Covid-19 brings debutante ball traditions to a halt in LA

Ashley Soltero (left), and her cousin learning dance moves under the guidance of choreographer Cynthia Garcia (centre) for an upcoming quinceanera in El Monte, California, on March 22.

If Ashley Soltero had turned 15 in any other year, her quinceanera would have been much, much different.

She wouldn’t have waited to announce the May 2 date to her friends; her escorts – chambelanes – wouldn’t have been nervous about coming to dance practice; and her mother wouldn’t have been laid off in the midst of paying off Ashley’s US$2,500 (RM10,920) charro-style dress.