference, during the city's Fiesta celebrations, and at the UTSA Hispanic Student Association's talent show in April.





"As a Hispanic Serving Institution, UTSA will have another way to showcase the cultural make up of our student body through this organization," said Christiansen. "Ballet Folklórico de UTSA will help send the message that UTSA not only welcomes Hispanic students, faculty, and staff, but also respects and values their culture and traditions."





For more information about Ballet Folklórico de UTSA or how to get involved, contact Alyssa Aguilera at alyssa.aguilera0115@gmail.comor visit https://utsa.collegiatelink.net/organization/balletfolkloricodeutsa.









Photos courtesy of Alyssa Aguilera