Glenwood Dancer Revives Mexican Folklore After Aspen Program Closes

Telluride —The air in the Roaring Fork Valley often carries a crispness that makes you pull your coat tighter, but inside a dance studio, the atmosphere is entirely different. It is warm, rhythmic, and vibrant. You can feel it in the way the music pulses through the floorboards, a steady heartbeat that syncs with the movement of bodies in motion. This is the space where Amy Roman and her small troupe, Ballet Folklórico de Valle, bring Mexican tradition to life, one spin of a multihued skirt at a time.

Why did a group of dancers break away from an established program to start something new? For Roman, the answer is personal. She began dancing folklórico seven years ago after watching her aunt participate in the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet’s Folklórico program. "I started because my aunt was in the group, she was part of the first generation of the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet’s Folklórico Program," Roman said. "I fell in love with it."

That love kept her dancing even when the program she loved ended. The Aspen Santa Fe Ballet’s Folklórico program closed last winter when then-Director Cristina Landeros retired. Rather than let the art form disappear from the valley, Roman formed Ballet Folklórico de Valle. It is a small operation now — just four dancers — but the ambition is large. Roman, who graduated from Yampa Mountain High School in Glenwood Springs at 17 and is now studying nursing in college, is working to turn the group into a non-profit. She wants to offer classes to anyone in the valley who wants to learn, restoring the accessibility that existed in the early days of the previous program.

"It used to be free in the beginning and costumes were provided, and I see a lot of little kids asking where it’s gone," Roman said. "I want to restart that."

The work is not just about preservation; it is about connection. Folklórico is storytelling, and most dances carry a narrative, whether it is a myth, a historical event, or a simple observation of life. "Most dances have a story behind them, either what it’s telling or why it was made," Roman explained. "I love that it’s my culture and it’s a way to express that, and I love that people like learning it and I love sharing it with them."

If you look closely at the dancers, you see more than just technique. You see dedication. The group is currently searching for an instructor and a permanent studio to practice in, resources that are essential for growth. Roman is even pursuing certification as a teacher herself, though she admits finding a dedicated instructor might be a faster path. "It’d be great if we could find one because that might be faster," she said. "We also need a studio to practice."

Support from the community is vital. The group recently performed at Noche Latina and will dance at the Children’s Literacy Arts Festival on Oct. 10 at the Glenwood Springs Branch Library. They are also hoping to perform at Carbondale’s November First Friday for the Día de los Muertos celebration. "Please come support us and watch," Roman said. "We really appreciate it."

As the final notes of the music fade, the dancers stand still, breathing hard, their faces flushed with exertion. The bright flowers in their hair catch the light, a burst of color against the dark background. In that quiet moment, the tradition lives on, carried forward by the strength of those who refuse to let it go.