MariachiND and Folklorico Azul y Oro bring culture to Four Winds Field

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Two University of Notre Dame organizations performed at Four Winds Field as part of the South Bend Cubs' Hispanic Heritage Day celebration.

MariachiND and Ballet Folklorico Azul y Oro (BFAYO) took the field ahead of the Cubs' Game against the West Michigan Whitecaps.

"These students feel an immense amount of pride to be able to learn this music, to dance to it, to play it," said Paloma Garcia-Lopez, the Associate Director of Notre Dame's Institute for Latino Studies.

Garcia-Lopez oversees both groups and said this marked the first time the groups shared their music and dance with the South Bend community outside of Notre Dame's campus.

"They're making their grandparents and their great grandparents in heaven very, very proud, and they want to celebrate their culture and share it with everybody on campus. And today is the first time they get to share it with the South Bend community here at the Cubs game."

Both groups have now grown significantly in recent years, according to Garcia-Lopez, who said they are now being paid for some public performances, with proceeds going toward new instruments and costumes.

The groups have several more public appearances planned in the coming months, including events on Notre Dame's campus and at regional festivals.

"We want to increase the understanding about Latinos in the United States, so that all students and community members, faculty, alumni understand how we make part of the making of this great nation."