Mexican heritage dance group from Las Vegas invited to inaugural parade
WASHINGTON - Comparsa Morelense, a Las Vegas dance troupe that performs celebrations of Mexican heritage, is preparing to take part in President Barack Obama's inauguration parade in Washington.
Dressed in elaborate beaded and feathered costumes, dancers have performed at churches, festivals and street fairs in Southern Nevada over the past two years.
They caught the eye of Obama officials who invited them in the fall to send a video to parade planners.
"They called us three weeks ago" with the invitation to dance along the Pennsylvania Avenue parade route and in front of the White House, said Stephanie Padilla, whose family is among a half dozen in Las Vegas who supply members to the group.
"It was a big surprise for us," Padilla said.
The Las Vegas dancers so far are the only Nevadans who have been announced to take part in the Jan. 21 parade. Inaugural spokeswoman Aoife McCarthy said planners hope to have at least one representative from each state.
Fundraising is under way to send 25 dancers to Washington, Padilla said, with costs estimated at $9,200. Contact the group at comparzamorelense@hotmail.com.
Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760. Follow him on Twitter @STetreaultDC.
