Por/ By: Enid Carranza

[Versión en Español Aquí]

Pablo Antonio Peréz Levy arrived with his family in Bluffton, SC in 2000. It took him a few years to get back into one of the most deeply-rooted traditions that made him feel most at home: the one thing that helped him not to lose himself was the dance group Tradición Latina that he founded in 2004.

Pablo Levy, his stage name, began to dance with the folkloric ballet of the Autonomous University of Mexico (UAM in Spanish), in Mexico City, in the mid-eighties when he was studying Graphic Design. “I got into dance a little late,” says Pablo, remembering how he took his first steps in the art of dance.

Pablo was one of the pioneers of Mexican folk dancing in the Lowcountry; his pride for his heritage opened a world of opportunities. "Sharing culture was a very important part for me, in order for me to feel at home. I have no complaints, I was always welcomed by both Hispanics and Anglos,” says Pablo, who also stated that being proud of where he was born and of his customs was one of the things that allowed him to stay grounded while enjoying his life in the United States to the fullest.

In 2016, Pablo decided to return to Mexico to recover from a severe diabetic episode. The lack of access to medical care in the United States, the lack of immigration status, and a poor diet were the elements that caused his health to rapidly deteriorate. "I have the hope and the thought that my body will start working well again and that it wants to recover," Pablo said after having a year of solid improvement, together with his family.

"I do not lose hope, I am motivated to get ahead in life, I do not lose the faith that I will be back to give everyone a hug and to share in more great moments," said Pablo when he realized that his student, Victoria Luna, is teaching little girls the traditional dances of Mexico through the Aztec Folkloric Dance Group. Pablo continued, "I feel very grateful to the entire community and especially to all those who, like Victoria, continue to enjoy and pass the culture on to our youth in an integral way. Thank you!”