Dancing through culture: how Raíces de Mi Tierra builds community in Kansas
The folkloric dance company, which includes performers from preschoolers to adults, is 'for anyone seeking growth and a place where they feel welcome.'
This story is reprinted with permission from our friends at Planeta Venus, a Wichita-based, bilingual news outlet that serves readers across Kansas. Lea esta historia en español.
“La vida es un carnaval” is a well-known phrase from Cuban singer Celia Cruz. It captures how many in Latin America view life — as a carnival. There is no better way to describe the vibrant culture, color, and folklore in Latin American countries. Latin America breathes art. If you have ever visited, you know what we mean.
But what happens when Latinos migrate to countries with unfamiliar cultures? What happens to Latinos involved in the arts in the United States? What about here in Kansas?
Planeta Venus spoke with Maira Castañeda, a chemical engineer who turned her life around to pursue a career in professional folkloric dance in Mexico. Castañeda moved to Wichita 16 years ago to start her family, dedicating herself to raising her children and stepping away from her passion for dance. She did not reconnect with the arts until a decade later. “During those 10 years, I missed a way to express myself,” she said.
“Dancing has always been a form of expression for me, and the hardest thing was feeling empty. Realizing I couldn’t express my emotions was incredibly difficult. Dancing was a need I had.”
Castañeda believes Wichita has lacked art activities that actively invite Latino community members to participate, though she has seen positive changes in recent years. “I believe the Latino community wasn’t as present as it is today. Our culture wasn’t as widely known a decade ago as it is now,” she said.
Ten years after arriving in Wichita, Castañeda was invited to join Raíces de Mi Tierra, a folkloric dance group founded by Latino mothers wanting their children to experience Latin American culture and roots. After learning about her background, the group asked Castañeda to teach children ages 6 to 8. Today, she serves as the group’s creative director.
A bigger picture in the works
Viviana Macedo, an active member of the Wichita community for more than 25 years, is board president of Raíces de Mi Tierra. She has spent much of her career in the nonprofit sector and now serves on fewer boards to spend more time with her family. It was her daughter who connected her to Raíces de Mi Tierra.
“I came across Raíces de Mi Tierra through my daughter,” Macedo said. “She’s the only one of my children who wasn’t interested in sports. She’d seen girls dancing folklore and was determined to join.”
When Macedo’s daughter joined Raíces de Mi Tierra, Castañeda was ready to take the group to the next level and establish it as a nonprofit organization. Macedo helped incorporate the organization, and the two now work to sustain its growth.
Community impact beyond dancing
Research shows that access to the arts can improve mental health and quality of life. Macedo says her daughter’s self-confidence has grown since she began dancing. “I’ve seen her develop discipline and learn to project herself,” she said. “She now speaks publicly during presentations, not just dances. It’s been amazing growth.”
Both Castañeda and Macedo believe that when a child understands their culture and identity, their self-esteem grows. “A child with high self-esteem can face challenges better, giving them tools for the future,” Macedo said. “Creating a space where kids from different backgrounds can focus on something positive is important to us.”
According to Castañeda, Raíces de Mi Tierra has grown from a parent-led group into a nonprofit with an organized structure. “Some members want to take our culture beyond community events and focus on education,” she said.
Individual and group challenges
Art can be costly — especially dance, which often requires specific costumes for various themes. Castañeda says parents face many challenges in supporting their children, from financial constraints to finding transportation and being available for practices and events.
Raíces de Mi Tierra has existed for several years but has yet to find an ideal practice space. Castañeda expressed gratitude for spaces that have hosted them, but said the group has yet to secure a permanent location with proper flooring, mirrors, and storage for costumes.
For both Castañeda and Macedo, the mission goes beyond dancing. They want Raíces de Mi Tierra to be sustainable, welcoming people from all backgrounds. The organization now includes adults as well as children. Macedo said the board aims to honor each member’s contributions.
“Maira is our creative director, and her pay should reflect her talent. For instance, we have a sewist who makes our costumes, and she sets her own prices. We ensure everyone is compensated fairly,” Macedo said. “Just because someone is from our community doesn’t mean they should be paid less.”
Castañeda, who has found joy in teaching, and Macedo, who sees Raíces de Mi Tierra as a way to empower young people, are dedicated to motivating and leading others to grow the organization.
Finding success and sustainability
Raíces de Mi Tierra now has 60 dancers, from preschoolers to adults. The group performs at community events and schools. Classes are structured by skill level and begin every semester, with each class meeting twice a week. “I have to be there every day, as I teach all the classes,” Castañeda said. “That’s why having more structure and administrative support was so important to me.”
Plans are underway to create a website, which will provide information about the group’s events and how to arrange performances in the community.
When asked how the public can support Raíces de Mi Tierra, Macedo responded, “It’s a combination of things: promoting our group as an organization, helping others learn who we are, and inviting us to events, as our members need the exposure. Financial support is welcome, whether through hiring us for performances or making donations.”
Castañeda and Macedo emphasize that Raíces de Mi Tierra is for everyone. “This group is for anyone seeking growth and a place where they feel welcome,” Castañeda said. “I’d like to invite anyone and everyone to join us.”
Raíces de Mi Tierra dancers take classes twice a week and perform at events across the city. Photos courtesy of Maira Castañeda.
Claudia Amaro is the editor-in-chief of Planeta Venus, a Wichita-based bilingual news outlet that publishes original reporting and information in translation to readers across Kansas. Amaro also provides translation and marketing services through her business ABC Bilingual Resources.
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