"Intricate and always eager to share his knowledge of dance with his students," is how his students describe him. Dancing and teaching for the past 40 years, Maestro Cecilio De Castro was first introduced to Folklorico in Michoacan, Mexico in 1977. The richness of Folklorico motivated him to continue its practice. He has performed in Mexico, throughout the United States and in Europe. He began dancing in Los Angeles at the age of 15....
Native to San Blas, Nayarit, México, Maestro Sergio Sartiaguín carries an undying passion in the study of the traditions of Nayarit, specializing in all that is related to folklorico dance and traditional music. His career in the field of Folklorico has created his legacy as a public administrator for over 30 years with innumerable cultural preservation projects in diverse areas. Dedicated to the preservation and exploration of the richness of Danza Folklorica,...
Maestro Ignacio Delgado’s early dance training began in grade-school as part of an after-school program in Napa Valley. In high school, he trained in jazz, ballet, and hip-hop. There, he was awarded dancer of the year by the dance department. At 15, he joined Ballet Folklorico de Carlos Moreno in the Bay Area. Soon after, he joined Compañia Mexico Danza in Hayward. After relocating to Southern California for college, he continued his...
Maestro Ramon Olvera desires to preserve traditional Folklorico dance and Mexican culture alive on this side of the border, in the United States, by inspiring young dancers to embrace and explore the traditions and cultural heritage of the dances of Mexico. His passion for Folklorico in the States extends back to his deeply rooted career in Mexico. Native to the state of Nayarit in Mexico, Maestro Ramon continued his education and passion for Folklorico in various...
One of the pioneers of Folklorico in the State of California, Carlos Santoyo, has dedicated his life to the Folklorico community. Mr. Santoyo’s legacy extends from his education in Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico, to the various groups he has founded and directed and his undying passion to the preservation of our culture. Maestro Carlos worked 38 years for the Sweetwater District from 1973 to 2011 as a Cultural Awareness Facilitator & Dance Instructor. During that time, he...
Things That You Won't Want To Miss At DUF 2016: #8 “Sew Much Fun!" Learn to make costumes from pattern to sewing! Make a practice skirt in half the time! Come take this FREE class to learn how to sew short cuts that will help you cut your work time in half. Sew smarter not harder. You will start from making your own pattern to having a finished pieces: Jalisco blouse and a practice skirt. Instructor: Director & Designer...
Maestra Maria Cerda has been dancing with Teocalli, a Fresno based adult folklorico group at Teocalli Cultural Academy for about 19 years now. With Teocalli, she has participated in several events at a local and national level, including: Fiesta en la Mision, Baja California; Festival de Bailes Tradicionales de Mexico, San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, MX; International Dance Festival, Las Vegas, NV; Folkclovisco, Calidanza, Festival Los Reyes, San Diego; and Ethnic Dance...
Born in the Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, Maestro Salinas Morales was part of all the dance groups at the institutions he attended. After finishing high school, he became part of the Instituto de la Danza Mexicana in Acapulco, Guerrero. There, he became an investigator in the field of Folklorico for nine years until he finished his Bachelor’s in Danza Regional Mexicana, Regional Mexican Dance. To strengthen his passion, he then studied to obtain a...
Originally from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Maestra Teresa Velez has participated in multiple groups around the state of Nuevo Leon including: Ballet Municipal de Nuevo Leon de Enrique Estrada in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Ballet Folklorico del Estado de Nuevo Leon de Jose I. Ibarra in Monterrey Nuevo Leon, Instituto de Investigacion y Difusion de la Danza de Mexico Delegacion Nuevo Leon, and Ballet Folklórico Nayapan de Patricia Guerrero in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. She has extended her...
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Maestra Melissa Somoza was first fascinated with Folklorico during her sophomore year in high school after attending a school performance. That is where she began her dance career as a Folklorico dancer, at Bravo Medical Magnet High School. Within a year of learning how to dance, Maestra Melissa became one of the group’s Folklorico instructors with an opportunity to teach her fellow classmates during her senior year...