They come from all walks of life — psychologists, lab technicians, post office workers, public school employees, college students, and even a director of human resources.
They are led by a man who grew up in Watts, hung out with African American friends, and knew next to nothing about his own Mexican heritage — or, for that matter, how to speak Spanish.
They practice next to a Reseda church in a residential area, making sure they are quiet and respectful of their neighbors, which is a challenge, because folklorico dancing is, if nothing else, a joyful, artistic expression part of Mexican culture tied deeply to the faith.
“Folklorico dancing is part of our Catholic faith, and we share it with others just as the Church shares its faith with us,” said John Estrada, founder and director of Grupo Folklorico de West LA, which for 44 years has performed throughout Southern California, including the recent Santa Barbara Fiesta Days.
“For us, to perform is to acknowledge and celebrate our faith and express our love for our culture,” continued Estrada, a parishioner at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Reseda. “The way I see it, I’ve been given a gift to share, and I do so in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
That faith and skill was on display last month at Santa Barbara’s Old Fiesta Days, where Grupo Folklorico de West LA has performed for more than 30 years.
They were able to perform at two smaller open-air venues, Nuevo Paseo and La Cumbre Plaza, much to the joy of its members and Fiesta audiences that included Auxiliary Bishop Robert Barron of the Santa Barbara Pastoral Region.
“The audiences were very gracious,” said Annabelle Baltierra, a group member for the past 16 years, and senior director of Human Resources for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
So was Bishop Barron, who came to give the group a special blessing.
“He lifted our spirits and we told him how we offer our performances up to God and our ancestors, especially when we dance Azteca,” said Baltierra.
Baltierra, who had been in professional folklorico groups previously, said she was drawn to Grupo Folklorico de West LA by its focus on faith.
“In the other groups, there was a lot of yelling and a lot of ‘practice till you drop,’ ” said Baltierra, the daughter of Mexican immigrants. “Coming to this group in a more family-oriented, parish-centered atmosphere has been wonderful. We talk about our faith as Catholics. We are aware of how lucky we are to incorporate our faith into performances.”
Full story at Angelus News.
In the picture above the dancers are beautifully and modestly attired, and the dancing is done on the plaza and not in the sanctuary of the church nor at a mass. That to me is fine.
The Aztec type of dancing can be more controversial. When I was in Mexico City, Aztec dancing was done fully clothed in colorful costumes on a plaza. In California one time, though, Aztec dancing was being done inside a cathedral with the men in loin cloths with chests uncovered. After many people complained, it was stopped.
Faith has been watered down in popular usage, and now in the official newspaper of the Los Angeles Archdiocese, that it’s hard to know what people mean by it. Dancing is an expression of faith? I don’t think so. Why not say that baseball is an expression of faith. Or bowling. Or playing video games. “I’ve been given a gift, and I glorify God by playing Minecraft.” The Catholic press is so desperate to portray any “Catholic” celebrity in a positive light so that it seems hip and relevant, and they’re desperate to insert faith into anything to make it seem the Church is relevant. You know what faith is? It’s Mass and the Creed and the Catechism. Not dancing.
The Dancing is an expression of their Faith but it is not all they do. I am sure they go to Mass and pray the Creed and know the Catechism as well as most people.
Maybe you should read the whole story.
You know what Faith is? Being doers of the Word and not hearers only.
If we were Puritans or Pentecostals or lived in a time when dancing was considered of the Devil, it might be different. American culture is entirely saturated with entertainment and it is always good to see an entertainer who is Catholic give credit to God.
It is OK if you don’t see anything Godly in this, but another person does.
https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/practices-values/dance
Can basketball be an expression of my faith?
A pretty question, indeed, Mr. Jordan (if I may?)
I would say yes. But, it must also involve the “after Mass coffee and donuts “”ministry””. However, let’s rely on the more pious and non pharisaical members to weigh in on this one.
Yes.
If you do not cheat, play by the rules, and give God the thanks and glory for your talent, I would say “yes”.
Assuming you are a spectator at home or at site, yes. Behave like a Christian. Don’t hate the other team. Support fair play. Don’t yell so loud the neighbors call the police. Provide good example for younger spectators.
Sleeping in on Sundays is an expression of faith too.
Jus’ sayin’
or your lack of faith.
How do you know? Maybe we attended the saturday evening vigil to full fill our obligation.
Shhhh! The anti-Vatican II people will hear you.
I think that it’s wonderful, for devout Catholics to get together– for any reason. To dance, to sing, to play baseball, to play soccer, to cook special ethnic foods together, to help new neighbors, to raise a barn or harvest crops together, to make special things together, to sew, quilt or knit together, or just anything– and give your best, for the Lord.
For any reason? Devout Catholic” Biden and “Devout Catholic” Pelosi get together with other “Devout Catholics” to find ways to help mothers kill the innocent children in their wombs.
No, James. It is important for Catholic families to socialize together, build strong bonds together, and encourage and support one another. No, you certainly don’t want your kids growing up and socializing with the granchildren of people like Pelosi and Biden. Not in today’s immoral, Godless era. Perhaps Biden and Pelosi’s grandparents, born well over a hundred years ago, had respect for the Church and lived by true Catholic faith and morals.
Beauty can be a path to evangelization…even beautiful dancing.
The folklorico groups are also a good way for Catholic families to bond, and raise their children with others of the Catholic Faith, and introduce them to a valuable part of their cultural heritage. In Texas, there are many young mariachi groups that perform, and Hispanic teens who join mariachi groups even compete in big competitions, with beautiful outfits, all the way up to the State level– and they perform at the State capitol in Austin, for the Governor and political leaders there. These young mariachi groups are not getting together and performing because they all share the Catholic Faith, like these folklorico dancers– but it is a very good, positive cultural endeavor for kids to get involved in.
There have been a number of Catholic homeschooling families, since the late 1960s/early 1970s, when the Church and our society were falling to pieces. They formed devout Catholic family homeschooling groups, and raised their kids, and socialized together. I saw many of these kids– usually from large families, and a mix of ethnic groups– turn out just beautifully, academically, socially and spiritually. Most went on to excell at good, orthodox Catholic colleges (like Thomas Aquinas College, etc.) and were a big success with their interests and careers, and married kids from the same type of background– and then started large families of their own. Today, their kids are now raised, married, and homeschooling with other devout Catholic families, and their large families of kids are likewise very successful– and very devout Catholics. Many priests and nuns have also come from these excellent, homeschooling, devout Catholic families. Two churches where lots of these homeschooling family groups have gathered, are Our Lady of Peace in Santa Clara, and St. Margaret Mary’s Church in Oakland.