History

Dr. Dora Luz Cobián-Klein and Maestra Iskra D. Merino founded CSU Pueblo Ballet Folklórico in the fall of 2011 with the goal of providing a space where students at Colorado State University, Pueblo could express their artistic talents and passion for the art and culture of Mexican folkloric dance.

Ballet Folklórico serves as a support system not only for Hispanic and Latino students but also for all members of the University community. What began as an extracurricular activity with just four dancers has since evolved into both a club and a professional performance group. In addition to its dance component, the class focuses on the artistic and historical aspects of Mexican Folkloric Dance. The performance group currently consists of 25 dancers and has performed at various local, state, national, and international events.

This organization has received numerous awards and recognition in folkloric competitions across the United States. In April 2015, CSU Pueblo earned 1st and 2nd place in the university division and was named "Best of the Best" in the same category at the Tejas Folkloric Competition in Corpus Christi. The Ballet also earned second place at the Acadez Folkloric Competition in San Antonio, Texas, in April 2016. In July 2022, Ballet Folklórico participated in the "Dancing in the Rockies" competition in Denver, Colorado, where it received several accolades, including Best Costume and traditional cuadro of the Event.

Currently, classes are held at CSU Pueblo’s facilities, thanks to the support of Dr. Timothy Mottet, former President of Colorado State University, Pueblo, and Niki Toussaint, former Head of Faculty. Our Ballet Folklórico has its own dedicated dance studio located in the Occhiato University Center.

The mission of Ballet Folklórico is: "To provide opportunities for our dancers to learn and solidify their roots, fostering a stronger identity that will empower them to thrive in their community, society, and the world in which we live."

Now part of the Student Affairs department, but previously under the HSI Initiatives led by Chris Beltran, Ballet Folklórico has expanded its role to serve as a Bilingual Outreach team, offering informational sessions about higher education to monolingual Spanish-speaking families.