Los Leones

Los Leones is a folklorico dance team here at Eastside. They perform traditional Hispanic dances, representing Central and South American countries such as Mexico and El Salvador.

Los Leones recently performed at Art Talk and during a collaborative showcase with the drama department. A few of the members, the elite six, also perform around town — at different schools or at local events here in Lancaster. This past August, these six dancers performed on a stage at the AV Fairgrounds. They even danced at a wedding!

Los Leones was first created three years ago. Since that time, these students have been growing not only as a team but as a family. They are a source of pride for many of the Hispanic students at Eastside.

“Los Leones directly connects me with my culture,” says Los Leones vice president Fernanda Godoy. “We try really hard to respect the traditions behind each of our dances, and we also want others to feel respected.”

While the dance team’s come to represent many of the Hispanic and Latinx students on campus, they’ve also inspired other students with their dedication. Los Leones dancers spend at least nine hours a week sharpening their ballet folklorico skills. But it’s a labor of love.

“I’m on such a great team,” says current member Guillermo. “That was a big impact for me because I found out what I truly love.”

Guillermo is one of the only male students on the team, but he’s not alone in his love for dance.

Estafany Jimenez just joined the team this year. She decided that she wanted to get involved after watching the Los Leones performance during last year’s showcase. She loved seeing how happy the students were and how much love was out there.

These performances tend to leave a mark on people’s memory. These dances are all fueled by the team’s pride and love for one another.