La Joya High School

La Joya High School's Grupo Folklorico “Tabasco'' will kick off the competition season on March 4th and 5th at UTRGV. If their performance proves worthy, the group will then proceed into State Qualification. In addition, if their Saturday performance is selected as one of three judges choices, they will perform in Sunday’s Gala Performance. Being selected to perform on Sunday “would be an honor” said Folklorico Director, Mr. Cristobal Rojas.  “You are considered to be one of the elite” if a group is selected to perform on Sunday.  After advancing, they will then be traveling to the State Competition in Corpus Christi, TX. Rojas also states, “We've traveled there before and we’ve been champions there before, state champions. The last time that we went was in 2019 and we came home being [named] the Grand Champions of the competition.  For us we will be returning as such and it's quite exciting, we’re super excited to return.” Grupo Folklorico Tabasco will then be traveling to San Antonio, TX on May 18th-21st for National Competition. The group of 52 members consists of not only dancers but managers and students that help with production. Due to COVID restrictions, they have not been able to compete since 2019.  Nonetheless, they will be returning to competition as defending Grand Champions. Rojas also states “ we have a very strong organization and it's been 41 years that this program has existed that has led this company to where it is today and also the tradition and the expectations that have been set every year. The students that pass through this organization set the expectation for the following year and it just gets better and the students that come into the organization quickly figure out that it’s a very demanding organization.” He describes his students as “regular students from La Joya High School that come from different middle schools where they either danced or they didn’t. I have students that have been dancing since sixth grade. I’ve got students that had siblings here that danced here before. And they just follow in their siblings or their parents footsteps. I’ve had students [who are 3rd generation members]. So, it’s just any [specific type of] student from La Joya High or from our community that enjoys or finds joy in music and in dance. We have students from all backgrounds. We have students who are also athletes. They play football, they're involved in sports or that are involved in extracurricular activities like UIL and NHS [to say the least]. You don’t have to have had experience to be a part of this organization. All you need to have is the want to be a part of it and the willingness to learn.” Mr. Rojas went on to say “A lot of students look at the performance and they feel like ‘OMG, it’s so hard!’ It takes time and it takes training just like everything else, but it is very doable. Anybody who wants to join [needs] to have patience for themselves because it will take time. [They] give it their all and we’re here to help. So again, they’re just regular students who are here everyday that are practicing long hours who are committed to the organization just like students are committed to other organizations. Any regular student.” This hardworking group of students have trained and practiced all year. However, for seniors, this will be their last year competing with this team. One of those seniors, Raul Gonzalez, had this to say about it, “being a part of a group like this for four years has been a wonderful experience. Because of this group, I have made many friends and many memories while keeping myself busy through high school. As a senior, I am coming to the end of my folklorico career and it’s sad. However, I would not trade this experience for anything else. Thank you [Grupo] Folklorico Tabasco!”