Folklorico Team members, Angie Tello, Janie Tello, and Dalia Hernandez, discussing community assets

The Ballet Folklorico Team of Edcouch, Texas gets its name, not from the town or region the team is based in, but from the program that was born from the community member's vision and nutured with a MIRA grant.

Ballet Folklorico is a program providing elementary youth with an unique opportunity to expand their cultural heritage. Ementary students from Lyndon Baines Johnson Elementary School engage in public performances while they both learn and teach about their Mexican folklore, culture, and dance. Nine and ten year olds are learning history, dance, choreography, and public presentation skills. The dance troupe uses video as a teaching tool and to document performances.

Since its birth in 1997, Ballet Folklorico has established a regional reputation of excellence and the troupe has performed at a variety of school functions and bilingual conventions and conferences. Last year the troupe held their first ever annual recital which offered the public an opportunity to experience the groups exceptional performances.

The programs is now gearing up for its third year of performances. They held fundraising events to raise the money necessary for their yearly training by a local university professor. With the yearly training behind them the group looks forward to another year of sharing their culture and talents with their community.