Today we’d like to introduce you to David Silos Aguirre.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My childhood was spent in Torreón, MX, where I served my neighbors with anything they needed. without imagining that my destiny would be to follow the steps that led me to so much more. My mother made the choice to immigrate where my father was working. In November 1994, due to her desire to be united as a family, in Logan, Utah (a place that had few Latino immigrants) we as a family decided to come to the states.
Mount Logan Middle School guided me to graduate from Logan High School. My desire to give form and shape and expression to my culture continued to thrive in me to show the world. Sayla Gorostieta, my wife, and I joined ties and hearts and along the way raised our four stars: Kallileia, Isaias, Amilia, and Adalia. Our treasured children and thus continue our project with their great support. I obtain my Bachelor of Business administration and work as a Payroll Coordinator in the urban area within the Intermountain Health Care chain.
Without forgetting my dream, one day I heard with great emotion, that my daughter Amilia told me how much she longed to be part of a Folkloric Ballet; I did not know that my professional career would take me away again, and for a few months from my goal: to create my own ballet. That is how in 2018 BALLET FOLKLÓRICO ECK JUVENIL emerged, a non-profit organization that has given us the opportunity to dance in some nursing homes, community festivals, and even perform in front of unexpected places and people such as the Baseball stadium of The Bees, facing then- Lieutenant Spencer Cox, Gary Herbert, former governor, and Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski and many others.
Equally unexpectedly was the display of our regional costumes inside the Utah Cultural Celebration Center with the partnership of the Mexican consulate. I pursue my dream so passionately that I decided in 2019 to organize a gala to raise funds and obtain more costumes created directly by Mexican hands and thus continue to directly support my people. As long as my heart continues beating, within it will be my family, my profession, my ECK YOUTH FOLKLÓRICO BALLET, and my desire to continue supporting the community that saw me birth this Ballet Folklorico and has been my wings to continue.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not always been a smooth road, like any other business starting up or just beginning there have been many struggles that the Ballet Folklorico has had to overcome. For example, Ballet Folklorico had to overcome the challenge that came in 2020, Covid-19.
In 2020 like most businesses had to close down and find new ways to continue learning from a distance in order to maintain safety. Later in 2021, we had a lot of dancers drop out due to fear of illness or lack of desire to continue.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Ballet Folklorico ECK?
The Ballet Folklorico ECK is the first known Folklorico that has a 501c and is a non-profit organization. The Ballet specializes in teaching youth about different Mexican cultures and the story behind all the dances, as well as teaching the youth how to become future leaders in their communities.
Something that sets the Ballet apart from others is we are kid based and our choreography is all home-based. Something else that sets the Ballet apart would be the partnership we have with Naucalli, a Ballet Folklorico team in Mexico. The Ballet is most proud of the gala they hold every September, to raise funds to help pay for the dance members’ outfits.
This year the gala will be held on September 9th at 801 event center in Salt Lake City. You can purchase tickets on 2myticket.com or on eventbrite.com.
What’s next?
The Ballet is working on building Casa Eck which will provide services for those in need. One thing that Casa Eck would provide would be resources and help with anything that is required with those taking classes with Ballet Folklorico Eck.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @balletfolkoricoeck
- Facebook: Ballet Folkorico ECK (ballet folkorico eck juvenile)
- Youtube: Ballet Folklorico ECK Juvenile Salt Lake City
Image Credits
Norma Carver Photography
