At 4:00 p.m. on a recent afternoon, Bernal Library’s Community Room was overflowing for San Francisco Youth Theatre’s (SFYT) bi-lingual Spanish-English dramatization of “Dancing Home,” a novel about immigration and the importance of family and friendship. The book was written by Alma Flor Ada and Gabriel M. Zubizarreta and was adapted to the stage by local artist Dyana Diaz who also directed the production.
Dancing Home
Dancing Home tells the story of two cousins, Margie, a US-born Mexican-American, and Lupe, a newcomer from Mexico who has come to live with Margie’s family. Their lives are so different that they struggle to connect as friends. However, when they each discover a love for Mexican folklórico, they find a shared path to the place they call home. This Spanish-English bilingual play explores themes of immigration, bullying, Latinx heritage, language, identity, self-acceptance, and the power of art.
Five adult actors play all the parts, telling the tale of Margie, born and raised in the United States, and her cousin Lupe, newly arrived from Mexico. The girls face bullying at their middle school. They struggle to find common interests across the cultural and language divide until they join the afterschool Folklorico club. Dancing brings them together.
Dancing Home Bernal Heights
The performance begins and ends with swirling skirts and percussive footwork typical of folkloric dance. Other Mexican artistic traditions are also woven into the show, including poetry, song, brightly colored murals, and the tradition of a nativity scene, or Nascimento, in place of a Christmas tree. The acting is excellent, and the story brought a tear to the eye of several adult audience members. The younger playgoers were enthralled, clapping along, joining in the danced finale, and exclaiming when the dialogue turned to ghosts.
Dancing Home San Francisco Youth Theatre
The play is well-constructed and interesting for audiences of all ages. One of the major takeaways is that America is a place where people come from all over the world, and while some have been here longer than others, almost all of us have origins elsewhere.
It’s great to have the library hosting performances and live activities again. On the way out, each child was offered a free copy of the book in English or Spanish, courtesy of a donation by the authors.
Want to bring this show to your school or organization? Contact them at [email protected]