The Texas Association for Hispanic Dance and Culture

The specific purposes of this 501 c 3 corporation shall be to create a bridge between audiences, educators, artists, dancers, musicians, media, and other non-profit organizations for the preservation, dissemination and evolvement of Hispanic dance and culture in Texas.

Promote and encourage the knowledge, appreciation, study, and performance of Hispanic dance in Texas  

Act as a coordinating education and service organization for Hispanic dance and other cultural organizations.

Build cultural bridges by introducing Hispanic dancers to other forms of dance and by providing instruction in folklórico and other forms of Hispanic dance to teachers.

Encourage academic achievement and school involvement among Hispanic youth through providing events and workshops to extra-curricular folklórico and salsa dance clubs.

Serve as an advocate for Fine Arts Education and for the inclusion of folklórico and other forms of Hispanic dance within the curriculum of dance studies from elementary to the university level. 

Board of Directors

Alex Medina
Salsa Specialist
DFW Area

Daniel Alvarado
Folkloric Specialist
Dallas ISD

Alice Arriage
Folkloric Specialist
Fort Worth ISD

Liz Gallego
Folkloric Specialist
Dallas ISD

Dan McMurry
Non-Profit Specialist

Vision Statement

TAHDC holds the vision that one day :

•  Dance in all its forms ( ballet, modern, jazz, tap, world  as folklórico and other forms of Hispanic dance) will  be included within in the fine arts curriculum from pre-kindergarten through college /university levels.
   
•  Folklórico students will receive the foundation to be able to pursue and graduate from a college or university earning a state dance teacher certificate.
   
•  High quality teacher training workshops and teaching materials in folklórico and other forms of Hispanic dance will be readily available to public school Dance, PE, Spanish. ESL and other teachers interested in introducing these dance forms to their students. 

Advisory Board

Isidro Salas
Maestro de Folklorico
Houston/Monterey

Neo Gutierrez,  Ph.D.
Retired Professor
Los Angeles, CA

Rolando Rodriguez
La Joya ISD

Gladys Keeton
Past President TAHPERD
Professor
Texas Woman's University

Elizabeth Gillaspy
Past President TAHPERD
Texas Christian University

Bede Leyendecker
President TAHPERD
Texas AM International University

Gary Wall
Producer and Director Small Pond Video Productions

Current State of Folklorico In Public Education

The majority of folklórico instruction in Texas and United States public schools from pre-kinder through college level is provided outside the Fine Arts Curriculum in  extra-curricular activities. The extra-curricular status creates several conditions that are problematic.

1. Many of the elementary school programs are the direct initiative of the school principal. When the principal is transferred or promoted the programs cease to exist.
    
2. Many programs have been eliminated to provide more TAKS tutoring. The quality of merit has no bearing on decisions. One of the finest programs in the United States developed by Isidro Salas at Davila Elementary School in Houston was cut to provide more tutoring.
    
3. Nearly all folklórico maestros in Texas have lost their teaching positions due to the interpretation of the NCLB "highly qualified" requirement as holding a Texas Teaching Certification. 
    
4. The extra-curricular instruction is usually provided by either teacher or student volunteers. When the volunteer moves the program ceases to exist.
    
5. Their is no accountability for the quality of instruction provided by volunteers. Programs maybe as outstanding as the program directed by Irma Armendariz at Kiest Elementary where the children consistently perform with grace and skill or  of very poor quality where the children dress up in Mexican attire, shuffle their feet and wave their skirts to Mexican music.
    
6. Across the United States, very few colleges offer folklórico as a Fine Arts subject.
    
7. Extra-curricular folklórico college programs programs are rarely  permitted in the dance studios. At one university in Texas the students practice on the concrete portico. John Avalos brought a law suit to the University of California at Riverside because folklórico instruction was being provided in a barn.

To support our mission TAHDC will be conducting a survey of folklórico programs. We will begin with College and University Programs. Please review our College and University Folklorico Directory.  We welcome any additions you might be able to provide.

President's Message

The dance of a culture is like a strand of DNA containing a way of life including religious /spiritual beliefs, philosophy of life, social and moral codes of conduct, adaptations to geography and their means of sustenance. Cultural dance  offers teachers a tool to use in teaching ethnic tolerance and multicultural understanding essential in a pluralistic society. Under the direction of a skilled teacher, the possibility exists to move students from merely celebrating heroes and holidays to making decisions and taking social action according. (Based on the research conducted by James A. Banks )

It is not enough to offer folklórico or cultural dance to children. A complete dance education is needed including classical, modern, and popular/social forms of dance.  Many school districts across Texas still do not offer Dance as part of the Fine Arts Curriculum.  Join us in our advocacy for dance in Texas schools.

If a school is located in an immigrant neighborhood, the cultural dance is an excellent vehicle to encourage parent involvement. Cultural dance offers a non-threatening invitation to the school. It provides a good first step in developing the trust necessary for parent teacher relationships. In preparing for a cultural performance, parents have opportunities to help with fundraising, costume construction, building sets, preparing ethnic food as well as serving as hosts for the event. Cultural dance performances allow students to make connections to the community and to other students. It is empowering for students to help the community celebrate its culture. School districts across Texas are beginning to look for ways to reach Hispanic youth and the number of folklórico and salsa after school programs is growing. Schools districts like Garland, Carrolton Framers Branch, Fort Worth have begun folklórico programs but there is a shortage of qualified certified teachers.

Join me in my efforts to address the needs of the Hispanic and dance communities.
 

Benefits of Membership

•  Post Information on TAHDC Calendar of Events
• Receive Email notices for up-coming events and issues regarding to Hispanic dance and culture
• Support our mission

All dancers and directors participating in the Folklorico Festival of Texas automatically receive all membership benefits. Membership is open to persons of all ethnicities and races who have an interest in Hispanic dance and culture. Texas residency in not required. There are no required dues though members may make donations. Adult members (over 18 and not a full time student) student members (full time students up to 21 years of age) who would like to support our efforts are encouraged to fill out the volunteer and group membership forms.