Video Shows Liquid Thrown at Chicago Dance Studio Students

Incident prompts dance studio to pledge action against hate speech and crimes

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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A woman shouted about ICE at a group leaving a Chicago dance studio before a man threw liquid on them in a scene that was caught on camera. The incident happened outside Ballet Folklorico de Chicago, where three women reported that a man threw "multiple cups containing an unknown liquid" on them and a group of teens they were walking with. The dance studio said it plans to file an order of protection and press charges, and pledged to stand against hate speech and crimes.

Why it matters

The incident highlights ongoing tensions between some community members and the dance studio, which serves as a hub for preserving Mexican cultural traditions. It also raises concerns about the safety and security of students and staff at the studio, which has been an important community resource.

The details

According to the report, the incident occurred around 10 p.m. on Friday outside the Ballet Folklorico de Chicago studio in the city's Avondale neighborhood. A woman was seen on video shouting "You're lucky ICE isn't here" before a man threw a cup of liquid from a balcony at the group. The three women, ages 43, 41 and 40, reported that the man threw "multiple cups containing an unknown liquid" on them and the teens they were with, and that both the man and woman also verbally threatened them.

  • The incident occurred around 10 p.m. on Friday, March 7, 2026 outside the Ballet Folklorico de Chicago studio.

The players

Ballet Folklorico de Chicago

A dance studio that serves as a hub for preserving Mexican cultural traditions, offering affordable classes and scholarships to the community.

Violeta Ochoa Salabert

A dancer at the Ballet Folklorico de Chicago studio who said she feared for her safety following the incident.

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What they’re saying

“Behavior like that is NOT OK! Ballet Folklorico de Chicago is more than an organization, it is a second home. We take immense pride in the positive impact we make in our community by keeping tuition affordable for families, creating job opportunities for our youth, awarding 15 college scholarships to date, and preserving the beautiful traditions of Mexican folk dance. As an official Chicago Cultural Treasure, we welcome anyone who wishes to learn about and celebrate the richness of Mexican culture while helping make our community and our world a better place. That said, we will not tolerate bullying, hate speech, or hate crimes. Our community stands united in making it clear that actions rooted in hate have consequences, and together we will continue to stand for respect, dignity, and inclusion.”

— Ballet Folklorico de Chicago, Dance studio (Letter to community)

“I don't feel safe coming back. I mean I'm going to keep coming back because this is ... supposed to be our safe space. We're learning about our culture. We're dancing. We're trying to promote this culture across the city.”

— Violeta Ochoa Salabert, Dancer (NBC Chicago)

What’s next

The dance studio said it plans to file an order of protection and press charges against the individuals involved in the incident.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by community organizations like Ballet Folklorico de Chicago, which strive to create safe and inclusive spaces for cultural education and expression. It underscores the need for greater understanding and respect between all members of the community.