March 28, 2016 by SCOW Staff
Published: March 28, 2016 By Sandra Gomez-Aceves Special to the Record-Journal.
WALLINGFORD — Vibrantly colored skirts swooshed in time with rhythmic stomps as Jailene Ruiz led 24 other teens in a Mexican folkloric dance at the Spanish Community of Wallingford.
“Guys, let’s get going!,” said Ruiz, as the others lined up. Ruiz is a town resident and sophomore at Wilcox Technical High School in Meriden.
SCOW Program Director Adriana Rodriguez said the students came up with the idea of having a folkloric youth dance group because there wasn’t one in the area. “I’m the support system,” Rodriguez said. “I’m just here. This is about them.”
Rodriguez was open to allowing Ruiz, an experienced Mexican folkloric dancer, to handle a lot of the coordinating and teaching. “I want to pass the torch over to Jailene,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve given her and them the opportunity and have backed away.”
Ruiz directs her peers, many whom are beginners. “I’ve done this with adults for a while,” Ruiz said.“But it’s fun doing it with other teens.” For Ruiz, it’s about embracing her culture and encouraging others to do the same. “You don’t have to be Mexican to dance, we have people that aren’t and they’re pretty good,” Ruiz said.
Sheehan High School sophomore Vincenzo Venditti loves the atmosphere and feels welcome. “It’s just cool to expand from your culture and try new things,” he said.
The Mexican Folkloric Dance Group will perform with the Mariachi Academy of Connecticut and members of Las Vegas Mariachi Mexico Antiguo on Tuesday, March 29, at 5 p.m. at Lyman Hall High School.
