The era of the Quinceañera returns
On Saturday, April Fourth, McCallum held its seventh annual Quinceañera, open for any female student. The celebration was hosted by the Ballet Folklorico club and directed by Spanish I and II teacher Telvi Altamirano Cancino, or Señora A. This year, the event honored five girls, known as the Quinceañeras.
When discussing preparation for the Quince, Altamirano Cancino highlights the importance of the local community.
“It is teachers donating food, students donating food, students donating time to come set up and clean up.” Altamirano Cancino says. “It is community, like La Mancha, the restaurant, donating tea. We had El Mercado donating chips and salsa. We had Cheos donating the rice and beans. So we have restaurants, we have teachers, we have families.”
Organizations that made donations include: Cheko’s Mexican Restaurant & Bar, La Mancha Tex Mex Tavern, El Mercado, H-E-B Burnet, and lastly Más Cultura Foundation.
Preparation for the Quince went beyond just food and interior decoration. It also meant a little bit of ‘exterior decoration’, specifically for the Quinceñeras. Esty Gutierrez, a hair and makeup artist and member of the Más Cultura Foundation, recounts first hearing of the McCallum Quince, saying she felt an immediate need to help out.
’“I heard about this event and that I could help out in some way, and I knew I wanted to do it. It just makes me so happy, it makes me smile to see all the girls light up today.” Gutierrez says. “Seeing them dressed up, seeing their families here and their friends. It’s what made this whole thing even that much better for me.”
Gutierrez also highlights the girl’s growth in confidence and enthusiasm.
“They were so shy when they came in.” Gutierrez says. “You know, I don’t think they knew what to expect, of course. As they started getting their hair done and then getting their makeup, and then getting into their outfits, you could just see their confidence open up, their blossoming. The excitement came from their eyes.”
For senior Abigail Peacock, a member of the Ballet Folklorico club and co-choreographer for the Quince, seeing the girls dance was incredibly gratifying after the many weeks of practice.
“It’s been so rewarding seeing them have their special day, especially after you nag them so much to come to practice.” Peacock says. “It’s really rewarding and enjoyable to see them and their families enjoy themselves, and just the whole emotional process of their children growing up. It’s super sweet.”
That feeling of pride extended beyond just Peacock. Rachel Reyes-Young, mother of freshman Quinceañera Maggie Young, appreciates the family aspect of the Quince.
“When my uncle saw her in her dress, when they first got here and we weren’t here yet, he said that he got really emotional seeing her.” Reyes-Young says. “So, that was really sweet to give my family an opportunity to see her in that way.”
After the Waltz, the Quinceañera festivities came in full force. The rest of the night was spent dancing, chatting with friends and family, and eating. The party was lively and cheerful, with an open dance floor, iconic songs played by the live DJ, and both glow sticks and crowns for everyone to enjoy.
Daira Benitez, a McCallum alumni and guest at the Quinceañera, sees the vibrancy of the celebration and community as a show of resilience.
“There’s been a lot of division and fear, and today, I don’t know, for me, it really highlighted and connected our community.” Benitez says. “Seeing that we’re still together and how we’re still there for each other and how we can create this bright environment despite everything happening, that to me was my highlight.”
In her final thoughts, Altamirano Cancino emphasizes why events like Quinceañeras are important, and why having one at McCallum is especially meaningful.
“I think it creates visibility for the latino community.” Cancino says. “I think it provides not just the Latino community, but everyone to experience such a beautiful tradition and to be aware of this very important part of our culture and to just enjoy the culture. So why not, y’know? Here at McCallum, we are such an artistic school with so much to offer, and we also have culture.”
Freshman Quinceañera Envy Flores gives her thanks to friends and family in her life, feeling grateful for all they have done for and outside of the Quinceñera.
“I would like to thank Senora A, because she set this whole thing up and it was amazing to do this.” Flores says. “Shout out to all my friends here and my family, because they’re so sweet and everything. Especially my main girls, Ella and Eli, and my main Chambélan, Daniel.”
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