Texas Border Business
By Veronica Salinas
South Texas College’s (STC) Ballet Folklorico will take the traditions and culture of the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) to two major Texas sports stages this month, performing for the Dallas Cowboys and Fútbol Club (FC) Dallas in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
The invitations add to an impressive list of opportunities for the STC dancers, who have previously been invited to perform at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, a San Antonio Spurs game and so much more. Most recently, the group returned from a performance at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.
For Ballet Folklorico Director Victor Gomez, the opportunities reflect the dancers’ dedication and the support they receive through STC.
“We are so grateful to have these opportunities before us,” he said. “When I broke the news to the dancers, they were all so ecstatic and cheered so loud. These invitations are extremely hard to secure, but their hard work, dedication and desire to succeed make them so deserving of these opportunities.”
Gomez said the performances also give students the chance to experience opportunities they may have never imagined.
“Who would have thought a bunch of Valley kids would be performing on such a grand scale, but yet here we are,” he said. “Some of these dancers have told me that if it wasn’t for this program and STC, they may have never left the Valley or imagined traveling to some of these places.”
Beyond travel and performances, Gomez said the group’s mission is rooted in preserving and sharing Hispanic culture.
Dancer Andrea Arechiga said performing outside the RGV makes the experience even more meaningful.
“It feels so amazing and like a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be able to dance at such a prestigious place,” she said. “Here, everyone understands what Ballet Folklórico is, but as we travel elsewhere, it is not always known. I’m proud to showcase my culture to those who may not know about it.”
For fellow dancer Giandel Rios, the upcoming performances represent both a personal milestone and a way to honor generations before them.
“I was so shocked and not expecting it when we found out,” he said. “It’s such a milestone because we are performing for two sports teams, and it’s very humbling to honor the generations who paved the way for us to have these opportunities and tell our story.”
For Gomez, seeing audiences connect with the performances make every sacrifice worthwhile.
“When we share our culture, we don’t always know how an audience will react,” he said. “But when you see people from different backgrounds recording the performance and reacting to the dances, you feel like they understand. We are proud to represent STC, take our program far beyond the RGV and show what our students can accomplish while promoting the value of higher education.”
Through performances across Texas and beyond, STC Ballet Folklorico continues to give students opportunities to celebrate their heritage, represent the RGV and share their culture with audiences far beyond home.
STC’s Ballet Folklorico will perform on Sept. 19 at the FC Dallas game and Sept. 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
