Texas A&M: Meet The Aggies Of Texas A&M Ballet Folklorico Celestial

They may bleed maroon, but the students of Ballet Folklorico Celestial wear many vibrant colors when performing traditional Mexican folk dances at Texas A&M University.

The student organization’s president, Stefany Rodriguez ’22, said the group currently has around 35 members and focuses on Mexican folk dance, although there are about 400 variations of folklorico danced around the world.

“Folklorico focuses on sharing the stories of people and personalities of various periods of time and regions through the medium of dance,” said Rodriguez, a senior environmental design major from Austin. “Although we specifically focus on traditional Mexican folk dance, the same can be applied to other Latin countries. Through folklorico we are able to pass on traditions and keep the essence and culture of Mexico alive across time and borders.”

The group was founded by Texas A&M students in 1991 and thanks to donations, has been able to build an inventory of folklorico apparel and perform around campus and in the community.

Rodriguez said the group’s mission aligns perfectly with Texas A&M’s commitment to maintaining tradition. “Being an Aggie is about continuing and honoring traditions,” she said. “We’re doing that for Mexico…and that goes hand-in-hand with Aggie values.”