Visalia dance academy celebrates Mexican culture with folklorico
VISALIA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Students at Gonzales Dance Academy are learning skills that will help them navigate the dance floor and life while also celebrating Mexican culture.
Inside Gonzales Dance Academy in Visalia, students are learning a style of dance called folklorico, a traditional dance from Mexico.
“I love the feeling of dancing because when you dance you feel like you’re on top of the world,” said Adrianna Casillas, a dance student at Gonzales Dance Academy.
Casillas started dancing when she was three years old, and after taking a small break, she decided to return last year.
“It taught me a lot of respect, and a lot about my culture, and how so many things are incorporated and how it’s not as easy as it looks, but the end result is really worth it. It’s really worth all of that hard work that you put in,” said Casillas.
Owner and instructor John Gonzalez started dancing as a child and began teaching dance classes when he was in high school.
Now he teaches all ages and levels starting from three years old up to adults, mixing in different techniques to help dancers improve, such as Zumba and cardio training with weights.
Gonzales and many of his students believe folklorico helps people reconnect to their roots.
“I really feel that it stands in a big way in our community. a lot of them aren’t able to go back to Mexico, and sometimes I feel when we are out there performing they see that light they see that memory, they see that connection of where they are from,” said Gonzales.
The studio in Visalia opened last year in 2023, but Gonzales Dance Academy also has locations in Porterville and Fresno, offering classes throughout the week.
For Gonzales, watching his students perform across California is the best part.
“It’s the best feeling in the world because I know what my purpose is, I know why I’m here, so when I get to see them perform, celebrate with their families, taking pictures and videos, I know I’ve done my job,” said Gonzales.
He hopes students walk away knowing who they are and where they come from reminding them that life itself is a dance.
Gonzales Dance Academy will be having its next performance on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 12 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Fox Theater in Visalia.
For a full list of events or to start taking classes click here.
