"The truest expression of a people is in its dance and its music." Agnes de Mille
 

Ballet Folklórico Jaguara

Ballet Folklorico Jaguara was a curricular and extra-curricular dance program developed and directed by Liz Gallego at Moisés E. Molina High School in Dallas, Texas from August 1997 to May 2007. Following Ms. Gallego's retirement in May 2007 the program ceased to exist. A year long national search failed to produce even one certified candidate with knowledge of ballet folklórico and Latino popular dance forms. The program at Molina High School no longer has a cultural component.

Mission Statement

Ballet Folklórico Jaguara, a curricular and extra-curricular dance company, is dedicated to presenting performances and lecture demonstrations in the Dallas metroplex that celebrate the beauty and diversity of the Hispanic culture of today and yesterday. 

The organization took its name "Jaguara", (the original word for jaguar) from the ancient Tupian language spoken along the Amazon River.   

In fulfilling the company's mission Molina High School dance students have the opportunity to develop physical, academic, artistic, and social skills including: poise in front of public, standards of excellence, leadership, creative problem solving, team work, and cultural awareness.  Our goal is to involve Molina dance students in school activities, community service, and in the study of Latin American history, heroes, current events, and political issues.
 

Texas State Capitol
Fine Arts Day 2000

Innovative Projects

Jaguara has received local, state, and national recognition for its innovative interdisciplinary and multicultural projects. Three projects have been funded in part by the Junior League of Dallas Grants for Innovative Teaching: 

Zoot Suits Then and Now, Spring 2006
Heroes Without Statues/Heroes Sin Estatuas 2005
Heroínas de la Independencia Mexicana in 2002
Cultural Connections Project in 2000

Conte de Loyo Scholarship Recipients

In April 2003, Edgar Cuadra, pictured in Aztec regalia, became the first dancer to receive the Conte de Loyo Scholarship and the first ethnic dancer to be recognized by the Dance Council.

Each year, the Dance Council awards scholarships to promising young dancers with ties to the North Texas dance community.  Until the Conte de Loyo scholarship was founded in 2003, award recipients had been ballet, modern, jazz, and tap dancers. Conte de Loyo, artistic director of the Conte de Loyo Flamenco Theatre, established a scholarship to be awarded to an ethnic dancer. With the scholarship, Edgar Cuadra was able to attend the Asociación Nacional de Grupos Folklóricos annual convention in Veracruz, Veracruz.
 

 In, 2005, four students pictured above, Aime Cruz, Jessika Villafuerte, Laiza Echaverria and Yesenia Zarraras, received scholarships to attend the Ballet Folklorico Nacional de Mexico Aztlan de Sylvia Lozano Intensive Summer Workshop held at Mountain View College.

Yesenia Zarraras, Scholarship 2006

In 2006, Yesenia Zarraras was granted a scholarship by Walley Godinez to attend the Intesive Summer Workshop at Mountain View College with the Mizoc Institute of Mexico City.
 

Other Recognition

Ballet Folklórico Jaguara has received numerous awards and special recognition since the program was founded in 1997.

Jaguara has been selected to perform at the Texas State Capitol for Fine Art's Day in 2000, 2002 and 2007.

The dance program at Molina High School has been featured in two videos promoting quality fine arts education in Texas, Portraits in Excellence 1999, and The Fine Arts for All Learners 2002.

Jaguara has received the highest ratings possible for its performances on the Neighborhood Touring Program.

2004 Disney Honoree

Jaguara Director, Liz Gallego was the recipient of the Disney 2004 Fine Arts Teacher of the Year Award. Ms. Gallego was selected from more than 150,000 nominees.  Disney recognizes outstanding teachers who use innovative teaching methods that actively engage students. Ms. Gallego is among 39 teacher honorees. She was selected for her “creative, hands-on approach … combined with her general enthusiasm to teach,” according to program officials. The Disney award is the equivalent of an Oscar or Emmy for teachers.

Other honors and awards received by Ms. Gallego

To Book Jaguara

Community Performances.  Ballet Folklórico Jaguara serves the Dallas community with stimulating cultural performances that promote an understanding and appreciation of the Hispanic culture. Since 1997 when Molina High School opened, Ballet Folklórico Jaguara has presented nearly 300 community performances.

Jaguara performances are designed to adjust to a variety of audiences, performance settings, and situations. Ballet Folklórico Jaguara has performed in auditoriums, cafeterias, gymnasiums, hotels, hospitals, churches, schools, universities, juvenile centers, prisons, restaurants, conventions exhibit areas, libraries, lobbies, parks, parades, parking lots, fairs, festivals, television studios, recreations centers, and senior citizen centers.

A portable floor allows Jaguara to perform on carpeted areas. Jaguara performances are generally 30 to 45 minutes in length, but performances can be as short as  three minutes or as long as an hour and a half. Booking Information.

Concerts

The concert was presented Aprill 27th at 7:00 p.m. in the Molina Auditorium. Admission was free. The Public was invited.

Festival

Jaguara hosted the 15th Annual Folklórico Festival of  Texas, on April 1-3, 2006.  Admission was free.

•  The Largest Competition in the USA
•  Over 100 trophies and $3,000 in cash prizes
•  A $300 scholarship awarded
• Adjudications by Four Maestros de Mexico
•  Master Classes taught by Two Maestros de Mexico
•  Seven hours of Free Beginner Workshops
•  Nine Free Showcase Performances
•  A Spectacular Performance: La Gran Competencia de Cuadros Folklóricos

Public and private schools, community and church groups, private dance studios, as well as university and professional companies are invited to participate in the festival.  Different events allow dancers of all ages and levels of ability to participate. Submit a video to enter the the most exciting event of our competition, La Gran Competencia de Cuadros Folklóricos.

After School Arts Program

Proposed After School Porgram, 10  weeks from 4:00 to 5:30. Neighborhood students and teachers are invited to participate. The after school program is free. Tentative Schedule:

Monday-yoga, dance technique, and salsa
Tuesday-yoga, dance technique, and folklórico
 

Silvia Lozano Dance Honor Society

In a neighborhood that has the third highest incidence of teen pregnancy and juvenile offenders in Dallas County, Jaguara makes a difference.  Molina High School was among the first schools in the United States to be granted a charter to found a Chapter of Nu Delta Alpha Dance Honor Society. The mission of the Silvia Lozano Dance Honor Society is to:

• Promote creative and academic achievement
• Recognize developing choreographers
• Develop dance and leadership skills
• Expand the vision of dance as a fine art
• Foster multicultural appreciation through the art of dance.

Funding

In1997, the dance group had one borrowed Jalisco dress.  Today, the group has a wardrobe valued over $60,000. This might be enough, if dance were not the most popular elective on the Molina campus.  In 2005, nearly 500 students selected dance as an elective.

 It is a difficult task raising money in a neighborhood where 65% of the population qualify for the reduced lunch program and 20% are recent immigrants. We depend on generous donations from the community for our performances.

We need your support to make our program a success!