Laredo College honored Altagracia Azios García by naming an award after her during FlamencoFest’s Yjastros performance on Friday, Aug. 2. Azios García, a former dance instructor, has played an integral role in shaping the lives of many Laredo dancers over decades.“This has been a beautiful gift for my 90th birthday, and I’m very glad to see the progress that has come to dance,” Azios García said. “Flamenco and the dances of Spain have always been my favorite. To see these dancers do so well…I enjoyed and have been impressed with everything I’ve seen.”
Lifetime dance instructor Altagracia Azios García, second from left, is pictured with Laredo College President Dr. Minita Ramirez and LC Trustees Erica Benavides García and Lupita Zepeda.
The beloved instructor visited one of the advanced workshops to observe local dancers take instruction from Illeana Gomez, a dancer visiting from Madrid and whom Azios García has known since Gomez was a child.
LC’s goal for FlamencoFest was to bring together the community and the highly talented American Flamenco Repertory Company Yjastros. The energy felt throughout the festival from trained dancers, newly inducted dancers, and audience members was a result of years of practice and love for the art.
“This has been the most wonderful experience of my old age. I am 90 years old, and I did teach dancing, but it has come a long way,” Azios Garcia said. “I was very impressed with all the students.”
As the founder and owner of Altagracia Azios García Dance Studio, she helped shape the skills of different generations of dancers. In 1967, she organized and directed the Laredo Civic Spanish Ballet and later the Laredo Ballet Infantil Mexicano for girls under the age of 12.
She studied around the world with instructors including Carmela Burgander, Esperanza de la Barrera, José Torres y Fernandez, and Carmen Amaya.
In recent years, Azios Garcia’s former students gathered to perform at the LC Shoebox Theater. LC President Dr. Minita Ramírez and LC Board Member Erica Benavides García performed with castanets alongside their childhood troupe.
Azios Garcia said that dancing has been not only her profession, but also a dream. She said she never thought of anything but dance and teaching dance since she was 16. Her message to dancers, young and old, new or seasoned, was to never stop dancing.
“I taught for 60 years; I still love it. It is the only thing in this world that has ever been of interest to me besides my family. This has been a beautiful experience for me and a beautiful gift,” Azios Garcia said.
Laredo College continues to invite those who have an affinity for music and baile to bring their ambitions to the instructors and programs that will empower them to dance toward their future.
“I always did what I wanted to do — to teach dance, I always tried to do my best, and I’ve seen dance come so far. It’s beautiful even more so now,” Azios García concluded.
