Relampago del Cielo: 50 years of Mexican folklore

Founded by Rosie Pena, a Mexican folk dancer and teacher and daughter of Mexican immigrants from Jalisco and San Luis Potosi, the nonprofit Relampago del Cielo, Inc. Grupo Folklorico (RDC), launched a series of events to celebrate its 50th anniversary at the Bowers Museum Plaza in Santa Ana.

“We have a dance studio with 325 to 350 students from ages three to adults, and the ballet, made up of those who grow in their dance practice and move on to a professional level, become part of the dance company that puts on annual concerts,” says Marlene Pena-Marin, daughter of founder Rosie Pena.

Every Christmas, Relampago del Cielo is hired by Disney California Adventure to present a show.

The professional Relampago del Cielo ballet is made up of between 30 and 35 dancers, mostly of Mexican heritage, but there are also mixed-race dancers from Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties.

“We’ve been working with them and choreographing a show for about 12 years now, which has been performed annually during the holiday season. We call it the little show that surprised everyone because no one expected it to be so successful or to last so long. It’s really resonated with our community and has been very well-received.”

Who was Rosie Pena

“She was a folkloric teacher at Santa Ana College; and after a group of students who took classes with her, who loved what they were learning and connecting with their culture and heritage, told her they wanted to do more with what they were learning and perform in public,” says Marlene.

After a year of insisting, the teacher and homemaker with two girls ages 9 and 10 agreed, but set her conditions.

“She knew it would be a lot of work, and she told them 'we'll do it, but we all have to collaborate.' She knew she couldn't do it alone, so everyone did their part.”

The founder is now 83 years old and although she has already retired,is part of the Relampago de Cielo committee and is helping to research different events that will take place to celebrate the 50th anniversary.

“She has been the vision and driving force behind Relampago de Cielo, and my mentor,” says her daughter.

She adds that her concern has always been how to ensure its continuation and survival after her retirement.

“So she retired, but she has always been present in some way.”

Marlene, for her part, went from being a dancer to a dance teacher and was later nominated to be the director of Relampago de Cielo.

“I am also the director of the Folkloric Conservatory at the Orange County School for the Arts.”

She says that her sister, who was also a dancer, is now on the Board of Directors.

“She helps a lot with managing the business. She supports business decisions and financial management. I handle the artistic side.”

He also shares that they have a board of directors that advises on how to manage the business and business decisions to ensure a solid financial situation.

“Ultimately, it takes a good team to achieve this.”

And even though her parents were divorced, Manuel Pena, her father, was always very present and provided great support.

“Even though my parents divorced, our family stayed together, thanks to the organization and the community.”

Reflecting on Relampago de Cielo’s five decades, Marlene says they never imagined they’d be here 50 years later.

“It shows that when a group of people come together for the common good, anything is possible. I think that with hard work, dedication, and perseverance, we’ve managed to stay strong, but above all because our mission has always been to preserve and share Mexican traditions through dance, music, and art.”

She states that they’ve been through a lot in the last 50 years: economic crises, and now the current situation in our community.

“It’s almost unbelievable. When I reflect on these years, I realize we always did the right thing. We helped our community, especially young people, connect with their culture and find their voice.

“I tell the students: How can you know where you’re going if you don’t know where you came from? I think it’s important to understand your roots. That defines who we are. If you can help someone connect with their culture and understand how it influences their life, I think that’s what Ballet Folklorico Relampago de Cielo has accomplished in 50 years, and it’s had a positive impact on our community.”

Folklore versus Raids

Marlene says that on August 9th they were going to have a free presentation in Centennial Park in Santa Ana thanks to a small grant from the Santa Ana Arts and Culture Commission as a gift to the community.

“We had thought about inviting street vendors, bringing crafts, offering community resources. We started planning it a year ago, but with everything that happened in June, we thought we couldn’t cancel now that the community needed it more than ever, but it also wasn’t an option to do it in downtown Santa Ana because no one would attend.”

Therefore, they postponed the event to September 20th and held it in a fenced school but outdoors and free for the community.

“I think it’s more important than ever for us to be here now, so that our community has something positive to lean on, and to show the world that our culture is wonderful.

“They call us and They say, 'We can't go to school, we're afraid to leave the house.' So we ask them, 'What do you need? Do you need food? Can we help you go to the market? How can we help you?' It's been a situation filled with anxiety, frustration, and, above all, fear."

That's why she said that now more than ever, it's essential to continue supporting the community and letting them know that we're here to help them.

"We're here for the children. We're not going away, and we hope to bring a little positivity to your lives and your surroundings."

Over these 50 years, RDC has trained dancers and educators who now perform and teach professionally around the world.

It has also collaborated with schools, libraries, and community organizations to broaden public understanding of Mexican culture.

To learn more about RDC's 50th anniversary campaign or to make a donation, please visit: https://rdcgf.org

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