[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 30 (Monday, March 4, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E234]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         LAS VEGAS DANCE TROUPE TO PERFORM IN INAUGURAL PARADE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DINA TITUS

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 4, 2013

  Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, Las Vegans take pride in the different 
cultural heritages and traditions that have enriched our community, and 
contributed to our distinct identity.
  Today, I stand to recognize a Las Vegas dance group that truly 
embodies this spirit, Comparza Morelense.
  Rooted in their Mexican heritage, Comparza Morelense is well known 
throughout Southern Nevada, performing traditional dances and songs at 
numerous festivals and fairs for the last two years.
  This January, Comparza Morelense's hard work and dedication were 
rewarded with an invitation to perform in the President's Inauguration 
Parade.
  As the only Nevadan group invited to participate in the Parade, this 
was truly a prestigious honor.
  On Inauguration Day, I proudly cheered them on as they represented 
not only Las Vegas and Nevada, but their rich cultural heritage as 
well.
  Wolf Blitzer, newsman from CNN, also commented that the group with 
the beautiful costumes from the state of Morelos was the most colorful 
entry in the parade.
  I submit the Las Vegas Sun article, ``Las Vegas dance troupe to 
perform in Inaugural Parade,'' written by Tovin Lapan on January 10, 
2013.

         Las Vegas Dance Troupe to Perform in Inaugural Parade

                            (By Tovin Lapan)

       In the past two years, the Las Vegas dance troupe Comparza 
     Morelense has quadrupled in size and gone from dancing at 
     birthday parties and first communions to winning multiple 
     parade trophies and performing in November at the Latin 
     Grammys.
       Despite the rapid rise in the group's popularity, no one 
     expected the invite that arrived Dec. 20. In fact, some 
     members of the group demanded to see proof the White House 
     had indeed requested they participate in the parade at the 
     57th presidential inauguration.
       ``I submitted an application because (the parade 
     organizers) asked us to. I think someone from the campaign 
     saw us last year,'' said Stephanie Padilla, one of the 
     group's members. ``I got the email saying we were invited, 
     and the first thing I did was tell my mom. She called the 
     other dancers, and they didn't believe her. So, we had to 
     show the letter to everyone.''
       Comparza Morelense started with 11 members in December 
     2010. The group now counts 40 members, ranging in age from 9 
     months to 65 years old, among its ranks. About 25 dancers 
     will make the trip to Washington, D.C., to participate in the 
     Jan. 21 Inaugural Parade.
       Jesus Padilla and Maria Garcia, Stephanie's parents and co-
     founders of the group, started the dance troupe with other 
     family members to help keep alive a tradition from their 
     home, the Mexican state of Morelos.
       ``We started the group because we would dance after family 
     dinners and parties, but we wanted a more formal way to share 
     the tradition and our culture,'' Garcia said in Spanish. ``We 
     never thought it would lead to performing for the president. 
     I think it reflects the president's interest in all of the 
     races and cultures in the country, and how he seeks 
     participation from all corners.''
       The Presidential Inaugural Committee is attempting to 
     choose representatives from each state for the parade, and 
     Comparza Morelense is the only invitee from Nevada so far, a 
     committee spokeswoman said. In making its choices, the 
     committee considers the type of performance, reviews videos 
     and weighs how each potential participant would represent 
     U.S. history, diversity and commitment to service.
       The elation of inclusion for Comparza Morelense, however, 
     was soon followed by the reality of funding and logistics. * 
     * * fundraiser, featuring food, games, a raffle and dance 
     performance, from 4 p.m. to midnight Saturday at Elegante 
     Banquet Hall, 3020 E. Bonanza Rd.
       During a demonstration for media this week, the group's 
     speakers cracked, popped and then conked out more than once. 
     Garcia said Comparza Morelense typically would use a pickup 
     truck and its own sound system during a parade, but for the 
     Inaugural Parade the members would like to hire a DJ with 
     professional equipment or, more traditionally, a live band.
       No matter what, Comparza Morelense will make it all work, 
     Garcia said, beaming with a wide smile at the thought of how 
     far the group has come.
       ``When we started, we only set out to share this dance and 
     piece of our culture with the community,'' Garcia said. ``Now 
     we get to go perform for the president. It's amazing.''
       Pablo Soriano, a 12-year-old who joined the group just a 
     few months ago and will travel to Washington, dances in a 
     black velvet costume embroidered with images of the sun and 
     Tigger, from Winnie the Pooh.
       ``I like everything about the dance,'' Pablo said. ``I like 
     the jumping. You get exercise. You sweat. My mom and dad are 
     from Morelos, and I feel like I'm carrying on the traditions. 
     I also like how there are so many different cultures mixed 
     together.''
       The dancers are called ``Chinelos,'' and their origin dates 
     to the Spanish conquest of Mexico. The indigenous people were 
     persecuted and not allowed to openly practice their own 
     religion. During Lent and Carnival, emboldened by the ability 
     to wear masks in the festivities, some indigenous people wore 
     costumes mocking the Europeans and danced through the 
     streets. The Chinelos from Morelos, where in the colonial era 
     there were large sugar plantations, are some of the first and 
     most well known.
       ``The priests didn't let the indigenous people practice 
     their customs, and they had no rights,'' Garcia said in 
     Spanish. ``When they had the chance (at Carnival preceding 
     Lent), they put on costumes and made fun of them.''
       The costumes are elaborate and take between one and two 
     months to make, Garcia said. The masks are typically light in 
     color and feature a pointy upturned beard, a clear holdover 
     from the dance's roots in imitating Europeans.
       The costumes, made from velvet, are embroidered with 
     elaborate designs that reflect the dancer's interests and 
     often meld motifs from politics, religion and both European 
     and Mexican culture. Some are images of indigenous Mexican 
     mythology, many have depictions of the Virgin of Guadalupe, 
     and others feature skulls, dragons, swords and even Disney 
     characters.
       The dance is called the ``Brinco del Chinelo'' (Jump of the 
     Chinelo) and is left open to interpretation by the individual 
     dancer. For the Inaugural Parade, however, Comparza Morelense 
     is planning to do some extra choreography in an effort to 
     present a more unified form for their moment in the national 
     spotlight, Garcia said.

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