Meet Dennise Giron | Ballet Folklorico Maestra

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dennise Giron and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dennise, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
Watching children succeed makes me happy. I am an early childhood educator and have been in the field for five years. I have always loved my career and love supporting children’s growth and success through an education lens. However, I always felt like my happiness was missing a big factor of my identity. I am a Latina woman who grew up in Denver. I have always been very connected to my roots through my family, traditions, and love of my cultura. Growing up, I started ballet Folklorico when I was 6 years old. I never imagined how much of a profound impact ballet Folklorico would have on my identity and life. I knew I had to merge my love of education and ballet Folklorico and create ballet Folklorico de Metztli. Ballet Folklorico de Metztli is my true happiness. We have created a love of tradition and culture, perseverance, and lots of love and support within our group.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Ballet Folklorico de Metztli is a Folklorico group in Greeley Colorado. We started this year on January, 2025. Our mission is to teach younger generations different traditions and practices from all parts of Mexico. Every state of Mexico is uniquely beautiful and we strive to teach our students the different practices within different states of Mexico. In our group we build confianza (confidence), we learn tradition and culture, and we build success through technique, ability, and coordination. This year, we have connected with the city of Greeley and preformed at their cinco de Mayo, and Mexico independence celebration, we have also worked with the immigrant and refugee center of northern Colorado for performance’s, and will host our first ever Alma’s Que Bailan celebration for the day of the dead at the union colony civic center. I am where I am at today through the beautiful Latinx community in Greeley, Co. Truly, we have such a united and strong community within Greeley and I have loved connecting my group with this community. Starting this business has been very challenging. From the busy nights making braids, coming up with choreography, or even learning about taxes. I know, that within the community we have created and are apart of, someone will have my back with any trouble that may come up. Parents have been amazing stepping up and creating props, family and friends have connected me with other businesses and organizations, and i have never truly felt like I was doing it alone. I now know what community is and why it is so important to connect with others.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First, I would take them to have breakfast and the original pancake house in Fort Collins because they have the best gluten free pancakes and orange juice! After that, we would go on a hike through horse tooth reservoir. After our hike, we would eat at exploradomarket and then enjoy and movie at the drive inn theater in Fort Collins!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to shoutout my mom. Truly she is the most amazing, hardworking woman I have ever met. Without her, I would have never been able to achieve this dance group. She is the reason I started dancing, and she is the reason I will continue to dance and spread the love for Folklorico. My mom has always been very involved with all of my passions, especially with Folklorico. She never missed a practice, never missed a performance, and always provided whatever I needed for dance. If we weren’t able to afford a Folklorico accessory, she was there selling tamales, making raffles, and working hard to be able to help me. Now that I am a Folklorico teacher, she is front and center making sure all of our dresses are being sent, driving up from Denver every Friday to be present, and continues to raise money for all of our events. I am so thankful for my mom and without her I would not be where I’m at today.

Website: https://abfm.my.canva.site/

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