TAMIU Ballet Folklórico Students Travel to Mexico City, Take Part in Dance Master Classes

Five undergraduate students studying Ballet Folklórico at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) recently traveled to Mexico City to undergo a series of dance master classes at the Escuela de Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández.

The students, led by Nayeli Lopez, adjunct faculty of Dance and advisor of the TAMIU Ballet Folklórico Club, took part in daily rigorous dance classes taught by folklórico maestros and maestras. 

Students who attended the summer classes were Clarissa Buenrostro, Angelica Favela, Carolina Hinojosa, Mario López, and Alexa Sanchez.  

Classes taught included traditional folklórico dances from Veracruz, México, led by Angeles Luna, and traditional folklórico dances from Tabasco, México, guided by Miguel Angel Ortiz. Both maestros are from those states in México, research traditional folk dances, and live there. Students also participated in a masterclass by principal dancer Tonatiuh Hernández, who has been dancing with the Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández Dance Company for over 18 years. 

Buenrostro also took dance classes and rehearsed with the national dance company, Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández, and took courses in classical ballet and traditional Folklórico.  

Buenrostro, who began with zero dance experience, began dancing Ballet Folklórico under López in January 2021. Since then, she has taken the Ballet Folklórico course every semester earning her two folklórico solos, competed in state and national folklórico competitions, and traveled to Disney Florida and Disney California to perform. In March 2023, Buenrostro began training with López in classical ballet and traditional Folklórico to prepare for the dance company audition and learn the company repertoire. 

For López, being able to inspire her students and watch them achieve their dreams is a source of great pride, she noted. 

"The company would like Claire to return to Mexico City in January 2024, after she graduates from TAMIU in December 2023, so she can train and work for the company. The dance company is very competitive and very difficult to get into. Nothing is promised, but she at least has those doors opened for her. I am grateful to open doors for my students. I did not know anyone when I auditioned for the company, so I am happy to guide Claire into the professional dance journey," noted López.

López, who previously danced with Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández before joining the adjunct faculty at the University, noted that bringing her students back to her school and sharing her passion for dance and México with her students was unforgettable. 

"What's special about this national dance school and company is that they fuse classical ballet with traditional Mexican folkloric dance to create 'ballet folklórico'... [Our students] watched the dance company perform at the Palacio de Bellas Artes and felt inspired by watching professional dancers perform," said López.

For Hinojosa, a junior Education major and president of the TAMIU Ballet Folklórico Club, the opportunity to train and enjoy the sights of Mexico City was unforgettable.

"I never would have thought I would ever step foot in Amalia Hernández's school to train or even watch the company perform in the Palacio de Bellas Artes...Aside from the rigorous classes, our group toured various places, my favorites being Xochimilco, Museo Antropológico, and the Frida Kahlo house. I hope we can go back to train and learn more another time. If you have the opportunity, you should take part in TAMIU's Ballet Folklórico," said Hinojosa.  

Mario, a senior double majoring in Communication and Spanish, noted the value of studying alongside professional dancers and encouraged his peers to take advantage of these opportunities. 

"Mexico City was a very wonderful cultural experience. We visited many historic landmarks that make Mexican history and traditions so unique. We also learned traditional dances from the States of Veracruz and Tabasco with the best professionals at the most important school in México...,” said Mario. 

Additionally, the University's Ballet Folklórico was invited to perform at Disneyland Paris in December 2023. Previously, the TAMIU Ballet Folklórico performed at Disneyworld in Florida and Disney California.  

Students interested in joining the University's Ballet Folklórico program can participate in beginner, intermediate, and advanced Ballet Folklórico. No dance experience is required. 

"Most of our students have zero dance experience, and it's wonderful to see them transform into dancers," said López.  

A beginner Ballet Folklórico course on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:35 - 8:55 p.m. and an intermediate/advanced Ballet Folklórico course on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:35 – 8:55 p.m. will be offered this Fall at TAMIU.

Students can register for the courses online, in person with their advisor, or contact López for assistance at nayeli.lopez@tamiu.edu. 

Registration for TAMIU’s Fall 2023 is now underway. View the registration schedule here: https://www.tamiu.edu/registrar/registration.shtml.

To learn more about TAMIU’s Registration processes, visit the dedicated Registration Hub at https://go.tamiu.edu/registration. 

As a result of actions taken by the Texas Legislature to address affordability in higher education, all resident undergraduate academic costs, including tuition, mandatory academic fees, all academic-related general fees, and college course fees, have been frozen for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years at TAMIU.  This is the third consecutive year that the University has not increased these fees.

University news and information can also be found online at tamiu.edu and on TAMIU’s social channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.