Saturday, Feb. 22, marked the beginning of the 12th year for Clarke Elementary’s Young Ambassadors to gather and begin learning the folkloric dances of Mexico.
Twenty-six children came from 9 to 11 a.m. to the gym and lined up practicing the various steps and movements of several complicated dances.
Their teacher, Mrs. Hilda Ramos Contreras, has her own dance troupe in Des Moines, but continues to travel to Osceola to help those interested in participating in this Clarke tradition.
Each year, the students practice after school and several Saturdays in order to prepare for their performance for their families and kindergarten through third-graders. This year’s dance presentation will be Friday, May 2, at 2:10 p.m. in the gym at Clarke Community Elementary School.