CLACKAMAS COUNTY, Ore. — Twenty-five young Latinas in Clackamas County spent spring and fall learning and performing traditional Mexican dances through a 4-H project called Raices y Alas (Roots to wings).
“The classes provided a safe place to learn about Mexican and Latin culture and built a strong community with peers through music and dance.”
Oregon State University Extension Service’s 4-H Youth Development Program organized the baile folklórico project for dancers ages 4 to 15. Under the direction of Karin Ramirez Velazquez, the girls learned zapateo (footwork) and skirt work, then performed for family and friends in Molalla in the spring and Milwaukie in the fall.
“The classes provided a safe place to learn about Mexican and Latin culture and built a strong community with peers through music and dance,” said Janet Nagele, associate professor and 4-H educator in Clackamas County. “The program was designed to be inclusive of Latinx youth in 4-H by consulting with Latinx parent advisory groups, hiring a bilingual dance instructor, offering the program at multiple sites in Latinx communities, removing barriers to participation and focusing on family involvement.”
Baile folklórico honors Mexico’s Indigenous, African and Spanish roots and emphasizes local folk culture with ballet elements.
What the project set out to do
The goals were to:
- Develop self-esteem through awareness and appreciation of one’s culture.
- Inspire appreciation of the arts with an underserved audience.
- Provide access to the arts for low-income communities.
- Build community and strengthen family bonds through self-expression and shared interest.
Families were involved
Parents attended the classes with students and often joined the lessons. After the performances, families gathered for a potluck and talked about what the project meant to them.
“All the parents were extremely pleased with the project and asked that this project be continued, and they committed that they would also like to have other 4-H Latin cultural project opportunities for youth,” Nagele said.
A survey of the dancers showed they enjoyed learning baile folklórico, wanted to keep dancing and, although some were nervous about performing, they were enthusiastic and felt confident afterward, Nagele said.
What parents said
Parents who responded to a survey said Extension 4-H was the only organization in their communities offering culturally relevant projects for young people. They said it was important for their children to explore their Latin roots and take pride in their cultural heritage.
Parents also said the project:
- Gave youths a greater sense of security, self-discipline and independence.
- Helped them face their fear of performing in public.
- Helped them trust in themselves.
- Developed a sense of pride, community and culture.
- Offered a new opportunity for their children’s development.
Community support
The project was supported in part by a grant from the Clackamas County Cultural Coalition, managed by the Clackamas County Arts Alliance, with funding from the Oregon Cultural Trust to remove barriers to performance arts for underserved audiences.
Additional support came from Hacienda CDC, Molalla Elementary School, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and the Clackamas School District, which provided facilities and helped promote the project.
Previously titled 4-H Baile Folklórico project builds confidence and creates cultural connections
