On February 16th, Notre Dame’s Ballet Folklórico Azul y Oro (BFAYO) traveled to Indianapolis for a master class led by the renowned Maestro Pablo Sanchez, a professional folklorist from Guadalajara, Mexico. Sanchez had begun a three-month teaching tour across the United States, drawing dance groups from Indiana, Ohio, and North Carolina for the event. Over the course of the day, forty dancers learned two complete dances.
For BFAYO members, learning from Maestro Sanchez provided a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the culture and history behind the dance, beyond the more commonly performed Jalisco dances that the Notre Dame community typically sees.
“Charreria” is the equestrian tradition of Mexico, considered the national sport of the country. According to UNESCO, Charreria is an integral part of the identity of bearer communities and their cultural heritage. Practitioners view the tradition as a means of passing down important social values, such as respect and equality, to younger generations. Women also participate in charreria, often in a separate event called "escaramuza," which involves synchronized horseback riding maneuvers. The dances aim to emulate these traditions using high kicks, hats, colorful shawls for herding, and incorporating lazos and whips in the choreography.
For Rosario Murillo (pictured far left), the president of BFAYO, the experience represented much more than technical dance training. She said, “This master class pushed us out of our comfort zones and taught us how to adapt more quickly to making mistakes while simultaneously building our confidence, even when these mistakes were made. As dancers, regardless of our experience level, we felt encouraged to learn, grow, and take risks.”
“This experience would not have been possible without the welcoming and supporting environment created by Sanchez’s passionate and positive approach to teaching,” said Daniella Morales-Garibay (far right), ND ‘28. “I’ve been dancing since elementary school and sometimes master teachers can be harsh on kids but this was not the case! He understood that some of us had never been to Mexico and some students did not speak Spanish. We were made to feel welcome and he wanted us to portray the style successfully, with great posture and a great attitude.”
As the group returns to Notre Dame, the lessons learned will not only make them better dancers but also strengthen their relationship as a team.
“Overall, it was an amazing opportunity for us to get to know each other and grow as a team,” said Alex Castillo, ND ‘25, a student who joined the group this year with his two brothers. "I finally joined the club because I saw that they were formalizing their repertoire. My parents met at Notre Dame and danced while they were here. They always wanted us to stay connected to the culture and now we are experiencing it for ourselves.”
Club Advisor Paloma Garcia-Lopez (pictured far left), Associate Director of the Institute for Latino Studies, encouraged the club to develop a proposal and a budget to make this experience a reality. “The officers and I meet monthly to brainstorm ideas and set new goals. When I started advising this club, it had six performers. A year later, it grew to 12 performers by Spring 2024, and now we are preparing 24 performers in Spring of 2025.” The Institute for Latino Studies also provides a home and resources in the form of costumes and an official beginner dance class, ILS 10012: Regional Dances of Mexico, for one credit hour twice a week.
Each semester, Creative Consultant to BFAYO Betsy Corral, sets new expectations and offers evening and weekend workshops to teach the club new repertoire. “I am beyond proud of this generation of Ballet members. I brag about these students but I also push these students to accurately portray the beautiful culture and customs of our grandparent’s land. Dance requires dedication and this year’s members are putting in more hours to learn and be of service to the entire campus community.”
The group is grateful to its sponsors: Institute for Latino Studies, as well as, Multicultural Student Programs and Services (MSPS), for making it possible to attend the master class organized by Indy’s “Folkloreando Juntos” organization. Ballet Folklórico Azul y Oro will debut its new repertoire of Charreria dances at its 1st Annual “Folklórico Fest” on March 28 on Library Lawn. The event is free and open to the public.
Originally published by at latinostudies.nd.edu on February 28, 2025.