Our Blog - Danzantes Unidos®
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DUF 2024 FEATURED WORKSHOP – “Sew Much Fun” with Maestra Alicia Mendibles

Maestra Alicia Mendibles is a third generation Mexican-American born and raised in Southern California. She started dancing at the age of eight. It was in the sixth grade that she began to form dance groups at her schools. She studied Mexican Folklorico under the direction Lily Aguilar and Maria Quiroz. She has shared the stage with many performers including: Linda Ronstadt, Lalo Guerrero, Mariachi Cobre, and Mariachi Sol de Mexico. Maestra Alicia envisioned...

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DUF 2024 “SEGUIMOS ADELANTE” – Maestro David “TexoMazatl” Vargas

David “Texomazatl” Vargas, is a kind, yet demanding Elder within the Danza Azteca genre.  David Vargas, also known as Texomazatl (Blue Deer) among traditional Aztec dance circles, founded  the original Tezkatlipoka Aztec Dance in 1988 in San Jose, CA which is still active today. Texomazatl has led the group as its Executive/Artistic Director as a ceremonial dance group among traditional circles, as well as a community-based performing arts group. For the past 35...

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DUF 2024 “SEGUIMOS ADELANTE” – Maestra Amalia Viviana Basanta Hernandez

Danzantes Unidos is delighted to welcome back the renowned Mexican Folklorico dancer and choreographer, Amalia Viviana Basanta Hernandez to DUF 2022.  Maestra Basanta Hernandez was born in Mexico City, the daughter of Mexican choreographer, Amalia Hernandez, and Argentine writer, Joaquin Basanta Crece.  She began her dance training at the age of five, studying classical ballet under Nellie Happee. At age thirteen, Ms. Basanta Hernandez joined the National Ballet of Mexico under the...

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DUF 2024 “SEGUIMOS ADELANTE” – Maestra Carmen Obdulia Espinoza Beltran

A native of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, Maestra Carmen Obdulia Espinoza Beltran demonstrated an early artistic aptitude for dance and initiated her studies as a member of the folklorico company, Grupo del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS). To further amplify her studies, in 1972 she began her training in La Academia de la Danza Mexicana (at that time known as the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura) continuing her professional studies...

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DUF 2024 “SEGUIMOS ADELANTE” – Maestra Yolanda Chacon Beniquez

Yolanda Chacon Beniquez researched through intensive summer courses at the "Instituto de la Investigacion del Folklor y la Danza en Mexico, Artes y Ciencias" in Tijuana and received her Baile Folklorico Maestra status at "Escuela Superior de Danza Folklorica Mazochoquim" in Hermosillo, Sonora. Maestra Yolanda has been teaching since 1983, establishing her dance company, "La Fiesta Danzantes de San Diego" currently based within the Chula Vista Park and Recreation Centers.  She has taught Folklorico curriculum courses at Palomar...

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DUF 2024 “SEGUIMOS ADELANTE” – Maestro Francisco Salinas Morales

Francisco Salinas Morales nació en el Estado de Guerrero, Mexico. Licenciado en Educación Primaria y Licenciado en Danza Regional Mexicana. Graduado en el Instituto de la Danza Mexicana en Acapulco de Juárez en el 2002 y en la Normal Básica “Justo Sierra” en el 2003. Investigador, promotor y maestro de Danza Folklorica desde el año 1998, impartiendo clases en Escuelas Superior y Media Superior. Actualmente vive en Corona, California imparte clases en Academias,...

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DUF 2024 “SEGUIMOS ADELANTE” – Maestra Sara Garcia

My name is Sara “Sarita” Garcia and I’ll be instructing the Folklorico Jr High (Jalisco, Sinaloa & Yucatán. I am very excited to be teaching at DUF for the 2nd time. I have been dancing folklorico for over 28 years and I have multiple years of other varies of dance styles like Polynesian, Salsa & bachata and Hip-Hop.  My mother, Gloria Rodriguez, was my first director and she still helps me out...

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DUF 2024 “SEGUIMOS ADELANTE” – Maestro Alexander Manzanares

Alexander Manzanares, a son of Mexican immigrants from the state of Chihuahua, was raised and currently resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He has been an active member of the folklórico community in New Mexico for 27 years, specifically in the Santa Fe area for the past 11 years. His group, Ballet Folklórico Santa Fe, is currently celebrating their 6th year. They have generously been recognized with various awards and recognitions which include placing 1st...

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DUF 2024 “SEGUIMOS ADELANTE” – Maestra Karina Estrella

Born in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, Maestra Karina Estrella was influenced by the richness of the Mexican Culture and its Danzas Folkloricas. At age 5, she joined La Casa De La Cultura de Ensenada. Her family later immigrated to the San Fernando Valley in California, where she joined Ballet Folklorico Ollin. At age 18, she began to utilize her dance experience and skills to promote bailes folclóricos as a volunteer at various schools throughout her community. In 2003, she...

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DUF 2024 “SEGUIMOS ADELANTE” – Maestra Jenny Robles

Maestra Robles is also part of the non-profit, Organization Senderos, formerly known as Vive  Oaxaca. She is one of the founding members and currently the Artistic Director of Centeotl  Danza y Baile in Santa Cruz, Ca.  In 2007, Ms. Robles was elected by the Oaxacan community of California as to be Diosa  Centeotl USA (Corn Goddess) in Los Angeles. During this time, traveled to Oaxaca to study and learn firsthand dances from the...

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