Hispanic Heritage Month: Embracing identity through dance
In Fernando Rocha’s dance studio at Sunset High School, lessons begin with his voice counting off a steady rhythm in a large mirror-lined room with an open floor. Here, Rocha teaches students the art of dance, specifically traditional Mexican dances, connecting students to their Hispanic heritage as he also prepares them for the future.
“I like to say that Sunset chose me,” Rocha said. “I came in with intention. I came here to be present with my students and, so far, I’ve been able to see the impact of that through the success of the dance program and the way my students are now also doing everything with intention.”
Rocha’s experiences with his own high school mentors, who paved the way for him to develop the confidence he needed to be a dancer, motivate him as an educator. He is preparing his students to maintain confidence while they audition in the professional world or take on other career paths once they graduate.
Rocha teaches beginner to advanced levels of dance at the school and directs the Sunset Dance Company, a multifaceted program that includes ballet, modern, concert dance, palm-style dancing, and ballet folklorico. This year, Sunset separated folklorico into its own area of study, a change Rocha advocated for so students can focus more deeply on technique and the cultural significance of the art form.
As an educator, Rocha draws from his own experiences in learning dance and uses history to show his students how to find resilience within themselves and their identity. For Rocha, this adds to the significance of students sharing their heritage with others during Hispanic Heritage Month.
“Many people see the pretty ribbons and dresses, but don’t realize the meaning behind them,” Rocha said. “For example, Veracruz, a coastal state in Mexico, has dance garments that are white to represent the sea foam.”
Rocha’s focus on cultivating meaningful cultural experiences has already opened new opportunities. In September, Sunset dance students performed folklorico pieces at the Dallas Cowboys halftime show, joining the Dallas Cowboys Rhythm & Blues Dance Team for a nationally televised celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
“Ballet folklorico creates such a sense of community,” Rocha said. “I loved seeing the dancers sharing their cultural identities and their differences with each other. To me, this performance highlights the students’ pride in themselves and their lineage.”
Rocha’s leadership has expanded the reach of the school’s dance program. In just three years with Dallas ISD, he has coordinated dance workshops with other schools and even represented his campus at a districtwide event.
In 2023, he was selected as a featured dancer in Dallas ISD’s Heart of Teaching Gala, which had a Dancing with the Stars theme. After training his dance partner in cultural styles like the jive and tango, Rocha took home the first-place trophy.
Rocha’s own journey into dance began in high school, when he quickly moved from student to choreographer and co-director. He later earned his degree in dance from the University of St. Thomas in Houston. These experiences shaped his artistry and now form part of his teaching philosophy at Sunset.
“The lessons of resilience that I gained while developing my craft are what I want my students to experience,” he said. “They can learn to find the beauty in small wins and to appreciate even the smallest moments of growth.”
This impact goes beyond just the dance stage. Rocha has built a student-led production team, giving participants hands-on roles in lighting design, stage management, costume design and even journalism. Students run the show gaining real world skills that prepare them for the future.
For Rocha, teaching dance at Sunset is about cultivating identity and helping students develop good habits such as the discipline to always try their best.
“I am so inspired by the beauty of dance and how big and how broad the art of it is,” Rocha said. “Its impact goes beyond just moving our body but is deeply connected to who we are as individuals.”
