Mission Statement:

Folxlórico is an independent organization whose mission is to build a community of students and faculty that will develop an understanding of Mexican traditional dance (folxlórico) through cultural emergence. We want to provide an authentic experience of the traditional customs and styles associated with the regional dances but at the same time challenge the traditional norms associated with them (e.g. gender roles).

Current Officers:

Melodie Hernandez, President

Media Arts major, Music minor

"Folxlórico has become my home away from home and has allowed me to find comfort in myself. Whether it be through performing or spending time with the members, Folxlórico is my safe space." melodiehernandez@my.unt.edu

Alonso Rodriguez, Treasurer

Mechanical Engineering Technology major

"Folxlórico has allowed me to be a part of something that showcases my culture within the campus as well as the community. The atmosphere that has been created within the organization is both positive and welcoming. I've made so many friends and created such strong bonds here. This is my family and I'm happy that I get to be a part of this group of amazingly talented individuals." alonsorodriguez@my.unt.edu

Sandra J. Rodriguez, Vice-President

Psychology major, Spanish minor

"Mexico is said to be more like multiple little Mexico's because every state has their unique traditions that are perfectly reflected in the dresses and dances. I was pleasantly surprised to find out how many students at UNT wanted to participate or were just curious about these dances. I'm truly honored to be part of such a friendly and welcoming organization that allows me to connect with my culture through dance and to share it with others as well." sandrarodriguez@my.unt.edu

Alejandra Balbuena, Public Relations

Public Relations major, Spanish minor

"Folxlórico welcomed me, not only into the Hispanic community at UNT, but also into a family. I am blessed to be able to learn so many traditional dances and to share my culture with the UNT community. I am so proud of everything we have accomplished, and I look forward to seeing everything we can achieve in the future." alejandrabalbuena@my.unt.edu

Vanessa Morgan, Secretary

Design Management major

"Joining and being a part of such an astounding organization as Folxlórico really helped give me a sense of belonging when I came to UNT. It truly is like a family and I've met so many wonderful people and have made so many incredible friendships. Not only do I have the amazing opportunity to be involved in such a gracious community, but I also get to indulge in and embrace my culture like never before. It has given me so much confidence and pride being able to go out and perform, and show others how beautiful and astounding Folxlórico and our culture truly is." vanessamorgan@my.unt.edu

Founders:

Andrea Lopez Garza

Anthropology major, Women & Gender Studies minor, LMAS program

Why did you create FNT?

"Growing up, Folxlórico was a big part of the culture I was surrounded by - the music, the dancing and the stories the performances would tell gave me an outlet that allowed me to connect closely to my mother's culture. I decided to start Folxlórico with this in mind; I wanted a space where people could explore Folxlórico as a cultural heritage, as performance art, and to also be able to celebrate this vibrant culture with like-minded people. I was happily surprised that so many students found comfort in this organization as a place where they could build strong bonds, learn about this cultural heritage, and find pride in who they are."

Allen C. Domínguez

Double Major in International Studies and Spanish

Why did you create FNT?

"We decided to create Folxlórico because we wanted to create a community for Hispanic/Latinx students to find each other while integrating the rest of the community, as Folxlórico is for everybody. It is also a way to have my culture with me and proudly share it with everyone. I believe Folxlórico has become a beautiful community that brings people together for the love of culture and dance. UNT did not have a Folxlórico group either and it made sense for us, since we are in Texas, that this was a must-have!"

Nardos Kiros

Biology major

Why did you create FNT?

The reason why I wanted to help create Folxlórico was to bring more awareness about Mexican traditional dance on campus. Growing up I had a strong Mexican inflluence in my life due to a lot of my closest companions being of Mexican heritage. But one issue I saw growing up was that a lot of people blend in different latinx cultures and don't have a clear perception on what Mexican culture actually is. This is why we wanted to create a safe space where people are allowed to embrace, appreciate, and learn more about their culture. In addition, we wanted to provide a more direct route into educating people about Mexican culture and also showing off the traditional dances because it's something that isn't as celebrated in today's day and age. As college students we will help keep the traditional dancing alive in hope for future generations to continue in our paths.

Jasmine Romero

Political Science major, Mexican-American minor, Certificate in Latin-American Studies

In March of 2018 Andrea (the President) came up to me and told me that she and Allen (the Treasurer) wanted to start a Mexican Folxlórico club at UNT. Andrea asked if would I be interested in helping them start the Organization. I quickly agreed because even though as a child I had never been a part of Folxlórico groups, I always was amazed by the beauty of all the different styles of dances and vestuarios. Not even a month later, on April 26th of 2018, we got news that we were officially an organization on campus. I wanted to be a part of the start and growth of this organization because I believed that Folxlórico is a way to get those of Mexican heritage to learn about their culture in a fun way. I also wanted to be able to educate those who are not of Mexican heritage to appreciate the beauty of Mexican Culture.

Member Pictures:

Upcoming Spring Events:

UPC Fiesta North Texas

• Tuesday, April 16
• 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
• Union South Lawn

This event, hosted by University Program Council (UPC) to honor Tejano culture, is meant to capture the scene from San Antonio's annual Fiesta celebration. We will be performing various dances from different regions of Mexico and tabling to spread information about the culture and our organization's importance on campus.

Folxlórico Showcase

• Friday, April 26
• 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
• Lyceum

An educational night of dancing hosted by Folxlórico that will honor the traditional Mexican dance known as Ballet Folxlórico. We will be performing a variety of dances from different regions of Mexico such as Veracruz and Jalisco.