Ballet Folklórico de la Luz to bring Mexican culture, dances to campus
Frida Ferrusquia (left) and Niko Araujo-Pedroza (right) perform ballet folklorico during the CMU Pep Rally/Kickin' it With the VPSA Friday, Sept. 8 outside Kulhavi Events Center Plaza. They are both part of Ballet Folklorico de la Luz, an RSO at CMU dedicated to teaching the traditional Spanish dance form.
Music, dancing and culture will be at the center of Central Michigan University’s Folklórico group’s upcoming performance. In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the organization has prepared a showcase of new and returning talent to represent the diversity and history of Mexico.
Ballet Folklórico de la Luz will perform its showcase at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17 at the Townsend Kiva. The performance was rescheduled from the original date of Thursday, Oct. 3. The event is open to the public.
Ballet Folklórico de la Luz is a registered student organization that practices a variety of Mexican dance styles such as Jalisco, Michoacan, Nuevo Leon, Zacatecas and Baja California.
Nikolai Araujo-Pedroza, the organization’s president, said he wants audience members to enjoy the beauty of dance while learning about the plurality of Mexico’s cultures.
“Mexico isn't all just one thing," Araujo-Pedroza said. "It's not all just mariachi. It's not just about like tequila, or those kinds of stereotypical things that people associate with Mexico. There's a lot more to Mexico. There's a lot more depth to Mexico.”
Araujo-Pedroza said he looks forward to giving Ballet Folklórico de la Luz’s newest members the opportunity to perform following a growth in numbers this year. Though many of the organization’s senior members have graduated, Araujo-Pedroza said the new members are learning quickly and believes in their capabilities.
Araujo-Pedroza is the younger brother of Ballet Folklórico de la Luz’s founder, Regina Araujo-Pedroza, and is carrying on her legacy as the organization’s current leader.
“She carried out her dream,” Araujo-Pedroza said. “I want to help continue carrying out her dream and keep spreading knowledge about our culture.”
