Ballet Folklorico Heritage in Rexburg isn’t your typical dance studio.
Not only does it teach dance and movement, but it offers traditional Mexican and Hawaiian dancing along with instruction on Native American traditions.
Mariana Vitali is the director of the nonprofit organization. She moved from Mexico City to Rexburg with her friend Claudia, and they missed their Mexican traditions so much, they wanted to introduce them to Rexburg.
Vitali says they decided to create the studio to help their children learn how to honor their heritage.
“Not only to learn traditional Mexican dancing, but also to learn about beautiful cultures that are part of American society that we don’t see here in Rexburg,” Vitali said.
Vitali originally learned dance while growing up through the school curriculum in Mexico.
Vitali says the most rewarding part of running the studio is how students and their families react to the dances.
“After seeing the dances and being embraced by their families, the kids just feel so happy that they’re able to share their culture and bring it here to Idaho,” Vitali said. “It really makes them proud of their roots and their heritage.”
The ultimate goal of the studio isn’t complicated.
“I would love for it to grow and for the kids to explore the world through the art of dance,” Vitali said.
Everyone is welcome at Ballet Folklorico Heritage.
“We want to invite everybody to come learn and embrace the beauty of diverse cultures,” Vitali said. “There’s so much more beyond food. We have so much more to tell when it comes to our stories, and a lot of them are told through dance.”
For more information, you can follow the organization at @balletfolkloricoheritage on Instagram, or go to Ballet Folklorico’s website.