A cultural dance group working to become a certified non-profit hosted a public event for the Day of the Dead at the Tire Shed on Oct. 29.

The gathering consisted of friends, families and supporters, all excited to celebrate those who had passed on and watch the children perform traditional Mexican dance.

The event featured treats, pastries and games, all of Mexican culture, including an ofrenda (a table set up with pictures of ancestors).

They also showcased a dance where kids dressed up as the elderly and performed.

The organizers of this new children's cultural dance group are Claudia Garlicia and Mariana Vitale, who both hail from Mexico and grew up there for the majority of their childhoods.

"I was a student at Brigham Young University and then stayed after I graduated," Vitale said.

Garlicia and Vitale found Rexburg an ideal town to raise their families long-term. After settling down and establishing their families, they began to notice the cultural differences they missed; the dancing, the language, but especially the celebration of holidays such as Día de los Muertos. The two women decided to approach this through teaching their children the traditional dances of their people.

"It was a way to preserve my culture to my children, being raised in a very white-populated place. Because I want them to know they're different, and being different is okay, it's beautiful." Garlicia said.

After Vitale and Garlicia started their dance group, Vitale and Garlicia were surprised by how many people besides friends and family were also interested in participating.

People from their church or even people they hadn't met before who heard through word of mouth, asked if they could also participate.

It was an opportunity for many to get back to their roots and teach their families about the culture they came from. All were welcome. With this event, Mariana and Claudia hope to one day teach dances of other cultures than just Latin American.

"Mexican dance brings me peace and peace community. I feel like it is good to share diversity to the people around here. We just want to express our love and share this beauty of this and other cultures," Vitale said.