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PITTSBURG —
Every month is National Hispanic Heritage Month for members of the Ballet Folklorico de Topeka.
The group gave two performances Wednesday on the Pittsburg State University campus, first at 11 a.m. in Gibson Dining Hall and then at 6 p.m. in the Crimson and Gold Ballroom, Overman Student Center.
“We gave them a little taste at lunch and told them if they liked it they should come to our evening performance,” said Ed Gonzalez, director.
The group is now in its 36th year, and Gonzalez is the only person who’s been with it since the beginning. He said that the repertoire includes dances from many states and regions of Mexico.
“We have dances from Aztec on up,” Gonzalez said.
The dancers are also of all ages.
“We have students as young as 4,” said Payge Quintana, a Topeka High School student. “I’ve just celebrated my 10th anniversary with the group. It takes a fair chunk of time, but it’s worth it.”
She said that the farthest away she has performed with the Ballet Folklorico is Detroit.
“This is actually our first out-of-town performance this year,” Quintana said.
Adrian Mosqueda said that many in the group are family members who dance together.
“I have four children,” he said. “My 15-year-old son is up there talking with the microphone, my 12-year-old is dancing, my 11-year-old is dancing and my 9-year-old dances off and on, but she hasn’t made up her mind yet.”
Gonzalez said that only a part of the group came to Pittsburg.
“We have some who didn’t come because they are in school, and some are out having babies,” he said.
He noted that the ballet was established by its parent organization, Justicia Inc., which is a member of the Associacion Nationales de Grupos Folklorico, a non-profit organization dedicated to the research, preservation, presentation and education of La Cultura Mexicana and Latina in the realms of music, art and especially dance.
The sharing of culture and education is very important, according to Mosqueda.
“I’m half-black and half-Mexican and I grew up Mexican,” he said. “My grandfather from an early age danced and I want to teach the culture to my children. It is very important to me that they know their heritage and where they came from.”
Even audience members who are not of Hispanic heritage enjoyed the colorful performance.
Every month is National Hispanic Heritage Month for members of the Ballet Folklorico de Topeka.
The group gave two performances Wednesday on the Pittsburg State University campus, first at 11 a.m. in Gibson Dining Hall and then at 6 p.m. in the Crimson and Gold Ballroom, Overman Student Center.
“We gave them a little taste at lunch and told them if they liked it they should come to our evening performance,” said Ed Gonzalez, director.
The group is now in its 36th year, and Gonzalez is the only person who’s been with it since the beginning. He said that the repertoire includes dances from many states and regions of Mexico.
“We have dances from Aztec on up,” Gonzalez said.
The dancers are also of all ages.
“We have students as young as 4,” said Payge Quintana, a Topeka High School student. “I’ve just celebrated my 10th anniversary with the group. It takes a fair chunk of time, but it’s worth it.”
She said that the farthest away she has performed with the Ballet Folklorico is Detroit.
“This is actually our first out-of-town performance this year,” Quintana said.
Adrian Mosqueda said that many in the group are family members who dance together.
“I have four children,” he said. “My 15-year-old son is up there talking with the microphone, my 12-year-old is dancing, my 11-year-old is dancing and my 9-year-old dances off and on, but she hasn’t made up her mind yet.”
Gonzalez said that only a part of the group came to Pittsburg.
“We have some who didn’t come because they are in school, and some are out having babies,” he said.
He noted that the ballet was established by its parent organization, Justicia Inc., which is a member of the Associacion Nationales de Grupos Folklorico, a non-profit organization dedicated to the research, preservation, presentation and education of La Cultura Mexicana and Latina in the realms of music, art and especially dance.
The sharing of culture and education is very important, according to Mosqueda.
“I’m half-black and half-Mexican and I grew up Mexican,” he said. “My grandfather from an early age danced and I want to teach the culture to my children. It is very important to me that they know their heritage and where they came from.”
Even audience members who are not of Hispanic heritage enjoyed the colorful performance.
“The costumes are so elaborate,” said Jon Sherman, Pittsburg. “I heard that there’s 200 yards of fabric in each dress.”
“How nice that they have a Ballet Folklorico de Topeka and how nice to have them visit Pittsburg,” Paul Smith said. “It’s a rare occasion to have them here.”
Gonzalez said this is actually the group’s first performance in Pittsburg and he hopes it will not be the last.
“We love your university, it’s beautiful here,” he said. “I’m going to have them send me some information about Pittsburg State that I can keep in my office and let young people know that this is a university they might want to look at.”
