REEDLEY – In honor of Cinco de Mayo, Reedley College excitedly welcomed a group of young performers to give a glimpse into the cultural richness of Mexico.
On May 5, Reedley College celebrated the holiday by hosting El Alma de Clovis High, a folklorico group composed of talented students from Clovis High School. Throughout the early afternoon, Reedley College students were treated to an hours-long display of traditional Mexican dances and whimsical marimba performances.
“They’re telling a story through dance,” said Dora Macias Sanchez, Clovis High folklorico director, in an interview. “A lot of people just focus on the footwork or on how they’re smiling, but there’s a story behind it, and the most important thing is that they learn discipline.”
The emphasis on storytelling was clear throughout the performance, with props and multiple outfit changes setting the scene for each song. A highlight of the afternoon was the final dance, which followed the narrative of a young couple meeting, falling love and getting married.
Each performance was visually and sonically captivating, with the graceful flow of jalisco dresses in perfect harmony with the percussive clacks of boot heels. The dances also rang with cultural authenticity, with each one representing the styles of different states and regions of Mexico.
Represented regions included Nuevo León, Michoacán, Chicontepec de Tejada and more. Macias Sanchez also shared that much of the traditional wear donned by each performer is ordered straight from the region they’re meant to capture, and can sometimes take months before arriving.
Clovis High’s folklorico class has been around since the ‘70s, first directed by Pat Gutierrez after a group of parents inquired about starting a program. Throughout the decades, instructors have partnered with various other groups and attended workshops to continuously strengthen the program.
Every year, El Alma de Clovis High performs at various campuses, including: Fresno State, Fresno City College, Madera Unified Schools, Clovis elementary schools and more. As impressive as this Cinco de Mayo performance was, Macias Sanchez said that the majority of the group were “beginners,” with many of the class’ seniors having to stay back in Clovis for AP exams.
Macias said that in addition to the Cinco de Mayo performances each year, the group also comes to Reedley College for a Mexican Independence Day performance, so those who missed out can keep their eyes open for a September performance later this year.
“I’m very proud when I see them perform, and they work so hard every day,” Macias Sanchez said.
