Fresno region has become the country’s folklórico dance capital

The San Joaquín Valley – long noted for its agricultural prowess and its vicinity to California’s majestic mountains and postcard coast – needs to be recognized as the national hotbed of Mexican folkloric dancing.

No other region in the state or the nation has the breadth and depth of dance programs that sprouted in the 1960s and continue to flourish as the sons and daughters – and grandchildren and great-grandchildren – of pioneers who introduced the colorful skirts of Jalisco, the boot-stomping of Baja California, or the polka-fueled steps of Chihuahua.

The High School Show Offs, which began in 1998 and returned after a pandemic hiatus with a Feb. 25 performance at Fresno High School’s Royce Hall, was the most recent proof.

“I want to say that this show is very unique,” said Dr. Víctor Torres after nine schools presented their best. “There’s no other show like this throughout the state of California. Fresno is the birthplace of folklórico in California.”

Torres should know. He is the director of Fresno State’s Los Danzantes de Aztlán, which was founded in 1970.

That’s nothing. That’s the year that Pat Gutiérrez and parents established El Alma de Clovis High.

Los Danzantes de Roosevelt was founded more than 50 years ago.

In 1967, Los Paisanos de Selma High began.

“These programs don’t exist in Los Ángeles, San Diego or San Francisco,” said Torres. “These kids are motivated not only by artistic excellence, but also because they can connect it to their roots, to the music, to the families, to their heritage.”

Selma’s director comes from family of folkloristas

Let me introduce you to Óscar Bustos, who began folkloric dancing when he was 5 years old and now heads the oldest high school dance group in the area.

“I was born into it, but it wasn’t something I wanted to do,” said the 27-year-old Bustos, whose father , Julio Bustos, founded Teocalli Cultural Academy in the 1990s.

The son was bribed to go into folkloric dancing.

“They told me there was an action figure that I wanted, and that they were going to give it to whoever won the game,” said Bustos.

That game turned out to be a folkloric dance class.

Bustos participated in the class, got his action figure and fell in love with dancing.

“Obviously I ended up liking it, and then as I got older I got more into it and eventually started teaching as well.”

He has been teaching since he was a senior at Clovis West High School. He taught for his father’s studio, as well as in the intermediate and high school levels.

When the pandemic hit and all schools went through virtual teaching, Bustos was hired as director of Los Paisanos de Selma High.

“Everything was distance learning, so it was a difficult experience,” he said.

With three high school classes and one at the intermediate level, Bustos teaches more than 230 students. He had to hold auditions to whittle his performing group to 33 for the High School Show Offs.

Dancing makes a difference in students and learning, he said. Students drop by his classes throughout the day, during lunch or during a break between periods.

“I see these kids excited to come to my class,” said Bustos. “It’s an extracurricular activity, and it really motivates the students.”

His classes are over capacity, and school performances have to be held at least twice to accommodate the public.

“We’ve actually had students who have been dropped because there’s no more space.”

Popularity continues to grow

So, is the region a hotbed for Mexican folklórico?

Yes, said Bustos.

“I compare it to Texas where the mariachi programs in the schools really went big. That would be the closest comparison to what we see here in the Central Valley with public schools and folkloric dance,” said Bustos.

“I have friends who are high school teachers in southern and northern California who are surprised to hear or see what we offer students. That is students getting college credits or performing arts credits.

“It’s not just an elective, an after-school program or a club.”

Local dance teachers are sought for guidance on how to duplicate such classes, he said.

Bustos called the High School Show Offs, of which he participated in for four years while at Clovis West, something akin to a rivalry game in football, soccer or volleyball. It’s when his students get to see performers from other schools.

“My students are surprised to see the Clovis schools, which don’t have the Hispanic enrollment like Roosevelt or Fresno, have these programs,” said Bustos. “It’s a little bit of an eye opener for them.

“That’s what makes the event so special. They’re able to meet students from different schools and different programs.”

Los Paisanos performed Nayarit Costa at the Feb. 25 event.

More folklórico events on tap

The Show Offs are a must-see for Mexican folkloric dance enthusiasts, but not the only one.

The Danzantes Unidos Festival, which will bring about 1,500 dancers to Sunnyside High School, is right around the corner (March 31-April 2).

Los Falcones from Modesto will celebrate their 25th anniversary with a special show March 9 at the Gallo Arts and Performing Center.

DanzAlianza will host México Magico April 1-2 at Roosevelt High School featuring 15 dance groups.

Central East Danzantes de Tláloc will feature dances from all 32 Mexican states at its 25th anniversary celebration on May 26.

Danzantes del Valle will present ‘La Magia del Pueblo,’ a showcase for community groups, on April 29.

Esta historia fue publicada originalmente el 7 de marzo de 2023, 8:13 a. m..