BELL GARDENS, Calif. — You can see the pride, love and appreciation for her culture every time Marlene Zambrano steps onto the stage.

Zambrano, who was born with a developmental delay due to maternal illness, is part of Ballet Folklorico Sueños y Esperanza, which means dreams and hopes.

It’s a folkloric dance troupe made entirely of special needs dancers, where Zambrano can express herself and feel like any teenager her age.

The troupe was started by special needs parents who seek to find space where their kids could explore their culture.