Grupo Folklórico from San Ysidro High School

In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, students from San Ysidro High’s Grupo Folklorico will perform for us.

Grupo Folklórico San Ysidro (GFSY) was founded by Mr. Lalo M. Hirsch in July of 2002. The group’s beginning coincided with the inception of San Ysidro High School as a new addition to the Sweetwater Union High School District in Chula Vista, CA. Dancers consist of high school and alumni students to SYHS.

Starting the program with only twenty-five students, Mr. Hirsch has now built the dance program to serve roughly two hundred dance students each year, making it the largest folklórico program in the Sweetwater Union High School District. High school group members receive college elective credit, performing arts credit, as well as physical educational credit. Dancers range in age from 14 to 25 years of age.

The purpose of GFSY is to promote an understanding and appreciation for the rich and diverse world of Mexican folk dance. GFSY performs all over the county of San Diego, CA, whether at local high schools, community centers, or on military bases.

Grupo Folklórico San Ysidro has been awarded outstanding service awards from The California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; The National Childhood Obesity Conference; Veterans of Foreign Wars; and The Commander of Naval Services. GFSY won first place in the adult division as well as best overall dance group in the 2011 Mariachi & Folklórico Festival in Riverside, California.

GFSY is most proud of the family environment amongst dance members. Many of them are long-time friends, neighbors or relatives. Dancers understand and embrace Mr. Hirsch’s philosophy that folkloric dance is something rare, special, and in fact precious. Group members take pride in representing Mexico’s rich and diverse history through creative movement and expression.