This morning, the Novato Youth Center was full of colorful dresses and the sounds of music as San Rafael’s very own Ballet Folklorico Netzahualcoyotl performed regional dances of Mexico. Under the direction of Maestro Netza, young performers presented traditional dances from the Mexican states of Oaxaca, Michoacan and Tabasco.
Youth in Arts has obtained a grant from the Marin Community Foundation to provide the Novato Youth Center with a free comprehensive arts program including Professional Development for staff, Professional Performances and ongoing classes in dance and theater. Today’s performance was just a part of the Youth in Arts programming that will be taking place at the NYC during the summer and fall of 2011.
The audience of youngsters, as young as 2 years old, were in awe of the talented young dancers who seemed to float across the gymnasium floor with ease, grace and beaming smiles. When asked if they had questions, there was only one, repeated by 4 different children: “How did they learn to do that?!” Well, the students of the NYC will soon find out, as Maestro Netza begins instruction there next week, providing students with 10 sessions of Mexican Dance. We look forward to seeing their final performance, where their parents and peirs will most likely ask “How did they learn to do that?!”.