If you had to guess how many, how many outfits are back there, or maybe how many youve made... Oh, I dont know.

I couldnt even tell you, maybe 250 or something like that.

Mexico has different states, and each state in Mexico has a different dance, a different style of dancing they do.

[castanets] [trumpets playing] [dresses flapping] One, two.

I want them to understand why they're doing what they're doing.

Understanding the concepts behind these dances, the dresses, the footwork.

And I think that's what makes Mexico so special, is that each state has its own definition.

Each Mexican is so proud of the state that they come from.

Every state in Mexico has a different dance group.

See, and every region in Mexico has a different style of dress.

People that know that are here from Mexico, they see you perform, they know what region you're doing, because they're from Mexico.

Why is it important?

Because it's who I am.

I worked for the government for like 25 years, and I got harassed a lot because of my accent.

So let's do some big mariposas.

So when we come, we want our arms together... And they would say, “Oh, how's this hot tamale today?” You know?

So I would go home with tears every day, of things they would tell me.

And during those 25 years, I would still come home at night and sew ‘til I got sleepy.

My husband would say, “When are you going to stop sewing?” And Id say, “When Im six foot under.” You know?

[laughs] [shoes tapping] And the reason I did it because, my daughters wanted to dance, and yet some groups did not accept them, you know, and we had to make different outfits, and I said, “Well just start our own.” Ready?

Turn.

I have pictures of my grandmothers, and they're dressed in those same dresses that we wear as costumes to go out and dance in.

and it gives me and my daughter a sense of identity, like, this is who we are and this is what we're proud of.

When I started dancing, I was one year old.

I really love it.

It's my favorite thing to do.

It just makes me really smile.

Colorado Springs didn't always have a cultural identity that is strong today.

in the past.

Being here for 30 years we have been multigenerational, we have seen the community grow.

You can just see that natural progression of culture and the building of culture.

I think the only way that I can describe it is folklórico family.

Ballet Folklórico de la Raza, “de la Raza” means “of the people.” That's what we wanted the dance group to be.

It's for the people.

And we're still that way.

My.

[music playing] [shoes tapping]