An ensemble of almost 30 students frequently gathers in Room D-5 at Canyon High School during lunch every Thursday.
But the students don’t come together to eat lunch. They come to practice ballet folklórico, a traditional Latin American dance style that blends multiple cultural influences and is often recognized by its vibrant, multicolored ruffled skirts for women and classic charro suits for men.
For the group of students from different grade levels, spending their lunch break practicing choreography for community performances is a no-brainer because they get to embrace a part of who they are and shed light on their culture.
The club was created approximately 10 years ago, but interest has fluctuated. There have been times when the club has attracted more than 10 students, while other years have seen significantly fewer participants, said Azucena Guzman, a Canyon High Spanish teacher and dance adviser who leads the club.
Today, almost 30 students regularly participate, including Alfredo Reveles, who serves as the group’s lead mariachi singer. Reveles hopes to turn the club into a class, similar to Golden Valley High School’s Ballet Folklorico De Oro, directed by social studies teacher Juanita Rojas.
Recently, the group has performed at city events, the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Hispanic Heritage Celebration and the local Fourth of July parade.
Although the club has not formally become a class, Guzman is willing to sacrifice her lunch break once a week to direct the students and provide them with a space to practice.
Most recently, she directed the students as they practiced a lift.
“I do it for the kids,” she said in Spanish during a recent phone interview, adding that it is important for students to form connections with their peers and embrace their culture.
“It’s important that they are proud of their roots,” Guzman said.
Senior Johnny Chinu was one of the first boys to take on the challenge and picked up the choreography relatively quickly. At one point, Guzman used him as an example for the other boys to follow, some of whom were hesitant or simply shy.
“It’s my first time, and it’s a really nice experience to be able to dance and engage with my peers,” Chinu said.
Dayanna Becerra, also a Canyon senior and a member of the ballet folklórico program, said learning about the different dance styles practiced throughout Mexico gives her a chance to learn more about herself and her heritage.
“It feels like you’re a part of something bigger,” she said.
“Sometimes it feels like Latinos may be embarrassed to show themselves. You have to be proud of being Latino because you can’t really hide that,” said Valeria Zavala, another dancer in the program.
Seeing students and community members show interest in the program is something Chinu hopes will continue even after the students graduate from Canyon.
In the meantime, Chinu offered advice to students who may be curious about joining the club but feel slightly hesitant.
“Try something new, don’t stay wondering. If you don’t take risks, how are you going to know if you’ll enjoy it or not,” he said.
