Ballet Folklórico De Nuestros Ancestros (Ballet Folklórico DNA) is a dance group that teaches traditional Mexican folk dancing. The dance group has strong community support and involves dozens of local Newberg-Dundee students, but Ballet Folklórico DNA is seeking a few new members.
Local parent Karen Díaz launched the group almost a decade ago and it’s performing well, but she would like to have more older dancers, grades 6-12, and more male dancers, grades K-12. Her dance group consists of 25 to 30 dancers who are in the elementary school division and 10 to 12 dancers who are in the middle school and high school division. These students do not only attend local schools.
“There is growing interest from surrounding Yamhill County communities as well,” Díaz said. “We have dancers commuting from Dayton, McMinnville, and Dallas.”
Díaz, who parents a sophomore at Newberg High School and a preschooler at Edwards, said that she kicked off the dance group to help her children connect with nd build pride in their culture. Soon other families who wanted the same thing were interested in joining. But Ballet Folklórico DNA also gives students so much more.
“I started this for my own kids to take pride in their culture and to not lose our traditions,” said Díaz, a Newberg High School graduate who works as a librarian at a Woodburn school. “It’s a cultural experience for my students — and it’s a way for them to meet new people and connect with the community. Ballet Folklorico has proven to be more than just a cultural experience, it serves as a platform to bring people together and foster a sense of belonging. As our name puts it ‘De Nuestros Ancestros.’ It empowers youth to uphold and preserve the traditions handed down by our ancestors.”
The dancers, even the very smallest ones, note that they definitely feel that connection to the community and culture, as well as a love of dance (and dance outfits).
“I like to dance to see my friends and I like the dresses,” said Julisa Covarrubias, an 8-year-old who lives in the area.
Other students felt the same way.
“I like to dance, and I want to let everyone know that I dance,” Edwards Elementary School fifth-grader Mya Azua-Garcia said.
Mya, Julisa, and the other dancers have plenty of opportunities to showcase their skills, including during the Santa Parade at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24 in McMinnville.
The group has also brought the community together in other ways, with people rallying behind Ballet Folklórico DNA. Supporters include Newberg en Accion leader Silvya Ruiz, who sewed practice dresses for all of the dancers. The Noon Rotary Club’s Rotary Foundation donated show dresses, and Chehalem Valley Dance Academy provides space for the dancers to practice at no charge.
If you would like to join, donate, or volunteer to support Ballet Folklórico DNA, contact Díaz via Facebook or Instagram, or email her at [email protected]. It’s free to join and Díaz is a volunteer herself.