Nicolás Castellanos and Yesenia Molina work together on a number during rehearsal this week.

Esperanza Del Valle dance captain Noé Galmez makes sure the choreography is understood by the dancers.

Ana Hurtado-Aldana and the rest of the dancers of Esperanza Del Valle and honored guests from Ballet Folklórico del Puerto de Veracruz de la Universidad Veracruzana fill the dance studio at the Cabrillo College Watsonville campus dance studio with color, joy and energy Tuesday night. The troupe was rehearsing for their 45th anniversary “Espíritu de México” celebration coming up April 4-6 at the Crocker Theater at Cabrillo’s main campus in Aptos. The celebration will feature live music with guest artists Nematatlín de la Universidad Veracruzana and Mariachi Tapatio de San José. Folklórico del Puerto de Veracruz artistic director Daniel Del Valle Hernández and three of his dancers will also be part of the performance. Founded in 1980, Esperanza Del Valle is a Mexican folklórico dance company in Watsonville dedicated to the dissemination, preservation and performance of the rich traditional dance forms of Mexican dance. The company works to promote pride and understanding of the Mexican culture through its rich folkloric dances rooted in the merging of the Indigenous, European and African heritages. “Espíritu de México” performances will be staged the evenings of April 4-5 with an afternoon performance on April 6. Go to cabrillo.edu/vapa/#events for information and tickets.

Ana Paulina De León brings pride and concentration to rehearsal. Color and motion are hallmarks of folklórico dance.

Dancers from Esperanza Del Valle and Ballet Folklórico del Puerto de Veracruz de la Universidad Veracruzana rehearse into the night for their upcoming performance.