Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Marisol Landa. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Marisol , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
When I first started dancing folklorico my parents were not so involved; however, they supported me. After, I graduated high school, I started going to a community college where I was able to create a folklorico group. It took time and efforts, but it was possible with the help of an awesome advisor which I would mention Marichuy Alvizar. Eventually, I graduated from college and decided to move the group as part of the community. During this process my parents specially, my dad were my greatest supporters. The support I got from my dad helped me on continuing doing what I love and aspired me to more than what I have already accomplished. Bringing joy, entertainment, and a piece of the Mexican culture to our Latinx community is something that makes myself feel proud of what I’ve accomplished so far. It’s hard when you have the mind and vision to bring something to the community that will make an improvement when you have no one to support you or rely on but, my parents where with me in every step of my journey.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m Marisol Landa the Director/Dance teacher of Bailadores Orgullo de México, currently a student at the University of Eastern Washington. I first started dancing folklorico when I was a freshman in high school. As a daughter of Mexican parents being able to be part of something that could bond me with my Mexican roots is something that is valuable to me. Not only that but being part of such group helped me in many aspects of my life including my physical and mental health which nowadays is really important to be able to talk about it and bring the help that people who like me suffer by that. It has been a wonderful but also a challenging journey with great experiences. Bailadores Orgullo de Mexico brings a diverse, safe, and free space for those who join us. In our community most teenagers are drawn to join gangs and do drugs, what we want to do is be able to provide a space for those teenagers – and adults can also join- where they are able to focus and do something that is not only productive but will also help them with their physical and mental health. Dancing is a great and enjoyable way to improve our physical health but also doing something that bring us joy and excitement can help us be happier. The positive feedback by the group members and the community is something I am most proud of because to me that means that not only the community enjoys our performances but also that we are making a change in teenagers’ lives.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Our mission is to provide a safe and free environment for teenagers to learn and enjoy the folklorico dance, enhancing their physical and mental/emotional health.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect is to be able to share the enjoyment of expressing the cultural heritage through dancing, the sense of community among the dance group members, and the emotional and physical satisfaction that comes from each performance.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Bailadores_odm
- Facebook: Bailadores Orgullo de Mexico