CSU-Pueblo Ballet Folklorico returns from Texas with numerous top three awards

PUEBLO – Colorado State University-Pueblo’s Ballet Folklorico brought home a number of top three finishes from the fifth annual Competencia Folklórica de Tejas in Corpus Christi, Texas. Twenty-one dance groups, including 176 dance entries from among 604 dancers from the U.S. and Mexico participated in the event at the American Bank Center's Selena Auditorium, hosted by Alcorta's Compania de Danza Folklorica of Corpus Christi. The competition was sponsored by the prestigious Association of National Folkloric Groups.

Under the direction of Iskra Merino, Ballet Folklorico placed second in both the Ensemble and Small Group (Adult) categories. The following student members participated:

Arlett Adame, Pueblo

Dulce S. Garcia, Pueblo

Oscar Garcia, Pueblo

Lucinda R. Lazo, Pueblo

Tanisha Lopez,   Pueblo

Mercedes Maldonado, Pueblo

Selina Martinez, Colorado Springs

Precious Molina, Pueblo

Alba Serna, Denver

Alejandro Otero, Phoenix, AZ

Francisco Soto, Pueblo

In addition, CSU-Pueblo Ballet Folklorico was represented in the adult duet category by Tanisha Lopez and Alejandro Otero, who took third place respectively. Ballet Folklorico also took third place in the large group category.

Ballet Folklorico preserves and promotes diversity at CSU-Pueblo through cultural awareness; specifically through performances, presentations, and programming of Mexican Folklore Dance and to provide opportunities for association and interaction with the campus community and the Pueblo community at large. In folklorico, each dance and its corresponding outfits represent a city or state in Mexico. Though similar sounding, no dance is the same and each group interprets the choreography differently.