Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexa García Laínez.
Hi Alexa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Started dancing folklorico at 4 years old because my older sister was in dance. I thought it was fun to get to wear makeup and big dresses. I even got to hang out with my sister’s older friends, but then I made my own friends, and the challenge of learning something new and presenting it on stage was always exciting. I was in other activities growing up, but folklorico always found its way back to me. I remember being little and dreaming about having my own group one day, but as an adult, I never truly thought it would come to be. I had moved away from Kansas City and back several times, dancing along the way. When we finally decided that KC would always be home and came back in 2023, I knew I had to create my own folklorico space. I reached out to an old dance friend and asked her if she’d want to help me with a new project, Alma Tapatía. From there, the group had a steady number of 15 members in our first few months of practice. When we started posting more and performing out in the community, the group continued to grow. Now, we have over 50 dancers. I’m forever grateful for anyone who has danced with me and for the help I’ve had along the way. It’s been amazing to see the community that Alma Tapatía has become.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There are always ups and downs and learning curves. Running a dance company isn’t just creating shows- it’s finding where to practice, doing outreach for the group, and coordinating families for events, all on top of teaching classes and representing culture in the community. There are so many details that go into it, and so many chances for doubt to creep in. Questions like “Am I good enough?”, “Is this the right decision?”, “Do I keep going?” find their way in, but I’ve learned to ask for help and to take a step back when I notice those questions getting louder. Burnout is so real, but I’m truly grateful that I have a community of people who want to learn and grow, and who help me do the same. I’m forever grateful for any advice, critiques and encouragement I’ve received, and I’m excited to keep growing stronger for my dancers our supporters. There is no better feeling than seeing my dancers shine on stage after months of practice and hard work.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a director of a local folklorico group, Alma Tapatía. We have Mexican folklorico dance classes for ages 6+ and also perform out in the community at different events to showcase Mexican culture. I truly believe that dance is for everyone, and even though we dance Mexican folk, it doesn’t mean that you have to be Mexican to learn and appreciate the culture.
This past May, we organized a folklorico workshop called Corazón y Zapateado- the first of its kind in KC. We had 4 teachers come from Mexico for 3 full days of dance. One of my goals is to put Kansas City on the map in the folk world, and we felt like a workshop would accomplish just that. Not only did we have local dancers, but some who traveled from Omaha, St. Louis, and even Wyoming that shared 3 days together to learn, connect and grow as a community. While planning, organizing, and running a workshop of this level was new to us, the weekend made it all worth it. It still feels like a dream, and we’re excited to make the workshop an annual event.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
You can reach out to us on our socials or share our videos with others. We’re always up for a collaboration- especially to promote cultural arts.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gfalmatapatia.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/gfalmatapatia
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/gfalmatapatia
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@gfalmatapatia
- Other: https://tiktok.com/@gfalmatapatiakc
