The drum beats faster, and so does the boy’s heart, as he strolls the streets of Mexico City, passing a group of Aztec dancers while holding his mother’s frail hand. The boy’s eyes see more than a drum and colorful feathers, they see his culture, his passion and his future as one of the dancers, planting the seeds of Aztec culture for hundreds of people.
Alvaro Piñeda, an Aztec dancer from Grupo Teokalli, has been dancing with the group for more than 26 years.
“Since I was a boy, I have always loved dancing, it’s in my blood,” Piñeda stated.
Piñeda emigrated from Mexico City to the United States in 1985.
“When I arrived to Texas, a friend started the group. We chose the name Teokalli because it means the creation. We were creating this family.”
There was a point where his friend had to move to Chicago and left Grupo Teokalli in Piñeda’s hands. A couple years later Piñeda and his wife, Irma Piñeda, moved to San Francisco. They brought Grupo “Teokalli” with them.
Piñeda offers free Aztec dance classes to teach people about his culture. He currently has about 25 students, ranging in age from 3 to 60.
Over the years, Piñeda has been called “maestro” by many who dance with him, but he is mindful of where he came from and shuns this title.
“I am not a master of dance, I consider myself a warrior,” said Piñeda. “I came from the barrio, I am not strict like a master, I enjoy teaching the art of dance to my people.”
He says that Grupo Teokalli’s main goal is to plant a cultural seed in children.
“I don’t dance like I used to, my knees are not the same, and the children are the ones who transmit the most energy. I plant the seeds in children, and that is the most important thing for me, that they can be proud of their origins.”
He added that one of his goals is giving children a chance to learn about their roots and feel proud of their culture.
“If they were born in a ranch, if they were born brown, I want them to be proud. I get sad when parents don’t teach their kids their culture. When they don’t event speak their language, just English.”
When Piñeda looks at Grupo Teokalli he doesn’t just see people, he sees a family. He sees the youth and parents working together to learn about their culture,
“I get a lot of joy when I see parents who bring and support their children.”
That family is facing some difficult circumstances. South San Francisco, where the group is currently based, has recently experienced an increase in youth violence: Last May a 15-year-old boy was shot and killed, there was a triple homicide last December and this September, a 14 year-old boy was fatally shot.
Piñeda says that he thinks the project could help some young people avoid street violence.
“I get sad about those families who lost their children to violence, if parents could inspire their children to come and dance and learn about their culture, perhaps not as much youth would be out on the streets taking the wrong steps.”
Irene Rodriguez, a mother whose two daughters participate in the program, agrees with him.
“I think this is a great program, this keeps kids from just sitting and watching TV or on the computer. It keeps youth off the street,” she said. “This is a program that I can participate in as well, and have fun with my children. It’s a great way to exercise and they are learning about their culture at the same time.”
Grupo Teokalli performs in numerous events throughout the Bay Area, and participates every Thanksgiving in the Indigenous People’s Sunrise Gathering on Alcatraz Island. More than 200 dancers get together on this day to commemorate the 1969-1971 occupation of Alcatraz Island by the “Indians of All Tribes.”
To Indigenous people, Thanksgiving is about honoring their shared culture of struggle against oppression and celebrating their survival and solidarity.
There will be seven children participating in the Indigenouse People’s Sunrise Gathering this year.
“For the Teokalli group, it is an honor to particiate and to honor native peoples, children in particular now that they are ready to participate this year,” Piñeda said, adding that when he sees the youth perform at events like the Gathering, he sees “the flowers growing.”
Group Teokalli offers free dance on Mondays and Thursdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; everyone is welcome. Dance Classes are held at Sociedad Mutualista Mexicana Morelos Inc. at 209 Miller Ave., South San Francisco, CA 94080. For more information contact Alvaro or Irma Piñeda at (415) 286-2448
The Indigenous People’s Sunrise Gathering will take place on Nov. 24. Boats will begin departing from 4:45 a.m. until 6:00 a.m. from Pier 33. Tickets can be purchased online at www.alcatrazcruises.com, at the Pier 33 ticket booth or by calling (415) 981-7625.
This story produced in partnership with Professor Katynka Martinez’s San Francisco State University Latina/o Journalism class.