EMBRACING FOLCLÓRICO: INTERVIEW WITH KELLY CHU
In a row of colorful ocean of skirts, frills, and lace, Mexican Folkloric Dance, better known as Baile Folclórico, is an intimate connection between culture and identity. Children, teens, and adults of all ages look to enroll in folclórico classes regularly and hone in on a community that continues to preserve timeless, culturally diverse Mexican traditions, but for one of the dancers within the renowned Los Lupeños de San José, entering the folclórico space as a first-generation Chinese-Vietnamese meant staying outside of the comfort zone in a cultural space until she stepped in. Meet Kelly Chu.
Q. What was your first experience seeing folclórico?
I started late in the game. I first saw it at the Mexican Heritage Plaza (La Plaza) when I was hired as an event captain through Giant Creative Service Inc. At the time, Annie Hermes brought me to La Plaza and connected me with their event coordinator at the time, Arturo Magaña. As I began picking up shifts, and was looking to do something active. I tried two Modern Dance sessions offered at the Los Lupeños Academy, which practiced regularly at La Plaza. Then Arturo asked if I would be interested in taking a folklorico class. In the beginning, I had some doubts. My thoughts lingered on how I would drag the class behind. Until Arturo approached me and explained, “If you really like it, I can help on the side.”
Slowly but surely, I got into the flow. During a class session, Arturo was looking for dancers to join the advanced classes as they needed a few more people or risk cutting the class entirely, and I was invited to join. I asked, “Are you sure you want me in?” I may get judged because I don’t have the background or the cultural insight.
“I was nervous, and I usually stayed back. I felt like I didn’t want to be a burden to someone who had been dancing for 10 years, but I got a lot of support. It was challenging for me, but everyone made me feel welcomed.”
