People of Central: Karol Lepe-Perez and Marissa Huitrón Cárdenas

Story and photos by: Alivia Cranick

On Tuesday and Thursday nights, while many students are in the library finishing assignments, the sound of music and stomping heels fills a practice space at Central Michigan University.

For members of Ballet Folklórico de la Luz, those two hours of rehearsal are more than dance practice — they are a break from stress, a connection to culture and a sense of belonging.

For Karol Lepe-Perez, a freshman animation major, joining the group felt natural before she even stepped on campus.

“I actually remember seeing a picture of one of the dancers on social media before I even looked into Central,” Lepe-Perez said, “I was like, oh cool, they must have some sort of dance group.”

After watching the organization perform at MainStage, she knew she wanted to be involved.

“I would say that the group itself means like a family to me,” she said, “It’s a really homey place. It means a safe space. After all my classes and everything, I like to go there to unwind.”

Marissa Huitrón Cárdenas joined after transferring from community college, encouraged by a friend to attend a practice.

“I came in, saw the dancers, and I was like, yeah, I really like this. I feel like this is right at home,” Huitrón Cárdenas said.

For her, the organization has strengthened her connection to her culture.

“It’s given me a family outside — a home away from home,” she said. “It’s taught me more about my culture. Things that I didn’t know before, I’ve learned because of being part of this group.”

Balancing rehearsals with college life is not always easy. The group practices twice a week, often preparing for major showcases.

“I think the biggest challenge would be deciding whether or not to go to practice if I have a lot of homework,” Lepe-Perez said, “but I personally think that it’s important for me to go there because I have at least those two hours where I just don’t think about schoolwork.”

Huitrón Cárdenas, who is also a resident assistant, said time management has been her biggest obstacle. “I’ve had to prioritize my education before coming,” she said.

“We’re big on education comes first,” Huitrón Cárdenas said. “We’ve even canceled practice to study.”

Lepe-Perez agreed. “We don’t pressure people to go if their academics are more important at the moment,” she said.

Beyond dance, Lepe-Perez is also a violinist and hopes to expand the group’s cultural impact even further. She began playing in sixth grade and is now working toward starting a mariachi group on campus that could collaborate with Ballet Folklórico de la Luz to provide live music at performances.

“I play the violin, and it’s one of the main instruments in mariachi,” she said, “if I play the song, you guys can dance to it, and it’s almost like a live music kind of thing instead of just from a speaker.”

For both dancers, the performances make the long rehearsals worth it.

“Hearing people say, ‘I’ve never seen anything like that,’ is really rewarding,” Lepe-Perez said.

Huitrón Cárdenas said the biggest takeaway is the sense of comfort and pride the group creates.

“It’s given me a safe space to express myself and not feel ashamed of it,” she said.

As they balance classes, leadership roles and rehearsals, members of Ballet Folklórico de la Luz prove that culture and academics can go hand in hand — and that sometimes, the best way to manage college stress is through music, movement and community.