Mexican Traditions Come Alive in Washington, DC.
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Alejandro Góngora is the founder and artistic director of Corazón Folklórico DC, a dance group in Washington, D.C. He was born in San Diego, California, to Mexican immigrant parents. From a young age, he loved folkloric dance, which helped him stay strong during tough times, including a period when he had no home.
In high school, Alejandro joined a folklórico dance club. The community he found there gave him support and hope. Later, in college, he studied sociology and led a dance group called Raíces de mi Tierra. Through dance, he started exploring themes like gender, immigration, and identity. These ideas helped shape his style and made his work more inclusive and powerful.
When Alejandro moved to Washington, D.C., he missed the music, food, and culture from his home. In 2017, he started Corazón Folklórico DC to bring those things back into his life and share them with others. Even with little money and no space, he worked hard to make the group a place where people could connect through Mexican dance.
The group began by offering free folklórico classes so that everyone, no matter their income, could join. Over time, they grew and performed at major places like the Kennedy Center and the Mexican Cultural Institute. Although they faced challenges, they got help from local libraries and raised funds to buy traditional costumes.
Alejandro’s goal is to grow the group, have a permanent space, and offer more classes. He wants folklórico to be a way for people to feel united, seen, and proud of their roots. For Alejandro, folklórico is more than dance. It is family, healing, and community.
