Folklorico – dances of the people – is a style of dance from Mexico. It helps preserve traditions of spirituality, storytelling, music, and clothing design. And for many Mexican American teens, it serves as a connection to a culture not commonly represented in mass media. Fifteen-year-old Kylie Hooks is a Folklorico performer with Joyas Mestizas, a Western Washington-based Mexican Youth Group. This is the story of her relationship with the dance.