BY HERBERT ROMERO

Embracing her culture and wanting to share it with others, Maria Fernanda Vargas, an 18-year-old senior at Wood River High School, has been teaching young students to dance for her senior project.

Vargas has been teaching kids from Alturas Elementary the “Marinera Nortena,” a traditional dance in Peru that was once known as a dance of rest during the times of the Inca Empire and pre-Inca cultures.

Vargas, who has spent countless hours a week dedicated to teaching kids from Alturas Elementary, said it is a testimony to her and her country’s culture. It’s one of the hardest dances in Peru, she added--“If you master it you can dance any other dance in Peru.”

“Since I lived in Peru, it has been my dream to teach kids how to dance,” said Vargas, who used to teach in her home country. “This is the first group of kids that I teach here in Hailey and in the United States.”

Vargas said she teaches the kids weekly, starting off with some stretches before going into explaining the steps of the dances and putting it all together with the music.

As a final piece of her project, her hard work was displayed at The Mint/La Cabañita Restaurant at 5:30 p.m. It was an important moment, considering the uncertainty toward immigrants and cultural differences across the country.

She won the approval from her teacher—“Congrats and great job.”

“I'm a big supporter of Hispanic cultural events,” said Rodolfo Armenta, owner of La Cabañita, who offered his support, alongside Neighbors Helping Neighbors.

Vargas said she hopes her work appreciating her culture and wanting to share it with the community spurs the community to continue to help one another in difficult and uncertain times.

Vargas grew up in Lima where she developed a passion for soccer. Vargas commutes from Jerome to Hailey to attend Wood River High School, demonstrating her dedication to her education. The work and time she has put into her senior project showcases that.

“Even though it’s only been a short amount of time that I have been teaching these kids, I think they have adapted and embraced the importance of this dance,” Vargas said.