[lively music]
♪ ♪
- Hey, guys. - Ow!
- Chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga.
Aren't you a little old to be playing princesa?
- Says Mr. Choo Choo Chonies.
[toots]
- Mom! - Shh, you two.
Carlota, get back on this stool.
I'm trying to finish your skirt for the spring showcase!
I can't believe I'm going to perform baile folklórico
with mi niña.
- What's "baile folk-loco"?
- [laughs]
Baile folklórico is a passionate Mexican folk dance.
It's been a tradition in our family for generations.
When done well, it can make you cry!
And laugh! And feel!
- I felt that! - Looks dangerous--I like it.
- Before you dance, you must eat,
build your strength.
[mischievous music]
- [yelps] [hollering]
- Mi'ja. - Don't move a muscle.
Good thing I have my healing sábila.
- Ay, Abuela, I didn't even say what hurts yet.
- It's okay. I'll put it everywhere.
- Carlota, I'm so sorry. Are you okay?
[bones crack]
- Ow! I think I sprained my elbow.
- Ronnie Anne, no more roller-boarding in mi casa.
- We have to get you to the doctor
to make sure you can still dance--
I mean, that you're okay!
- I'll be fine, Mom. But I don't think I can dance.
- [crying]
- Who made my mama cry? They're gonna get it.
[eerie music]
- I'll...be...okay.
Just our tradition dying. [crying]
- Mm, I could dance with you, Tía.
[all gasp]
- Are you sure, Ronnie Anne?
Baile folklórico is pretty hard to learn.
- I bet I could pick it up.
Plus, it'd be cool to learn a family tradition.
- [cries]
It would be my honor! To teach you!
[cheering]
- You better not mess this up.
If I see her crying again, I will stop at nothing to--
[microwave dings] Ooh, my cheesy tots are ready.
[upbeat music]
- This'll be a piece of cake.
My Yoon Kwan moves should come in handy.
[vocalizes]
Whoa! [huffs]
- No, forget everything you know about dance.
We will begin with this.
[both snore]
- [squawks] Hey, find your own nap spot.
- What does a football sled have to do with dancing?
- We need to build up your strength.
Less talking, more pushing! - [screams]
- [groaning]
- What are yous two up to over here?
Playing football?
- Dance practice, family tradition.
- You don't strike me as the ballerina type.
- Just trying to help the family.
Long story. - I got time.
- [huffs] - Push, push, push!
- Ooh, my corn!
- Next, we must work on your balance.
Here, hold this. Now don't spill a drop.
- Wait, what-- - Hit it, Mr. Chang!
[overlapping chatter]
- My eyes! - For the love of chamomile!
- Sorry--family tradition.
[playful music]
- Oh, don't mind if I do.
- And now, mi'ja, the next stage of your training,
you will wear this.
[dramatic music]
- Aw, can't a bird nap in peace?
- What's with the potato sack? And what's in all the pockets?
Is this corn flour? - Sí, masa.
Folklórico dresses are heavier than they look,
so I created this training dress to prepare you.
- [screams, huffs]
- If you can dance in that, you can dance baile folklórico.
Let's begin.
[traditional folklórico music]
- [wails]
♪ ♪
[both wail, grunt]
- [squawks] It's a masa-cre!
Every bird for himself!
- [coughs]
- Never mind the masa dress. It's time for the real deal.
- These sure are...bright.
Ooh, but this one is pretty cool!
- Oh, that one belongs to my prima, Esmeralda.
She was a rebel. We don't talk about her.
No, you will be wearing something much better.
My first dress!
- [grunts]
- [gasps] I knew you'd love it!
Oh, just wait until you see it with the makeup.
- Makeup?
[sinister tone]
- The next part of your training
is all about doing this!
- Holding in a fart? - No, smiling.
Dancers must convey the joy of baile folklórico
at all times.
So keep smiling no matter what.
Your feet might hurt, your arms might be tired...
- [munches loudly]
- Somebody might be crunching like an animal
in the front row.
No matter what, you must maintain the joy.
Let's practice. Okay, Carl, you're up!
- [vocalizes, chuckles]
Hey, Ronnie Anne. Nice dress.
Did you mean to look like a big, old grape?
[laughs]
- Maintain the joy. You are unfazed.
- Oh, I borrowed your skateboard.
Hope that's cool.
And I also borrowed your phone.
Just gotta post this.
[phone chimes]
- Maintain the joy!
