Sam Carbajal: Transcript

Mexican dancer
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I might say that Marshalltown has… generally, has accepted the Hispanic community. I think the Hispanic community has put some movement in Marshalltown, not only in the economic part, but also in other ways--religiously and now with the dances. I think that wherever we perform, people is, they’re trying to see what is this about.

Marshalltown was recommended for a friend of mine who used to work at Swift and Company. And he told me there were permanent jobs in Marshalltown. So, I came in to see for a better life for my family and myself, a way to live a little more quiet than in L.A. So I found the right place, I think.

I started my work with the dance group when I joined Judicial Services. It is one of our preventing activities with youth to help them to build up their self-esteem as Hispanic people, to continue our traditions in dancing and music. I am learning. I’m learning now. I never thought I could do something like this, but is real interesting.

We have a dance instructor who is teaching. He was a professional in a very known ballet; he was working with Amalia Hernández Ballet—he is very known around the world. Our instructor invited him and now he came to Marshalltown with this purpose, so we are really lucky now.
Of course, we have some difficulties with boys, because I think there is a kind of—let’s say that there is a kind of machismo in our culture, and say “No, those who practice dances, they are not very macho. They are not very brave.” So, probably it’s one of the difficulties for some of them to join this kind of activities.

This kind of traditions were, in the past, something more common then they are now. Right now these are for fiestas, especially for special celebrations, like Independence Day [September 16] or Cinco de Mayo, some other special celebrations. I think most of these dances that we perform right now, are the result of the Spaniards’ traditions and the native melodies and songs.

Our group is doing different regions. We have Jalisco in the western part of Mexico, Michoacan in the central part of Mexico, Guerrero, in, let’s say the south, and Vera Cruz in the east— the Gulf of Mexico. And we are trying to cover the most regions as possible, because you know that we have a real variety, a great variety of traditions and special types of music and dance. The dancing is also different in different regions. But the costumes are a special problem; they are expensive. The cost is a barrier we have been trying to overcome.

We expect from the students to keep the traditions, to keep them aware of what we are and where we are coming from, and transmit this knowledge to their children—
to new generations—so that our new communities be more open to culture, because I think it is part of the spirit. Arts, I think are very important to avoid violence and hate and everything, so I think it is very important for us to work on culture.