Van Horn High School received an unexpected treat last Thursday, September 9, thanks to a little help from an unexpected source. Mr. Juan Rodríguez, probation officer from El Paso, talked to me about the possibility of bringing a Mexica dancer to my Spanish classes. Naturally, my response was an immediate “yes”. Not many Spanish classes in west Texas are fortunate enough to see a Mexica dancer perform in their classrooms. However, there were so many students wanting to see him, we had to move to the auditorium.
Not only did Omar Morales perform, he informed. He explained his culture and religious beliefs, taking pains to explain every single detail about the garb he wore. He danced “The Flight of the White Eagle,” and also “The Fire Dance.” Again, he was kind enough to explain even the steps and movements of the dances so students would understand why the Mexica do the things they do. Since I was his interpreter, I got to see the audience from the stage. It was a joy to see students’ eyes, their sense of awe, as Omar went through his danzas. I am sure the students were grateful to have learned something of the Indigenous culture, and to have witnessed such a graceful dancer in the person of Omar.
The Cast
La Victima
Medardo Segura
Heradio's Art
Lo Nuestro
First Lady, Anita Perry
Arrullos Culturales
Quinto Sol Dancers
Omar Morales
Student's Work
Southward School
Lo Que Fue
The Danger Dog
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