Today we’d like to introduce you to Aileen Villalba.
Hi Aileen, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m Aileen. Raised in Asuncion, Paraguay, originally from San Juan-Puerto Rico. My parents are from Paraguay (dad) and Bolivia (mom).
I arrived in 2000 in the USA with dreams of following a dancing career, and getting an education. I went to Brigham Young University and got a Bachelor’s in Dance in 2007. I am a dance teacher and educator, I work with very young children to adults. I am also one of the Rehearsal Directors with Living Legends, one of Brigham Young University’s dance companies and I am a Fitness instructor as well. I love the work that I do and I am grateful every single day.
Throughout my years performing at BYU with different dance companies and at cultural events throughout the community I felt more and more the desire to share the culture in which I was raised, there is so much beauty in it and the fact that I didn’t see it being shown in the community gave me the desires to share it even more. Dance has always been a way to express my emotions, dreams, and how I see and feel life. My education and training in dance have allowed me to provide quality teaching to my dancers in the group.
Paraguay Presente was born out of the dream of having an opportunity to share with our community the beauty of the Paraguayan people, its culture, and traditions through music and dance. We tell stories of the past, present, and future with our dances and choreography. Our dancers are ambassadors and we appreciate our Latin heritage. We want to share our joy and love of our culture with our community.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There are always struggles and learning curves. Leading a group always presents challenges, working with different personalities and talents so that everyone shines in their own right.
Commitment is always a big struggle for many, it does require time to perfect the art and present something well-prepared. Getting customers and accessories is a big one. Many can’t be made here has to be brought from Paraguay.
Also, just learning which opportunities are the best for the group overall.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Paraguay Presente?
Paraguay Presente is the premier Paraguayan Dance group in Utah. We focus on representing Paraguay, its culture, and traditions through music and dance. All of our costumes are originally made by Paraguayan Artists and brought from Paraguay.
We are the only group in Utah that solely focuses on representing Paraguayan dances and studies its technique, traditions, and choreography. Students in the group receive quality dance training, as a former ballet dancer and fitness instructor I understand the importance for dancers to keep their bodies strong and healthy to prevent injuries and perform their best. I strive for our dancers to receive quality training.
One of my most proud creations has been creating my most iconic choreography “El Pajaro Campana” to the music of the same name. This choreography has been shared through Facebook and TikTok all over the world. It makes me so happy that people and Paraguayans from all over the world can enjoy it and feel proud of their heritage. Also, creating new and unique contemporary choreography that blends the modern with the old traditions has been a key signature for our group.
Among other amazing performing opportunities Paraguay Presente had the opportunity to perform on stage with the Latin Grammy-nominated folk music group “Tierra Adentro” last July 2023, and it was an amazing opportunity for us!
Proud of all the dancer’s work!
Paraguay Presente is for everyone who desires to dance! We offer classes and performance opportunities for young, adults and even couples.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
I have been blessed. Even though I have faced challenges every step of the way I see the daily miracles and how things always fall into place and work out.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paraguaypresente/
- Other: forms.gle/oGFFRnM1zAAoi8vo9
Image Credits
Dulce Paredes and Carolina Ochoa Lindsay
