When the lights dim and the music swells, a troupe of Cobden High School students step into the spotlight with skirts swirling, boots pounding, and wide-brimmed hats lifted high. This is no ordinary school activity—it is the ESL Folkloric Dance Team, and their performances have become one of the region’s most inspiring celebrations of culture, community, and courage.

The group, now in its seventh season, began as the vision of ESL teacher and coach, Ms. Angelica Guijon and Esmeralda Tomas, themselves the daughters of migrant parents. She remembers traveling with her family to pick oranges in Florida, attending Cobden’s migrant summer school, and learning traditional dances from visiting professors from Mexico. “That’s how I learned to dance,” she recalled, “and I didn’t want it to be lost.” What started as an idea to keep traditions alive for students has since grown into something far bigger: a vibrant reminder that heritage belongs in the heart of community life.

The team’s repertoire draws from across Mexico—Michoacán, Guanajuato, Veracruz, Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Chiapas, Jalisco—and now is expanding to include Colombian traditions. Each state’s unique costumes, music, and steps become a stage for students to honor the places their families come from. For grandparents in the audience, seeing dances they haven’t witnessed in decades is an emotional homecoming. For the students, it is an education in identity.

“Being part of this team is like saying, ‘We’re still here,’” said Zonia Zamora. “Sometimes nobody talks about us, but this shows our culture is alive.” Her words echo what many in the group feel—that dance is both celebration and statement. As Angelica put it, “We’re not going to hide. We’ll be loud, and we’ll be proud”.

The courage to be visible matters. Some students admitted they hesitated at first, worried about stage fright or standing out. But once they saw their peers performing, they were drawn in. “When I first saw them, they were so loud and embracing their culture,” said Miguel Mendez, who joined soon after. Guadalupe Zamora added, “I’ve always loved to dance. Seeing the team made me want to join right away—and my family loves to watch me perform.”

Family is central to everything. Younger siblings often tag along to practices, sometimes joining in from the corners of the gym. Parents livestream shows for relatives who can’t attend. One mother has become the unofficial “Facebook Live” operator, ensuring the joy of each performance extends far beyond Cobden.

The team has taken its artistry well beyond school walls—performing at John A. Logan College, Southern Illinois University, Alto Vineyards, Unity Point, Trico, and even at Rendelman Orchards’ 150th anniversary celebration.  Their Day of the Dead performance with masks and candlelight stunned audiences at the downtown Cobden Park on Halloween Night. “We didn’t expect that many people,” Angelica admitted. “We had people driving hours, even from Chicago. That was when we realized this was bigger than us.”

These dances are not just entertainment—they are teaching moments. Every October, the team explains that Día de los Muertos is not Halloween but a memorial day to honor loved ones who have passed. In May, they mark Cinco de Mayo with equal care, reminding audiences that cultural traditions carry deep meaning. “It’s about memorializing, about remembering who came before us,” said Angelica. “That’s important for all of us”.

Behind the traditional wardrobe and choreography are students with everyday hopes and plans. Some are preparing for college—dreaming of pediatrics, cosmetology, or military service. Others are considering trade schools or local programs. But all of them balance rehearsals with schoolwork, jobs, and family responsibilities. Angelica sets clear expectations: “They must keep their grades up and commit to the team. It’s not easy, but they make it happen.”

Perhaps the most remarkable part of the ESL Folkloric Dance Team is the way it has reshaped community life in Cobden. Once regarded as outsiders, Spanish-speaking families now see their culture embraced, celebrated, and applauded. “At first, locals didn’t know what to make of us,” Angelica reflected. “But now they regard us as part of their own.”

In a small community known for orchards and tradition, the team has become both a symbol and bridge. Through music, movement, and memory, these students remind everyone—neighbors, families, strangers—that culture is not meant to be silenced. It is meant to be danced, loudly and proudly, under the bright lights of the stage.

A Night of Light, Color, Family, and Memories

Every October, the ESL Folkloric Dance Team turns Cobden into a living altar of remembrance with its breathtaking Día de los Muertos performance.

The students dance in the dark, their movements illuminated by candlelight and punctuated by masks that shimmer with color and tradition. Families watch in awe, many moved to tears as generations connect through music and motion.

Coach Angelica Guijon insists the performance is more than spectacle—it is education. “We make sure to tell everyone it’s not Halloween,” she explains. “It’s our way of remembering and honoring those we’ve lost, like a memorial day.”

For grandparents, it recalls customs from long ago. For the young, it’s a powerful discovery of heritage. And for the wider community, it is a profound reminder that culture thrives when it is celebrated boldly, beautifully, and together.