By Isabel Flores

DETROIT, MI — As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, CasArt Foundation and Centro Multicultural La Familia invite the community to the eighth edition of the Colores de México 2026: Bajo las Estrellas de Guerrero gala, a celebration dedicated to the beauty, traditions, and cultural richness of Mexico. This year’s event will hold special significance as it also marks the 20th anniversary of the Joyas de México ballet.

The gala will take place on Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. at The International Center at the Atheneum Suites Hotel, located at 1000 Brush St. in Detroit.

The evening will feature live music, cultural performances, an art exhibition, a fashion show inspired by Guerrero, dinner, an open bar, and a silent auction. Tickets must be purchased in advance through Eventbrite under the name “Bajo las Estrellas de Guerrero.” For additional information, attendees may also contact CasArt Foundation or Centro Multicultural La Familia directly. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

Behind the event is the work of Luly Del Real, founder of CasArt Foundation, a nonprofit arts organization that seeks to do more than simply present performances. Its mission is to create spaces where cultural pride can be expressed and celebrated.

Through CasArt and the Joyas de México ballet, Del Real has worked to preserve Mexican heritage through dance, art, and cultural education.

“CasArt is about unity. It is about bringing the community together through this beautiful tool that is art,” she shared in an exclusive interview with Lazo Cultural.

For Luly, art is not simply a discipline, but a connection that allows people to express things that may not always have a place elsewhere. Her mission is to help children, young people, and families recognize their roots, learn about the richness of Mexican culture, and strengthen their sense of belonging, especially among generations who were born or raised outside Mexico.

“For me, it represents the continuation of our culture even while living outside the country,” she said when discussing the importance of teaching and preserving these traditions.

Del Real explains that people often come to understand the depth of their culture precisely when they are far away from it. That is when the desire to share it becomes even stronger.

This year, the gala will be dedicated to Guerrero, a state made up of eight distinct regions, allowing the event to showcase a wide variety of traditions, clothing, dances, and cultural symbols.

In addition to regional dance performances, the evening will include a themed fashion show, an art exhibition featuring local artists, and a special production prepared by teacher and choreographer Nayeli Pérez. Authentic costumes made in Mexico will also be featured as part of CasArt’s commitment to representing the culture with dignity and respect.

For Del Real, every element of the gala has a purpose. It is not simply about presenting dances or traditional clothing, but about teaching, inspiring curiosity, and allowing people who may never have visited Guerrero to experience part of its culture through art.

As part of both Mexico’s patriotic season and Hispanic Heritage Month, the gala will also include honors to the flag and the singing of the national anthem in both English and Spanish. For Luly, this civic element is important because it connects art with identity, history, and a sense of belonging.

CasArt’s work extends far beyond one evening each year. Del Real emphasized that behind every performance are community programs, volunteers, donors, sponsors, and families who help keep the culture alive.

She recognizes that one of the organization’s greatest challenges has been finding resources and committed volunteers, because art requires consistency, discipline, and a great deal of work. Every donation, sponsorship, or contribution of time is not simply financial or logistical support, but also a contribution to the preservation of culture.

CasArt Foundation currently works in partnership with Centro Multicultural La Familia, a collaboration that has helped strengthen its programs and provide a more stable space for its activities. Del Real explained that now that the organization is more established, it can develop new programs and continue expanding its vision of creating a true cultural center.

Among its future plans is the continued development of that cultural space and the creation of additional programs connected to Mexican folk art.

Current activities include projects related to traditional headdresses, regional clothing, crafts, and the cultural diversity found throughout Mexico’s different states and regions. For Luly, that richness cannot be reduced to a single image, because even within the same state there are different communities, embroidery styles, clothing, and traditions.

During Hispanic Heritage Month, her message to families is clear:

“Recovering our identity in a world of fragmented identities. Art is such an important vehicle and tool that it can take us where we need to go in order to feel whole,” she said.

For Luly Del Real, preserving culture is not about looking backward, but about building a legacy for future generations. That is why CasArt Foundation continues working so that children, young people, and families not only learn about their roots, but also live them, express them, and pass them on with pride.