Children's Ballet Folklorico Class at University Begins Mar. 25

Texas A&M International University's Office of Continuing Education is offering a "Mexican Ballet Folklorico" class for boys and girls in elementary, middle, and high school.

The classes will be held at the University on Saturday mornings Mar. 25 in the Great Room of the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library (room 319) and Apr. 1, 8, 15, and 29 in the Kinesiology/Convocation Building

Class times for boys and girls are as follows: children ages 11 - 18 (middle and high school students in 6th - 12th grades) 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.; children ages 8 - 10 (4th - 5th grades) 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.; and children ages 5 - 7 (1st - 3rd grades) 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

Tuition is $30.

Classes will focus on dance principles to build strength, balance, posture, grace and discipline. Children do not need prior knowledge or background in Ballet Folklorico to enroll.

All students will begin with "zapatedo" footwork basics before moving on to Mexican folkloric dance technique including correct skirt work, dance and performance techniques, and footwork for Mexican folk dances. Mexican culture, traditions, and customs will also be explored.

Gabriela Mendoza-Garcia, Dance Director of the University's Ballet Folklorico group, and Associate Director of Student Development at A&M International, will conduct the classes. She was a member of a professional dance troupe, Roy Lozano's Ballet Folklorico de Tejas, in Austin from 1991 to 1995.

To register for the class or for more information, please call the University's Office of Continuing Education at 326-2700, or visit offices in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, room 431. University office hours are from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday.

Additional information may also be obtained by email at contedu@tamiu.edu.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu