Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your stor...

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

After working hard each year: the time has come. I stand with bold red lips, bright pink cheeks, and glittery eyelids with my dress on awaiting my turn to perform. In August 2014, I joined “un grupo de baile Folklorico.” Little did I know how much I would fall in love with dancing. Baile Folklorico translates to “folkloric dance,” meaning this is quite literally the dance of the Mexican people. Each aspect has meaning behind it, dating as far back as the Aztec civilization. Being able to connect with my ancestors while teaching others these stories through dancing is something I am proud of. I learn the meaning of these dances from my teacher who has learned through “maestros” (teachers) from Mexico that have grown up learning and teaching Folklorico. As a nine-year-old starting something new, I was terrified to perform, but growing older, performing became one of my favorite things. The adrenaline when you are about to perform is a wonderful yet strange feeling. I am always excited to share my culture, but still nervous performing a piece I have practiced– and even performed, hundreds of times. Folklorico has been meaningful to me since the start but became much more meaningful when I began using it to connect with my aunt who passed away due to COVID-19 complications in January 2021. When she was a child, she danced Folklorico. Before she passed, we would discuss what I was learning. Some dances she had learned in her childhood; there were others she had not learned, but she would tell me she was excited to watch me perform each of them. As a tribute to her, my cousins asked me to perform at her funeral. I wanted to say no because of how much grief I felt. As soon as I began dancing, I could no longer control my emotions. Tears began streaming down my face, but I mustered the emotional strength I needed to finish the song. If you knew my aunt the way I knew her, you would know she wanted me to dance. If it were up to her, she would have been dancing with me, giving it her all. She would have been singing along with the mariachi, giving her best gritos, and doing zapateado de tres as proudly and loudly as she could. I also know she would have wanted me to dance at her funeral because just a few months prior, in August 2020, she asked me to dance at my Abuela’s funeral. For my Abuela, she had a special request: dance to my Abuela’s favorite song, El Sinaloense by Juan Gabriel. Why? My Abuela liked this song because she was from the state of Sinaloa and Juan Gabriel was her favorite artist. Not only am I able to use Folklorico to connect with my ancestors who lived years before me, but I can connect with my aunt and my Abuela who loved me and loved to watch me perform. Prior to their deaths, I would dance for Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) events filled with marigolds and altars, never truly understanding why celebrating those who have left this Earth is so important. But now, I understand why this is essential in my culture. Performing and attending Dia De Los Muertos events allows me to grieve their loss while celebrating the lives they lived. Additional practice also helps me feel more connected to my aunt and my Abuela; especially when I miss them. Events like Fiesta Patrias, Dia De Los Muertos, and Christmas are the reasons I get to perform with my Folklorico family, honoring my ancestors and doing what I love. Once the calaveras de azúcar, papel picado and pan de muerto come out, I know it is time to share my culture.