Des Plaines woman saves dance company

When Maria Reyna decided to take the reins of Sol Azteca, a Mexican folkloric youth dance group affiliated with St. Mary's Parish in Des Plaines, she wasn't exactly fired up about it.

But it pained her too much to think that an enterprise that had been around for nearly two decades might dissolve for lack of leadership.

Thanks to her effort, the group is now collaborating with the Grammy-nominated folk group Sones de Mexico, based in Chicago.

On Saturday, Aug. 22, Sones de Mexico will perform live during Sol Azteca's yearly anniversary performance titled "Mexico: Alegria y Nostalgia" (Mexico: Joy and Longing). The choreography was developed under the guidance of Sones de Mexico dancer Lorena Iñiguez.

"We are very excited," said Reyna, of Des Plaines. "This has been great for us."

Sol Azteca started 19 years ago when a group of Des Plaines moms decided they wanted to keep their kids off the street while preserving their Mexican roots and heritage.

Over the years, it grew from just a few kids practicing in a basement to 30 members who got together at St. Mary's auditorium.

After the group's founder, Nancy Chavez, left about three years ago, the older dancers took over to teach the little ones, Reyna said. The group even had a guest choreographer from Mexico City for about six months, but eventually things fizzled out.

Reyna's children, Marisol, now 17, and Juan, now 21, had been dancers since they were little and she knew what a positive influence it had on them.

"They learn about their heritage and their culture, and they preserve tradition," she said. "I saw so much talent, and I felt so bad that the group was going to end."

So last year she decided to give it her best shot and started to choreograph the 17 dancers, ages 5 to 21, relying on what she learned throughout the years by observing practice.

"Imagine starting something like this in my 40s," she said. "I did dance when I was younger in Mexico, but I never focused on it, I had other interests. It's been hard, for sure."

Reyna first reached out to Sones de Mexico last year, and the two groups performed together in the summer of 2008.

"Maria asked if we were interested in collaborating," Iñiguez said. "Sones has been doing this since 1996 for several dance companies in the area of Chicago and the suburbs, so of course we did it."

Iñiguez said she saw that the group had passion and even talent but was still amateurish.

"I asked (Reyna), with all due respect, if she'd be interested in some guidance, and she said yes," she said.

Iñiguez and Reyna applied for an ethnic and folk arts master/apprentice grant from the Illinois Art Council and have been working together on new choreography since February.

Iñiguez's lead has energized the kids, who feel a renewed sense of pride in what they are doing.

"It has been great to work with (Iñiguez), we have learned a lot from her. I really like having her teaching us," Marisol Reyna said. "It's a commitment to be part of this; it takes up a lot of time, but it's worth it."

Emanuel Villalobos, 14, one of only three boys in the group, said that dancing plus baseball and guitar practice make for a busy life, but he enjoys participating nonetheless. "It's really good to learn the Mexican tradition," he said.

Sol Azteca performed at a festival in Oshkosh, Wis., last month, and they were so well-received that they were booked again for next year, Iñiguez said.

The Aug. 22 repertoire will include pre-Hispanic Aztec dances, plus typical dances from the various regions of Mexico.

For some, Sol Azteca has become a family tradition.

Elizabeth Ramirez, 26, of Glendale Heights, was a member of Sol Azteca when she was a young girl. Now, her daughter, Arlete Montserrat, age 5, and her youngest sister, Cecilia, 17, are part of the group.

"(My daughter) is only 5 years old, but she loves it. She loves the heritage, she loves the beautiful bright dresses," Ramirez said.

"All of this is really awesome. First of all it's her culture, and, second, because it's something that I was doing in the past and now it's hers, so the legacy is going on."

Mexico: Nostalgia y Alegria

Dance by Sol Azteca de Santa Maria, music by Sones de Mexico

Where: Prairie Lakes Theatre, 515 E. Thacker St., Des Plaines

When: 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22. Expo with show at 7 p.m.

Tickets: $10 adults, $5 children. (847) 712-1095, (847) 372-2197