UTPB’s Ballet Folklorico dance team has the uncanny ability to captivate their audience through the dresses, choreography, and liveliness of every performance.
Ballet Folklorico is a mixture of folk dances from Mexico. It’s designed to express the cultural differences throughout the country. The 13 UTPB students on the team do just that, performing not only on our campus, but across Midland, Odessa, and Andrews.
Coach Krisandra Skeens teaches students about the steps, choreography, and region they are working on. For the team, details matter. Even the dresses are occasionally custom made to match the region they are representing.
“These students choose to dance,” said Skeens. “UTPB gives these students the ability to show the West Texas community that Mexican culture is still alive, being represented, and our students are proud of who they are.”
The students have two-hour long practices twice a week, sometimes more during the busy seasons. Ballet Folklorico is a way for the students to not just represent but reconnect with their culture.
“I have a student that recently joined the team and I asked why he was interested in dancing. He said he has never really been in touch with his Mexican culture, and what better way to do that than through dance,” said Skeens.
If you would like more information about Ballet Folklorico at UTPB you can visit their website. Their Spring show is April 29th at 7 p.m. at the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center.
