"In the heat of a recent night, a teen folklorico group stomp in dance heels across the floor in preparation for their upcoming performances. The group is set to perform at a private 49ers staff event on Sept. 16 and during halftime at BayFC's Latino Heritage Night game Sept. 21. "I enjoy the music, sometimes when I dance I sing along," said Giovani Damain , dimples appearing as he smiles widely during a break in the practice."
"The costumes are what bring the dances to life. Some dancers wear vibrant and flowy skirts, others wear traditional charro suits, an embroidered suit and matching wide-brimmed sombrero. All dancers wear shoes with thick heels, adding to the music as they emphatically stomp their feet. Damain has just started his freshman year at Early College Academy in Gilroy, where he is enrolled in both high school and college courses."
Los Laureles is a youth folklorico group in San Jose that maintains its own studio and prepares for performances at local sports and private events. The troupe performs regional Mexican dances, most notably Jalisco's courtship hat dance and fast-paced Veracruz styles with technical footwork. Costumes include vibrant flowy skirts, embroidered charro suits, and wide-brimmed sombreros, while thick-heeled shoes emphasize rhythmic foot stomping. Members like Giovani Damain commute to practices while juggling Early College Academy's high school and college coursework, often completing assignments before rehearsals. For dancers such as Charlette Gonzalez, family ties to mariachi and dance shape a strong cultural and performance heritage.
Read at The Mercury News
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