Danzantes Unidos DUF 2026 “Nurturing the Light” welcomes Rudy Figueroa teaching Foklorico Pee-Wees: Parent & Me; ages 3-6. Maestro Rudy Figueroa is a native of Tulare, California. He began his training in Mexican dance under the guidance of Roman Morones, co-director of Lop Lupenos de San Jose. He then became a member of the company and served as assistant to Maestro Morones in his teaching for community dance classes. He also danced as...
Danzantes Unidos DUF 2026 “Nurturing the Light” welcomes Christopher Sandoval teaching Folklorico Jr. High: Guerrero, Michoacan, & Guanajuato; ages 10 & 11. Christopher Sandoval has been serving communities from California to Texas via the cultural performing arts for 15 years as an instructor and choreographer, and has been a part of the Mexican Folk Dance community in California for the past 27 years. Receiving most of his artistic experience within the dance ensemble...
Danzantes Unidos DUF 2026 “Nurturing the Light” welcomes Laura Rebolloso teaching Son Jarocho Integral-Música danza y poesía for Teens & Adults; ages 13+. Please bring your own instruments and a notebook. Laura began to play the jarana and the guitarra de son as a child with her teachers Gonzalo Camacho and Guillermo Contreras. She was part of a children’s group that participated in wakes, feast days, popular events, concert halls, theaters, radio and...
Danzantes Unidos DUF 2026 “Nurturing the Light” welcomes Cindy Padilla teaching Folklorico High: Tamaulipas & Yucatan for ages 13-17. Cindy Padilla is a faculty lecturer in the Department of Chicana/o Studies at CSU Northridge, where she teaches Chicana/o in the Arts and Dance of Mexico courses. She holds B.A. degrees in Journalism and Chicana/o Studies, a Master of Arts in Chicana/o Studies with an emphasis in Music, Dance, and Folklore, and a Master...
Danzantes Unidos DUF 2026 “Nurturing the Light” welcomes Federico Guerrero teaching Folklorico High: Nayarit & Sinaloa; ages 13-17 Federico Guerrero is an accomplished folklórico dancer, instructor, and choreographer with over 30 years of performance experience and more than 15 years of teaching experience dedicated to preserving and sharing Mexican cultural traditions. Federico trained under renowned local instructors and further developed his artistry through four consecutive summers of intensive study in Guadalajara, Jalisco. His...
Danzantes Unidos DUF 2026 “Nurturing the Light” welcomes Alicia Mendibles teaching SEW FOLKLORICO for Teens & Adults; Ages 13+ 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 of Lily Aguilar and Maria Quiroz. She has shared...
Danzantes Unidos DUF 2026 “Nurturing the Light” welcomes Juan Pablo Sanchez teaching Jalisco for Adults; Ages 18+ "I began as a dancer in the Ballet Folklorico de la Ciudad de Zapopan in 2011. I was a member of the Ballet Folklorico Sol de Zapopan at the Cultural Center from 2014 to 2015. I danced with the Ballet Folklorico de Guadalajara from 2015 to 2017. I was part of the Ballet Folklorico de la...
Danzantes Unidos DUF 2026 “Nurturing the Light” welcomes Karina Estrella teaching Folklorico Juniors: Baja CA Norte, Campeche Sarao & Quintana Roo; ages 8 & 9. 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...
Danzantes Unidos DUF 2026 “Nurturing the Light” welcomes back Maestro Luis Valverde teaching Marinera Peruana for Adults; ages 18+. Luis Valverde is a choreographer, musician, and researcher of Andean art. Member of a family of artists, he began his career in Lima at Universidad Mayor de San Marcos, where he studied and worked at the Centro de Folklore. He was also a member of the renown ensemble Brisas del Titicaca and of the...
Danzantes Unidos DUF 2026 “Nurturing the Light” welcomes Irvind Garcia teaching Folklorico Jr. High: Colima, Jalisco, & Veracruz; Ages 12 & 13. Irvind Garcia is an accomplished Folklórico dance instructor with 19 years of experience dancing and performing traditional Mexican Folklórico. He currently works at Maywood Academy High School as a full-time dance teacher, where he teaches both general education students and students with special needs, creating inclusive and supportive learning environments through...