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Latino Folkloric Spotlight – September 25th, 2025
at Wilbur Wright College
Thursday, September 25th, 2025Brochure
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Wilbur Wright College – Main Campus
4300 N. Narragansett Avenue, Chicago, IL 60634
Experience the vibrant tapestry of Latino folk traditions in an unforgettable evening showcasing seven distinguished cultural groups. From the highland rhythms of the Andes to the coastal celebrations of Central America, this opening night of the Chicago Latino Dance Festival presents authentic folkloric dances, traditional costumes, and live music that have been lovingly preserved across generations.
Featured Artists & Groups
Centro de Cultura, Información y Arte Centroamericano (CCIAC)
Representing: Costa Rica & Nicaragua
CCIAC has been the premier guardian of Central American culture in Chicago for over two decades. This distinguished ensemble specializes in the vibrant folk traditions of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, presenting regional dances such as the Punto Guanacasteco from Costa Rica and the traditional Palo de Mayo from Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast. Their authentic approach includes hand-crafted costumes recreated from historical patterns and live marimba accompaniment. CCIAC’s mission extends beyond performance to cultural education, offering workshops in traditional crafts, cooking, and dance to preserve Central American heritage for future generations. The group’s founders are immigrants who arrived in Chicago during the 1980s and established this cultural center to maintain connections to their homeland while building community in their new home.
Center of Peruvian Arts
Representing: Peru
Center of Peruvian Arts was founded in 2009 by Peruvian artists and educators Rubén Pachas and Jessica Loyaga, whose lifelong dedication to the dances of their ancestral cultures began in childhood. Trained in Peru through family traditions, formal art education, and their work with the Matices Peruanos Folkloric Cultural Institution, they have performed, researched, and taught folkloric dance for decades. The Center’s mission is to preserve and promote the rich diversity of Peru’s traditional dances, music, and cultural heritage through performance, education, and community engagement. Since its creation, the Center has brought authentic Peruvian folk dance programs to schools, universities, and cultural festivals across Illinois and beyond, including collaborations with the University of Chicago, Roosevelt University, and Chicago Public Schools. Through innovative programs such as Latin American Folk DanceFlyer Ho and teacher training initiatives the Center fosters cross-cultural understanding while keeping ancient traditions alive for new generations. They will present dances representing Andean and Amazonian traditions with some live music accompaniment.
Grupo Folklórico Venado
Representing: México
Grupo Folklórico Venado is dedicated to providing accessible and engaging after-school programs that celebrate and preserve cultural diversity. They aim to inspire the children and youth of Chicago by offering a safe, nurturing environment where they can explore the arts, develop new skills, and build lasting connections within their communities. Through their programs, they strive to enhance the quality of life for participants and create a brighter future for all. They will perform a variety of folkloric dance from different regions of Mexico.
Wayra Andina Folkloric Dance Group – Ecuador
Representing: Ecuador
Wayra Andina Folkloric Dance Group was founded in 2024 in Chicago with the mission to preserve and promote Ecuadorian heritage through the art of dance. Founded by Xavier Lalbay, a passionate dancer dedicated to his country’s traditions, the group focuses on learning and recreating traditional dances from Ecuador’s Andean regions, including the distinctive Danza Cayambeña. The company’s dancers, committed to authenticity and cultural respect, immerse themselves in comprehensive learning that encompasses research into traditional costumes, music, and the characteristic movements of each dance. Wayra Andina also dedicates itself to training new generations of dancers, transmitting knowledge and passion for folkloric dance to showcase Ecuadorian culture far from the homeland, ensuring the beautiful continuity of these treasured traditions through traditional dance that helps the community connect with their cultural roots.
BYNC – Ballet Folklórico
Representing: México
Located on the South Side of Chicago in the Back of the Yards Neighborhood, the Ballet Folklórico began operations in 1994, growing from a small extracurricular activities program with fewer than 15 participants to an award-winning and renowned dance group that has actively engaged more than 350 community members. BYNC has set itself the mission of researching, promoting, and disseminating the popular, and folkloric traditions of Mexico. The ensemble averages around 150 performances per year, before very diverse audiences in multiple venues and festivals throughout the United States and in Illinois and the Midwest. BYNC has collected nine “National Champion” titles and have exhibited their work before renowned researchers, choreographers, and masters of Mexican folklore. BYNC has also been invited to exhibit its work at prestigious cultural festivals in Mexico, including the Zacatecas International Folklore Festival, Mitote Folklórico, Fiestas de Octubre en Guadalajara, and the Mazatlán International Folklore Festival.
Transportation & Getting There
Public Transit Options
CTA Bus Routes
The venue is conveniently served by multiple CTA bus lines, with the nearest bus stop “Narragansett & Wright College (South)” just a 1-minute walk from the main entrance:
- Route 86: North Ave & Narragansett Terminal service
- Route 78: Forest Preserve Avenue & Harlem/Irving Park service
- Pulse Milwaukee Line: Rapid transit service
CTA L Train
Blue Line service is available, with the nearest station requiring approximately a 35-minute walk or connecting bus service. We recommend taking the Blue Line to Jefferson Park station, then connecting to bus service.
Metra Commuter Rail
Milwaukee District North Line provides suburban access, with Gladstone Park station approximately 36 minutes walking distance.
Service Schedule Information
Public transit service begins early morning with the first buses arriving at 4:52 AM and continues through late evening with the last buses departing at 11:01 PM, ensuring convenient access for our 6-8 PM event.
Parking & Accessibility
Wilbur Wright College offers free on-campus parking for evening events. The campus is located in Chicago’s Northwest Side Dunning neighborhood with easy highway access via I-294 and I-90. All campus buildings are ADA accessible, and special accommodations can be arranged by contacting the venue in advance.
Venue Information
About Wilbur Wright College
Established in 1934, Wilbur Wright College has been serving Chicago’s educational and cultural needs for over 90 years as part of the City Colleges of Chicago system. The campus regularly hosts community cultural events and provides professional theater and auditorium facilities perfect for folk dance presentations.
Venue Address:
Wilbur Wright College
4300 N. Narragansett Avenue
Chicago, IL 60634
Nearby Landmarks:
- Irving Park Road (major east-west corridor)
- Narragansett Avenue (major north-south corridor)
- Portage Park neighborhood
- Six Corners Shopping District
Event Logistics
- Doors Open: 5:30 PM
- Performance Start: 6:00 PM
- Estimated Duration: 2 hours including intermission
- Venue Capacity: 300 seats
- Age Recommendation: All ages welcome
- Photography: Permitted without flash during performances
Accessibility Services
- Wheelchair accessible entrances and seating
- Sign language interpretation available with 48-hour advance notice
Cultural Context & Significance
This opening night celebrates the foundational role of folk traditions in Latino cultural identity. Each performance represents centuries of cultural evolution, blending indigenous, European, and African influences that define contemporary Latino heritage. The evening demonstrates how dance serves as living history, preserving stories, celebrations, and spiritual practices that connect Chicago’s Latino community to their ancestral roots.
The participating groups represent a combined 150+ years of cultural preservation work in Chicago, making this event a rare opportunity to experience authentic folk traditions typically seen only during homeland festivals and family celebrations.
Presented by:
International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago (ILCC) • Celebrating 25 years in November!
For More Information:
Visit our website or contact our media relations office for press credentials and interview opportunities.