Several dancers from the Calpulli Mexican Dance Company performed at Sussex Academy Elementary March 13, an opportunity for students to learn more about Mexican and Mexican-American culture.

The nonprofit dance company, which was founded in New York City in 2003, offers educational cultural programming for audiences of all ages and puts on dance and musical performances around the world.

Artistic director Alberto Lopez led the interactive workshop, teaching the kids about the cultural history of the different dances and costumes. Dancers Yisel Xique and Jose Rojas, who have been dancing for 17 years and 29 years, respectively, performed and answered students’ questions. 

The students and teachers even had the opportunity to learn some chants and try out some of the moves themselves. 

According to Xique, she and the other dancers typically rehearse four days a week, with each rehearsal lasting about four hours. They can learn most dances in one rehearsal, she added.

Lopez was in charge of making the costumes, each of which took about a week to make, he said.