- Well, I'll just let you guys get back to it.
I've gotta finish reading your diary anyway.
I just got to the part about Yoon Kwan.
Whoa, this is PG-13-- oof, ugh!
- Ay. [clicks tongue]
- [sighs]
Why did I get myself into this mess?
Tía Frida's too much, Lalo. I can't keep this up.
[laughs]
[sighs] But I can't just bail.
Plus, it's my fault Carlota's hurt.
I guess I should tough it out.
- Good job today, mi'ja.
I'm not gonna be so easy on you tomorrow.
[laughs]
Oh, you'll need to train in these.
- [groans]
[grunts]
Okay, she seriously can't expect me to wear these.
- Okay, now lift!
Break that glass ceiling! You're a warrior!
You're a goddess! You're a--
- Liar! - Ow?
- It was the other elbow. - [stammers]
[sighs] I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to fake it, but
when you knocked me off the stool, I saw an opportunity.
- How could you do this to me?
- I didn't know you were gonna take my spot.
I just couldn't deal with my mom's training.
- Tell me about it. This isn't cool, dude.
You should be dancing with Tía, not me.
You have to tell her the truth.
- Or we just come up with a way for you to get out of it too--
a happy accident.
- So then no one dances with Tía?
I don't know.
You know how much this means to her.
- Don't forget--we're not the only Casagrande women
who can dance.
- What? Is that my mom?
Whoa! [huffs]
Carlota, are you sure this is gonna work?
- Trust me. Família!
Who wants some pepino con chile?
[overlapping chatter]
It's go-time. Wait, we'll come to you guys.
- [gasps] Ow!
- Oh, no. Your foot.
- Are you all right? - What happened, what happened?
- Ronnie Anne, I am so sorry.
[imitates bone cracking] Ooh, sounds broken.
I guess that means you won't be able to dance.
- But I've been looking forward to it so much.
- Let me have a look.
- Ay, Mom.
It hurts when you touch it. - I don't think it's broken.
But it could be sprained.
[gasping] - Hector, go get the sábila.
- [cries] It's just not meant to be.
Why must art always be so cruel?
- I'm sorry, Tía.
I just wish there was somebody else who could dance with you.
You know, like a member of our family
who's a former dancer.
- [gasps] Wait, I could do it!
What do you think, Frida? - [crying]
- Oh, that's her "yes" cry.
- A little sopita for Ronnie Anne,
a little tea and galletas for Carlota.
You'll be healed in no time.
- See, we got it made in the shade, prima.
- I have to admit--this beats wearing cement shoes.
I--I wonder how my mom's doing.
- She's fine. She's an old pro.
Plus, my mom's happy, and Abuela loves to feel needed.
It's a win-win-win! - Make way--she's hurt!
Can somebody get a nurse for this nurse?
- Ay, I'm all out of sábila.
- Mom, what happened?
- I tripped in those shoes and hurt my knee.
It's either an ACL tear or a lateral dislocation.
- Either way, you must be hungry.
There's enough sopita here to go around.
- [cries]
I must be cursed! [cries]
- Tía, that's not true. - [whimpers]
I can't believe this is the first year
our family won't be dancing.
Sorry, ancestors!
The baile folklórico tradition is dead,
and it's all my fault!
[crying continues]
- Well, not exactly.
There's something you should know.
- Huh?
[gasps] Our ancestors have healed you!
- No, no, no. I was never really hurt.
I just faked it so I wouldn't have to dance anymore.
- [gasps] Ronnie Anne, how could you?
Okay, I was faking too. - What?
- [squawks] Super shady.
- But why?
I thought you two liked dancing.
- Well, we did, but between the masa sack dress,
and the football sled, and the cement shoes--
- It was a bit much, Mama.
- But we never meant to kill the tradition.
We're sorry, Tía. - No, I'm sorry.
I just get so excited about baile folklórico!
The drama, the joy, the passion!
But I guess I just went a little loca.
- Huh, you think?
- Well, you know, the showcase hasn't started yet.
- [cheers]
[upbeat music]
[traditional folklórico music]
♪ ♪
- Huh, where'd Maria go?
And why did she leave her crutches?
- Mom?
- So I might have been faking too.
But seeing you girls up here, I couldn't resist!
- I can't believe you.
- Maintain the joy, huh? Maintain it!
- [snores, squawks] Maintain the silence!
[upbeat Latin music]
♪ ♪