40th Anniversary of the Mexican Folkloric Dance Company of Chicago

Floor Speech

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Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I want to honor the Mexican Folkloric Dance Company of Chicago (MDFC), the oldest Mexican dance institution in our city, as it celebrates its 40th Anniversary this month.

Folkloric dance refers to a dance style originating in Mexico, reflecting a diverse array of regions and states, blending a variety of techniques, tempos, music, and cultures to produce an art form as vibrant as the people of Mexico.

Though Mexican folkloric dance is an art form that can be traced back to the ceremonial and social dance practices of indigenous communities, it also has multicultural influences, including Spanish, French and Caribbean, as well as from music and dance styles brought by immigrants from Africa, Asia, and other regions.

Folkloric dances are an expression of Mexican, Mexican American, and regional pride. It has served as a measure of counter-colonialism and. storytelling, as dances often depict symbols, events, and other elements unique to the region that they originate from.

These roots of pride and expression are what inspired the creation of the Mexican Folkloric Dance Company of Chicago in 1982, when two prominent community folk dance groups, Nuevo Ideal and Alma de Mexico merged after performing in the very first Ethnic Heritage Festival at the 1981 Illinois State Fair.

Since 1982 the Mexican Folkloric Dance Company of Chicago has remained an integral part of our community. In its 40-year history, the group has provided free. dance education to hundreds of children, youth, and young adults across the city, providing the opportunity to connect with their Mexican heritage through the art of folkloric dance.

In addition to providing young people with the opportunity to connect, the Mexican Folkloric Dance Company of Chicago has captivated audiences across the state, nation, and globe. They have performed for Presidents in both the U.S. and Mexico, and at major events like the World Cup, the Pan American Games, and Latin Grammys, and alongside performers like Juan Gabriel, Pepe Aguilar, and others.

I commend the Mexican Folkloric Dance Company of Chicago for its contributions to our city's cultural life, and for their consistent engagement of young people into the history, culture, and art of Mexico, all of which form the heart of folkloric dance. Their captivating and vibrant performances serve as a testament to the flourishing Mexican Chicago community, and to the incredible presence it has and will continue to have in the city, state, and across the Nation. Let's celebrate its 40th anniversary.

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