The Friday after-school vibes at Harrison High School are electric.

While students flood the hallways and pour out onto the front patio of the school on the southwest side of Colorado springs, worlds collide in the cafeteria.

In one corner are the football players, wearing their black and white Panther jerseys, enthusiastically engaging with each other, puffing their chests, gobbling fast foods. In another space young women practice whirling and twirling their flags before they take the performance to the field for the big Friday night football game.

But the most colorful world of all belongs to Ritmo y Sabor Hispano, a student-run folklorico dance group whose title means Hispanic rhythm and flavor. The 30 or so students, along with Spanish teachers Marcia Bates and Sophia Alberico, gather after school every Wednesday and Friday to practice traditional Mexican dance styles such as wepa, huapango, bachata, merengue and salsa.

Bates started the group four years ago, bringing some of the costumes from a previous folklorico group she helped run at Mitchell High School.

“In school we have different sports but nothing focused on the music and traditions of the students in the school,” she said.

Decked out in their jewel-toned, floor-length Jalisco ribbon dresses with a Frida Kahlo-reminiscent headpiece of flowers atop their gleaming dark hair, the young women mill about, waiting for Bates to fire up the mariachi music on her laptop. A few young men also hover, two of them impeccable in their black, red and gold mariachi costumes and matching sombreros.

The stakes are high at today’s rehearsal — the group will perform that weekend at Fiestas Patrias, the city’s annual celebration that kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month. They’ll dance again Saturday during Pikes Peak Library District’s free Latina Voices event at Library 21c, as well as other events throughout the fall at Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College and Pikes Peak State College.

“It’s a confidence builder and at the same time they’re having a lot of fun and committed to performing and part of the cultural and history of the broader community,” said Yolanda Avila, Springs City Council member for District 4. She’s visited rehearsals half a dozen times to cheer on the kids and teachers. “I love it all the way around.”

As music pours from the portable speaker perched on a cafeteria table, group leaders Alejandro Rodriguez and Kiara Pelayo and another couple stand facing each other. “Viva la Mexico!,” calls a singer on the recording, and the foursome begin their movements, the men stepping and shuffling their boots while the girls grasp the sides of their skirts and sweep the fabric out to the sides as they spin.

“”You can feel the joy, the vibe in the room as they come in,” Alberico said. “It’s powerful to keep traditions like this alive. Without them it dies. They’re so motivated and hard working.”

After the foursome runs through their routine a few times, the whole group is on deck for the next dance. The girls sashay in from the sides while the boys congregate toward the back. Clapping and praise follow the last flourish, and Bates encourages them to smile even more as they perform.

Tania Yanez and her twin sister, Tatiana Yanez, are in their second year with the group.

“It’s part of my tradition and culture,” said Tania, 15. “My mom and dad like it. It’s a positive group.”

For Tatiana, the group has helped her develop compassion.

“We go to elementary schools and dance with them and teach them,” she said.

Out of respect to his Christian religion and upbringing, Harrison junior Jonathan Mireles didn’t dance until he joined the group a year ago. It took having some conversations with his Mexican parents before they agreed to let him participate, but the dance club has helped open their minds.

“I’m a U.S. citizen, but I wanted to show people from here we have traditions from Mexico,” said Mireles, 15.

“I like dancing and I’ve made friendships that will last my whole life. And I’ve gotten more in touch with Colorado Springs and Colorado and even Mexican communities.”

Mireles’ new dancing skills also translated into a role as a chambelan quince in Mexico. A chambelan is a young man who participates in a quinceañera celebration, which is the traditional celebration in some Latin American cultures to honor a young woman’s 15th birthday. A chambelan is equal to that of an escort or attendant.

“Quince culture sparks kids’ interest in folklorico dancing,” Alberico said.

While Bates does the group’s choreography, it’s Pelayo, a member of the group for almost three years, who recruits other student dancers.

“I’ve always loved to dance,” said Pelayo, 16. “I want to share it out, my culture. It caught my attention.”