Flurries of color, music and students gathered on a stage at Cedar Ridge High School Nov. 11-12 dancing to festive Spanish music. The event was the annual Round Rock ISD event Fiesta Mexicana

“I believe events like Fiesta Mexicana are important because folklorico shows allow students to share Mexican culture, history and traditions with others, through dance,” Marisa Cano, the ballet folklorico instructor, said.

McNeil, Cedar Ridge, Round Rock, Stony Point, Hernandez Middle School, RRISD All District High School Program, and the RRISD All District Middle School Program participated in the event.

“The other schools had harder dances,” senior and captain Kelli Tondre said.

Despite different levels of routines, McNeil got on stage three times, dancing their best with their long, bright and colourful dresses.

“I find it fun,” freshman Avril Barrera-Hernandez said. “You get to dance with pretty skirts.”

The costumes consisted of colors ranging from orange, pink, red, blue, and green. The costumes were specifically picked to match the states of Mexico which they represented. The regions McNeil represented were Hidalgo, Nayarit and Jalisco. Their costumes were more traditional, while some other schools had a western touch to their costumes.

Along with the costumes, Fiesta Mexicana continued the Hispanic touch by performing to Spanish music. The songs which McNeil danced to were ‘“Tepezintleco,” “Majhua,” and “Potpurri”. The schools kept the authenticity by making loud whistles and high pitched noises.

“I think it was good,” Barrera-Hernandez said. “We all put a lot of effort into it.”