For the past two years, Christopher Sandoval has invested himself into the South Texas public school system as an educator and Founder and Co-Director of Alvarez Elementary Folklorico Dance Academy in McAllen, TX. In this role, he has continued to invoke innovation and imagination within traditional parameters to engage his students, staff, and audience; not just to preserve and promote danza Mexicana, but to use it as a proactive means to empower...
Dancer and musician, Rudy F. Garcia began his dance training while a student at Stanford University. His expansive career has been formed through his experience as a member of various San Francisco Bay Area performing art groups: Ballet Folklorico de Stanford, Flor de la Esperanza, Los Lupeños de San Jose, Xochipilli de San Jose and Jubilee American Dance Theater. He has served as Artistic Director for Alegria de San Jose and Los...
Cindy Padilla began her dance career at the age of eighteen with the Ballet Folklórico Aztlan de CSUN dance organization on the CSU Northridge campus. The need to re-charter the resident Northridge group, Ballet Folklórico Aztlan in fall of 1996 after the 1994 Northridge earthquake, was a goal for Cindy and other members who helped reinstate the forty-five year old student and community based dance troupe to what it is today. She...
Marcela Cardenas has been dancing folklorico for many years, practically all her life. She was introduced to dancing at a young age in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. It then became her passion. This passion led her to join the Real Ballet Charro, Grupo Folklorico del H. Ayuntamiento de Guadalajara and later Grupo Folklorico de la Universidad de Guadalajara under the direction of Rafael Zamarripa. She earned her degree in dance from the University...
Maestro Erik Noel Diaz was born in Zacatecas, Mexico. He began his training in Mexican Folklorico with Compañia Estatal de Danza Folklorica, Danza Matlachines del Cerro de la Bufa, and Instituto Superior de Danza Folklorica in Jerez, Zacatecas, Mexico. Continuing his passion for Folklorico, in California, Maestro Erik has choreographed pieces for Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company, Ballet Folklorico las Estrellas, Ballet Folklorico Anahuac, Ballet Folklorico Nube de Oro, and Ballet Folklorico IMBA....
Yolanda Chacon Beniquez researched through Summer-long intensive courses at the Instituto de la Investigacion del Folklor y la Danza in Mexico, Artes y Ciencias in Tijuana, Mexico, and at Mazochoquim in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. These intensive Summer-long courses were comprised of instructors teaching at institutions across Mexico. Maestra Beniquez has been teaching at Chula Vista Park and Recreation Centers since 1983. She has taught Folklorico curriculum courses at Palomar College, Eastlake and Olympian High Schools...
Alejandro Rey, a.k.a. "The Biggest Mexican" is the 6-time Los Angeles Area Bachata Dance Champion. He is the Director of Paso De Oro Dance Company Latin Dance division. Alejandro has headlined as a performer and choreographer of the top Latin Dance Festivals throughout the United States, Europe, Russia, China, Mexico, Canada and Brazil. He has performed live in concert with Bachata recording artists such as Toby Love, Xtreme, Carlos y Alejandra, Andy Andy,...
Maestro Julio Flores was born in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. After later graduating from Roosevelt High School in Southern California, he began to dance with Ballet Folklorico Cuitlahuac of Profesor Juan Hernández in Tijuana. He then founded Ballet Folklorico Mixteco East Los Angeles in 1989. Maestro Julio worked and studied with Eleazar Rodarte in Grupo Folklorico Mexcaltitan. He continues his love of the Mexican traditional art by studying and investigating the history...
Jenny Robles was born and raised in Oaxaca, Mexico. Her love for the performing arts started at an early age. In her family, dance is a form of living and an everyday part of the culture. Ms. Robles has been dancing for sixteen years and teaching Folklorico dance from the state of Oaxaca to children and adults for the past six years. In 2009, Jenny Robles joined Esperanza del Valle Dance Company...
Eleazar Rodarte was born in the Mexican State of Nayarit where he graduated from a special arts school specializing in folkloric dance. His passion for dance began at the early age of 7 years old. He belonged to the group Danza Nayar for fifteen years. He also had the opportunity to direct the children’s group in La Casa de la Cultura de Tepic Nayarit in 1986. He is a current member of...