White land, Colorful music

One company's unique spin on folk dance

Boom ching ching, boom ching ching. If you know traditional Mexican music, you know the tune well. It is the sound of heritage, a celebration of folklore...and a repetitive repeating redundant beat.

But Saturday at El Pueblo in Downtown L.A., a dance company was dancing a different tune. Dancers in long vibrant skirts wove patterns with their arms and told stories with their feet, this time to a blend of musical influences.

I caught up with the director of the Tierra Blanca Dance Company, Blanca Soto and her husband Gerardo Gutierrez, artistic director, to find out what their unique ingredient was.

What does the company name signify?

Soto: My husband lived close to these two mountains in Mexico City and he took a picture of it. When I saw the mountain covered with snow, for me the land was covered with the purity of heaven. Tierra Blanca [white land] stands for the purity that our land offers. Our land is open and welcomes everybody.

What type of dance do your students perform?

Soto: We try to combine different types to understand Los Angeles and the community. Musicians in Mexico get their influence from Colombia, Africa and America and its a wonderful mixture with music. If music is doing the crossover, I don’t think dance should be the exception. We do that by recognizing all the influences that we have.

Gutierrez: We take traditional folk steps and put it to new music. Especially here in L.A. with new influences like Banda, Polish. European and hip-hop, you cannot keep the same music. Today is different and we try to make that appealing for today’s youngsters. You need to know where you come from to move forward, and in order for folklore to survive it has to be challenged.

How much do you charge for class?

Soto: It varies. The YMCA proposed that the kids can use all their services for the $20 membership fee. It’s great, so the kids can take class twice a week and be members of the YMCA. For twice a week, 45 minutes a class, the fee is $20 [a month.] For 90 minutes, twice a week, its $35.

Why do you teach?

Soto: I think the excuse is dancing. Really our motive is to get them involved with the arts. This is another door to see life in a different way, to provide options.
We take them to high caliber performances like Wicked, to see the Nutcracker and get inspired. To identify with other Hispanics and see that they can be on stage as well. We try to get them involved in community service at the hospital and perform at a convalescent home for older people, to appreciate life.

What is important for a dancer to know?

Soto: It is important that everybody knows the basics, ballet technique, the mother of all dances. But you also need to take several techniques to become yourself in expression and to find your own way. You have all these tools and now you can build yourself as a dancer. The most important thing is to understand what you are going to express to the audience, because in that way, you are not just a dancer, you are a performer.

Soto demonstrates a contribution to the arts through tradition and culture. She said her goal is to get the kids off the streets and develop confidence in themselves.

To get your own taste of their style check out a class or future performance.
Tierra Blanca offers classes, at the Huntington Park YMCA, to students ranging from 3 years old to adults. More information on classes and performance dates can be found at the Tierra Blanca Arts Center website.