Photo Credit: Almas Unidas
For many people, community recreation centers are the place where many dancers take their first classes, such as ballet and creative movement, to name a few. In Grand Prairie, Texas, the same holds true for Ballet Folklorico dancing. Recreation and Events Supervisor Chris Ginapp describes the magic of Ballet Folklorico as “a story of how lives are changed.” He has witnessed firsthand how the sounds of a dance from Veracruz, Mexico, have helped a 15-year-old boy living with autism dance to the shared beat of his community—a beat of tradition and culture. Ballet Folklorico teams at Grand Prairie Park’s recreation centers have continued to gain popularity over the years, earning the admiration and respect of the entire community.
For some families, dancing Ballet Folklorico has become a family tradition. From performing at city-wide special events to competing in state competitions, the dancers work in teams to learn and share in the traditions of culture and dance. The ballet, which features dances from different regions of Mexico, is not only a form of education and entertainment, but it also connects people to culture in a city where approximately 44 percent of the population is of Hispanic or Latino descent.
A Beat For All
About three years ago Johnny Almazon went with his mother to his sister’s Ballet Folklorico classes. His family had no idea of the life-changing events that would occur. The classes were offered to all ages, genders, ethnicities, and abilities. Johnny, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of 18 months, was present at all of the classes, but remained very reserved. Then one day, as the tune from Veracruz was playing, he began to dance and kept dancing. “Johnny went from being a spectator to a dancer,” Ginapp notes. “It was amazing. He always arrived excited to practice.” Now Johnny exhibits greater self-esteem, and his mother notes that he is performing better in school. She credits it all to his participating in dance class—a form of dance that encourages leadership roles and strengthens self-esteem. Ballet Folklorico dancing has touched the hearts of many children and families, including the story of Johnny. Ginapp writes that “Johnny has bought more awareness of children with special needs,” and “as much as the students have been a true gift of friendship to Johnny, without realizing it, he has touched their lives too.”