Bazaldua Has Taught Folklórico to Lubbock Students

The educator leads dance programs that connect students to their Mexican heritage at two local schools.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Cultural

Screen-print poster illustration of a vibrant, flowing skirt in mid-twirl, depicting the rhythmic motion of traditional Mexican folk dance. — Educator Yazarei Bazaldua is preserving cultural traditions in Lubbock by teaching students traditional Folklórico dance in local middle and preparatory schools. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do extracurricular cultural programs like Folklórico improve student engagement and identity in your local schools?

Yazarei Bazaldua has brought the tradition of Folklórico dance to students at Dunbar College Preparatory Academy and Cavazos Middle School. Through these programs, she integrates movement with lessons on history and cultural roots.

Why it matters

These programs aim to help students strengthen their connection to their Mexican heritage and Hispanic culture through active engagement with traditional dance. By providing elective and after-school opportunities, the initiative fosters a deeper understanding of cultural identity.

Yazarei Bazaldua has taught Folklórico dance at Cavazos Middle School for three years. She personally began participating in the art form when she was 3 years old.

The players

Yazarei Bazaldua

An educator who holds a master's degree in Spanish and teaches traditional dance programs in Lubbock schools.

Dunbar College Preparatory Academy

A Lubbock school that hosts elective and after-school Folklórico dance programs.

Cavazos Middle School

A Lubbock middle school where students have participated in an after-school Folklórico program for three years.

The details

Bazaldua utilizes both elective class time and after-school sessions to instruct her students in the rhythmic traditions of Folklórico. The curriculum is designed to use the physical discipline of dance as a gateway to teaching students about their specific history and cultural origins.

Bazaldua has led the after-school Folklórico program at Cavazos Middle School for the past three years.

Industry Dynamics

This initiative reflects a wider movement in arts education to prioritize cultural literacy alongside traditional academic subjects. By embedding heritage-based programs like Folklórico into the school day, districts are increasingly treating cultural expression as a vital component of the student experience.

Students at the specified schools can access these cultural programs through existing elective courses or by enrolling in the after-school sessions. Participation provides a structured pathway for youth to engage with traditional Mexican dance directly within their school environment.

The takeaway

Engaging with traditional dance offers students a physical connection to their cultural history that classroom study alone may not provide. Integrating these programs into school schedules encourages lifelong appreciation for heritage and the arts.