Select dancers from Ballet Folklórico Estrella del Mar recently had the honor to perform with The Mexican Folkloric Dance Company of Chicago on the Jay Pritzker Pavilion stage. They, in turn, joined the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance and Cuerdas Clásicas at the event Somos Un Solo Pueblo, México y Puerto Rico. Showing a burst of color and cultural pride are four BFEDM dancers and their mothers: Isabella Contreras, Cynthia Ramirez, Sara Hernández, Michaela Hernandez, Mia Lagunas, Lourdes Castro-Lagunas, Itzel Gonzalez and Evelyn Gonzalez. Founded eight years ago at St. Mary Star of the Sea School, BFEDM teaches traditional Mexican dance to boys and girls. Its students have performed to acclaim, both in the West Lawn neighborhood and citywide. Other BFEDM students performing in the citywide event late last month were Julian Velasquez and Marko Hernández. – Photo by Jesús González