Festival Sin Fronteras FSF 2023 Yucatan will take place in Merida, Yucatan from December 31, 2023 to January 5, 2024.  This is Danzantes Unidos fourth foray into Mexico for a weeklong intensive immersion into Mexican folk dance, music, folk art, history & gastronomy. Registration is open to Folklorico Directors and future directors and their families.

Ermilo López Balam was born in the city of Ticul Yucatán. He has a degree in Business Administration from the Technological Institute of Mérida. He was the main host from 2005 to 2007 of the first newscast in the Mayan language on commercial radio in Yucatan on the extinct station XEMQ 810 AM Radio Yóol Iik’ “Essence of the Wind” of the then RASA System. In 2011, through the Conocer Program of the Federal Government and the National Institute of Indigenous Languages ​​(INALI), he was certified as an Interpreter of the Mayan Language into Spanish and vice versa in the field of Justice. In the same year, 2011, he ranked 2nd in the Tenth National University Literary Games of the Autonomous University of Yucatan in the genre Narrative in Mayan Language Alfredo Barrera Vázquez Award with the Story: U Kuxtalil Juntúul Yutsil Xiib “Experiences of a Good Man”.

In 2014, through the Conocer Program of the Federal Government and the National Institute of Indigenous Language (INALI), he obtained a second certification as an Interpreter from Maya to Spanish and vice versa in the Promotion of Public Health Programs. In 2018, he ranked 1st in the Fourteenth National University Literary Games, organized by the Autonomous University of Yucatán in the Narrative genre in the Mayan Language Alfredo Barrera Vázquez Award with the Story: Ku Ya’alikubae’ J-Meen “He holds as J -Meen”. In 2019, he received from the Judiciary of the State of Yucatán the Certificate as an Expert Translator and Interpreter in the Mayan Indigenous Language – Spanish – Maya. Since 2004 and up to date, he leads the News segments in the Mayan Language and bilingual programs on Sistema Tele Yucatán.

From March 2020 to April 2022, every day he translated and recorded the audio corresponding to the Mayan language of the medical part of the Ministry of Health due to the COVID 19 pandemic, for its dissemination by the signal of Tele Yucatán and social networks of the State Government; and also during the same period he carried out the translation and recording of the audio corresponding to the Mayan language of all the messages of the Governor addressed to the citizens due to the situation of the pandemic. Since February 2021, he has been conducting the bilingual radio program: Maaya Chíikul “Maya Tuning”, produced by INDEMAYA for the XHPET 105.5 FM signal U Chíikul u T’aan Maaya’ob “The Voice of the Mayas” from Peto Yucatán. He is currently the Coordinator of the Department of Human Rights and Non-Discrimination of INDEMAYA.

FSF 2023 Course Offering: “LENGUA MAYA”

MONDAY/TUESDAY, JANUARY 1 & 2
Session B 11:15 AM – 12:45 AM

Session C 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM

THURSDAY/FRIDAY, JANUARY 4 & 5

Session E 11:15 AM – 12:45 AM

Session F 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM