Four times a week, for roughly an hour and a half, they come to dance. Rosa leads the group, which ranges from 4 to 11 in age, starting with warm-ups. The mothers, grandparents, and I stand up and stretch out too. Sometimes we join in the dancing as well.
Rosa (who travelled and performed in a professional ballet folklorico from Mexico) then teaches the Jarabe Tapatio, first giving everyone a lesson on the dance's origen, and then she steps, stomps, kicks, turns, shuffles, and bows in time to the music as she hums along or calls out instructions, all the while clapping out rhythms. She explains the sequences and patterns in the footwork and it's accompanying rhythm. Susana and her father, Serafin, dance with the group. They stand on opposite sides of the children modeling form and posture, offering encouragement and extra instruction at times, and demonstrating discipline. Eloisa also dances with the group. She stands at the back and fills in as a partner from time to time.
They take a short break before tackling La Raspa with the same dedication. They dance, they learn, they smile, they perspire, and they perservere in this very organized and time-honored manner of play, still so new to the children.
Rosa (who travelled and performed in a professional ballet folklorico from Mexico) then teaches the Jarabe Tapatio, first giving everyone a lesson on the dance's origen, and then she steps, stomps, kicks, turns, shuffles, and bows in time to the music as she hums along or calls out instructions, all the while clapping out rhythms. She explains the sequences and patterns in the footwork and it's accompanying rhythm. Susana and her father, Serafin, dance with the group. They stand on opposite sides of the children modeling form and posture, offering encouragement and extra instruction at times, and demonstrating discipline. Eloisa also dances with the group. She stands at the back and fills in as a partner from time to time.
They take a short break before tackling La Raspa with the same dedication. They dance, they learn, they smile, they perspire, and they perservere in this very organized and time-honored manner of play, still so new to the children.
yay!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great community activity. Congratulations to the moms involved in organizing this.
ReplyDeleteWow, it looks like everyone is having so much fun! I wish I lived close enough to participate, as it must be more fun than running on a treadmill.
ReplyDeleteI think it's great that the parents (and grandparents) are involved, too.
What a great project! It looks like such fun. When is the performance?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations everyone! Best of luck with this project. I hope to see/hear more when I visit Mendota next.
ReplyDeleteScott W.
Performance is May 5th at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Mendota for the Cinco de Mayo Festival from 5-7:30 ~Renee :-)
ReplyDelete