SW New Mexico News

Ballet folklórico, a traditional Mexican folk dance, has evolved over centuries through contributions from Indigenous people of North America, Europeans, and Africans. At New Mexico State University (NMSU), this performance art has recently merged with another cultural expression to create a unique signature for the Pride of New Mexico Marching Band.

Steven Smyth, NMSU associate director of bands, was unfamiliar with ballet folklórico when he first arrived at the university. However, after witnessing a performance during a Hispanic heritage-themed Aggie football game, he was impressed by its vibrancy. "It was so cool and colorful," Smyth said. "I’m from Iowa so I had never seen that before."

This initial exposure led to the creation of the Pride Marching Band's own folklórico group. Starting with four student dancers in 2022, the group now holds auditions for its 12 scholarship spots. Carley Casey, a project support specialist for NMSU’s Institutional Effectiveness who volunteers to coordinate folklórico, noted, "We added something that was very New Mexican to something that was very American."

Smyth attributes the success of the folklórico group to its student-dancers who strive to perform at as many events as possible. In 2023 alone, they performed at more than 40 events in addition to NMSU football games. Mariah Leonard, a captain of the group, expressed her joy in sharing their culture: “It brings joy to me because I’m able to show others the culture and beauty behind it as well as teach and learn from my teammates.”

Sophie Ostos, another member of the group who has been performing folklórico for most of her life, emphasized the sense of community within the group: “It’s like a community — we are like a family and have all become good friends.”

Smyth highlighted how adding folklórico and mariachi groups provides students with opportunities for cultural expression and personal relationships. “They are as unique as their dresses are,” he said. “Inevitably, when you diversify the band, you’re going to make that group better.”

Despite its symbiotic appearance on the field, blending marching band and folklórico presents challenges such as long performance days and complex choreography. Folklórico encompasses many traditional dances reflecting different regions but also adapts to contemporary pieces like "Fireball" by Pitbull.

“They are having to adapt a lot of traditional stuff to non-traditional roles,” Smyth remarked. “They do a great job of it.”

A version of this story was published in the spring 2024 issue of Panorama.