Vancouver Ballet Folklórico is more than just a traditional Mexican dance company; it's a vibrant community hub, a cultural touchstone, and a place where heritage thrives. Led by the dynamic mother-daughter duo Anna and Marianna Cruz, Vancouver Ballet Folklórico is one of Clark County’s beloved treasures.
Anna, who studied to become a dance instructor and choreographer at the University of Guadalajara, brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her company. "Vancouver Ballet Folklórico is engaging children of Latino descent to learn and preserve the traditions of the Mexican culture," she explains. "We do it through activities, art, dance, music, and different events in our community."
Ballet folklórico is a multicultural blend of Spanish influence, indigenous Mexican traditions, African dance, and even Polish polka. The dance form incorporates symbolism in both the dances and in gorgeous, colorful costumes.
When a student joins Vancouver Ballet Folklórico, they study basic footwork, rhythm, stage presence, and patterns before progressing to different “segments," learning dances from the states of Mexico including Oaxaca, Veracruz, Michoacan, Jalisco, and beyond.
In addition to their classes and performances, Vancouver Ballet Folklórico collaborates with local nonprofits and art centers and poses for public art projects like murals and C-Tran bus photographs, giving dancers the chance to see themselves visually reflected in their community. Offering dancers chances to witness being celebrated is part of Vancouver Ballet Folklórico’s mission to create a supportive and uplifting community for their students.
Vancouver Ballet Folklórico performs at various festivals and events throughout the year and produces the annual Día de Muertos festival in Esther Short Park. This free event attracts thousands of visitors and features music, dancing, food, and educational opportunities related to the Day of the Dead. "It’s a highlight of our year," Anna says. “It’s our gift to our city where we live, work, and thrive."
Though Vancouver Ballet Folklórico is well-known and well-loved in Clark County, like many nonprofit arts organizations, they face challenges when it comes to funding. Operational costs are high (the company pays for everything other than the students’ shoes) and opportunities to secure grant funding for day to day expenses like insurance, storage, and rehearsal space are few and far between. “If we could wave a magic wand,” Anna shares, “we would have our own culturally appropriate studio [that has a floor that would not be damaged by the kind of shoes we wear] and we would be able to include more kids and more dance instructors.” As advocates for other culturally-specific arts organizations, Anna and Marianna are passionate about sharing the need for appropriate rehearsal space for their group and others.
Despite these challenges, Vancouver Ballet Folklórico continues to thrive, enriching the cultural landscape of Clark County and providing its dancers a vital connection to their Mexican heritage.
