Nuestros Trajes: A History of Relámpago del Cielo Through Traditional Apparel
- Cynthia Rebolledo
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
Experience the history of Relámpago del Cielo through its garments over five decades.
Relámpago del Cielo is continuing its 50th anniversary celebration with “Nuestros Trajes” (“our dance attire”). At 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, the Santa Ana dance company and performing arts nonprofit returns to its roots to showcase an exposition of garments from its collection at Santa Ana College’s Phillips Hall Theatre – the very place where the ballet folklórico company first began its journey five decades ago.
“We're very excited to be back,” said Marlene Peña-Marin, Relámpago del Cielo artistic director. “Santa Ana College is where we were born and it's definitely a full circle moment to come back and tell the history of the organization where they had their first show.”
PHOTO 1: The original Relámpago del Cielo dance group performing at Santa Ana College circa 1975. PHOTO 2: The Relámpago del Cielo dance group in traditional Jalisco attire circa 1977. Photos courtesy of Relámpago del Cielo
The evening will offer the community an opportunity to experience the legacy and artistic evolution of Relámpago del Cielo through the vibrant stories stitched into its living, breathing archives. From the earliest hand-sewn trajes that brought regional Mexican dances to life in the 1970s, to bold new ensembles designed to embody both heritage and contemporary creativity, “Nuestros Trajes” will be an immersive celebration of color, culture and history.
The exhibition places a spotlight not just on the beauty of the trajes, but on the deep traditions they represent – each skirt, sash and embroidered bodice a testament to years of dedication to folkloric arts. Attendees can expect a wide-ranging portrait of the decades through 80 pieces.
“The very elaborate costumes you see now in our show weren't like that back then,” Peña-Marin said. “We didn’t have access to what we do now – we often had to make our own costumes and replicate a region as best we could.”
From its inception in 1975, Relámpago del Cielo – which translates to “Lightning from the Sky” – has been more than a dance group; it’s a guardian of Mexican folkloric tradition and a cultural institution in Orange County and beyond.
Founded by Rosie Chavarria Peña, a professional dancer whose career took her through prestigious venues across the United States and Canada, Relámpago emerged from a shared passion between Peña and a small cohort of Santa Ana College students who were enthralled by the rhythms, stories and expressive power of traditional Mexican dance in an era where Mexican Americans were reconnecting with their ancestral roots.
What began as a modest group of students wanting to expand their training became a multifaceted cultural institution rooted in family, identity and artistic expression.
“We think it's so special that they could come back and have the exhibition here where they started 50 years ago,” said Carin Jacobs, associate dean of the Fine & Performing Arts Division at Santa Ana College. “We're very excited to host them.”
The evening will include storytelling, music and performances. Relámpago del Cielo will also present a photo exhibit of its trajectory at the Old Orange County Courthouse starting in the fall, where some of the costumes will be on display. Altogether, it’s a tribute to a legacy that continues to dance forward even as it looks back with reverence and joy.
“We've invited some of our original dancers from the group and they're going to narrate the story of the company and how it all started,” Peña-Marin said. “I hope that it inspires people to see that when you have heart, passion and you follow that dream, good things can come out of it.”
