A gift of swirling colors for Jesús Moroles Ballet Folklorico program

The ballet folklórico program at Jesús Moroles Expressive Arts Vanguard has become a little more vibrant. In November, the Texas Association for Dance and Culture, with funding support through the Center’s ArtsBridge—Powered by Toyota community program, presented the school’s ballet folklórico program with new costumes.

Students were overjoyed with the gesture, many of whom had not yet performed their routines in full traditional garb. While ballet folklórico may conjure images of the colorful flowing gowns and charro trajes, costumes vary between regions of Mexico and the specific dance being performed. The Center worked with TADC to curate and procure the costumes that were presented to the school at no cost. 

“The Texas Association for Dance and Culture is honored to have an incredible partnership with the AT&T Performing Arts Center,” said TADC Founder Karla Hardaway. “We are blessed that the Center shares our vision and has joined us in launching our first Adopt-A-School program by selecting Jesús Moroles Expressive Arts Vanguard, the school that inspired this initiative. Together, we are excited to advocate for our schools and students, providing them with the resources they need to grow and thrive through dance.”

Hardaway was a driving force behind the establishment of the Center’s annual North Texas Ballet Folklórico Contest. As a dance educator, she established TADC to further expand access to cultural dance programs, especially among underrepresented communities in North Texas. The organization is also working on other initiatives, including a campaign to launch a statewide ballet folklórico program. 

“Ensuring students can fully immerse themselves in this rich cultural tradition is an important part of our mission,” said Autumn Garrison, Assistant Vice President of Education and Community Engagement. “We know the arts have a powerful impact on overall student achievement, and we’re proud to provide these schools with an outlet to present their routines and receive meaningful feedback from dance professionals.” 

The Center’s ballet folklórico contest attracts hundreds of students from dozens of schools across North Texas and beyond. Last year’s contest saw more than 400 performers, featuring a full day of adjudicated performances capped off with live mariachis and an awards ceremony. The 2025 North Texas Ballet Folklórico Contest takes place on Friday, January 31.