"Folklórico is what I call my home and where my heart belongs in." --Alfonso Abraham Cervera

Ohio State students now have a chance to learn how to dance ballet folklórico, a traditional dance from Mexico, on our campus. Taught by Alfonso Abraham Cervera (Assistant Professor, Department of Dance) for the first time in the Department of Dance in Spring 2024, this class teaches the form, its histories, and the importance of representing Mexicanidad.

For Karolina de Jesus Pastrana, an undergraduate student majoring in Accounting and minoring in Dance, this class was an opportunity to connect with her heritage. Her family is Puerto Rican, and similar rhythms could be heard through her home when she was growing up. Dance was also a part of Cervera's childhood. He explains that "On a personal level, Folklórico feels like home to me because it was the first form I started at the age of 4. It’s what began my professional career before ever being interested in western dance forms. As an artist, it is a constant reminder of who I am, my identity, my community, and my own lineage of dance itself. It is a form that I weave into my own teachings, methodologies, and choreographic approaches, when engaging in creating dances. As an educator, I feel that it is what makes my teachings and interactions different and special. It’s an opportunity to share my lineage, my knowledge, and the rigor that it takes to practice this form."

Alisha Jihn, a second year MFA student in Dance, appreciates that this class taught her the values of community and integrity due to Cervera's efforts to make sure everyone felt welcome. In addition to the dance majors, minors and graduate students, alumni and other faculty in the department were invited to join the group weekly to be part of the community.

Students' learning throughout the semester culminated in an informal show for their peers, where students cheered on each other and celebrated this Mexican dance form. Dance 2181 will be offered again in Spring 2025, and those interested can reach out to Alfonso Cervera.