Hilos Culturales

          Hilos Culturales was founded in 2000 to encourage and promote the celebration of Spanish Colonial folk music and dance distinct to the upper Rio Grande region of southern Colorado and northern New Mexico.  This musical tradition of the valse, cuna, and polka became popular in the region in the 1800’s and has been maintained through the years by musicians passing on their cultural styles and melodies from generation to generation.  Social dances such as La Varsoviana, El Vaquero and La Comancha are included in the typical repertoire.

          Hilos Culturales strives to preserve and promote this beautiful genre of Spanish Colonial music and dance, as well as incorporated pueblo influences, by presenting annual events in the form of workshops or concerts at different locations each year.  Annually, Folk Artist Awards are given to individuals or groups who have represented musical styles that reflect the traditional theme of Spanish Colonial music and dance of the southwest.