Dancers
Abraham Gonzalez
Age 25
Education/Occupation: Student at Santa Monica College
Birthplace: Torrance, CA
Family Background: My father is from Guadalajara, Mexico and my mother is from Nayarit, Mexico.
Dance Background: I first danced folklorico when I was in 4th grade, and performed for two years until I graduated. I didn't continue until I discovered BFFM in 2015 and have not stopped since.
Adriana Garzon Valdez
Age 32
Education/Occupation: I have obtained my B.A. in Psychology from California State Dominguez Hills. I currently work for the Study of Latino Health & Culture at UCLA.
Birthplace: Santa Monica,California
Family Background: I'm a wife, and mother of one. My mother is from Zacatecas, Mexico and my father is from Mexicali, B.C. Mexico.
Dance Background: I have trained, performed, and choreographed with BFFM since 2004. I have been dancing Danza Azteca & Mexican Folklorico since the age of eleven. I have also trained in Chinese, Armenian, Tahitian, and Irish dance.
Alexander Garcia
Age 22
Education: Student at Santa Monica College.
Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA
Family Background: My family comes from Puebla and Michoacan, Mexico.
Dance Background: I have trained in Folklorico, Danza Azteca, Salsa, and Hip-Hop.
Alexander Hoang
Age 26
Education: Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance Performance, University of California, Irvine
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
Family Background: My family is from Vietnam
Dance Background:
-Mexican Folklorico (1 year)
-Ballet, Contemporary, Modern, Jazz,
Tap (5 years)
-Indonesian, Salsa, Tahitian, West African (1 year)
Alondra Magallanes
Age 21
Education/Occupation: Santa Monica College dance & nutrition major.
Birthplace: Venice,CA
Family Background:Mexican-American
Dance Background: My dance journey began at the age of four, when I joined BFFM. Later, I left the group during high school when I pursued hip-hop/drill team for four years. As I left high school I continued to take dance classes and came across Global Motion World Dance company. I had the privilege to learn Tahitian, Hula, Salsa, Bachata, West African, Tango/Samba, Belly dance, Indonesian, Irish tap, swing and many more. Within the four years of rejoining BFFM, I've had the privilege of traveling with them to Chile, Spain, Brussels, and France.
Andres Islas
Age 48
Education/ Occupation: Construction
Birthplace: Santa Monica, CA
Family Background: My dad’s side of the family is from Tapatitlan, Jalisco, Mexico and my mom’s side is from Guanajuato, Mexico.
Dance Background: I have been dancing Folklorico for 6 years.
Ashley Ramirez
Age 24
Education/Occupation: CSC at Banfield Pet Hospital.
Birthplace: Inglewood
Family Background: I am first generation of Mexican descent. We are from Jalisco and Michoacán, Mexico.
Dance Background:
I have been dancing Folklorico for 19 years.
I have also trained in Salsa, belly, Tahitian, ballet and modern for 5 years.
Audrey Alvarez
Age 24
Education/Occupation: I'm a student at California State University Long Beach, and majoring in Sociology & Communication.
Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA
Family Background: My family is from Jalisco,Mexico.
Dance Background: I have been dancing Folklorico since the age of six.
Daniel Hernandez
Age 26
Education/Occupation: I have obtained my A.A. degree in Public Health. I currently work at APLA as an HIV/STD counselor.
Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA
Family Background: Both of my parents were born in Santiago Matatlan, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Dance Background: I have been dancing Folklorico for 10 years.
Daniel Mendoza
Age 18
Education/Occupation: Student at Santa Monica College.
Birthplace: Santa Monica, CA
Family Background: Both of my parents are from Mexico City, however I have roots from Jalisco & Hidalgo, Mexico.
Dance Background: I have been dancing with BFFM for twelve years now.
Gabriela Torres
Age 17
Education/Occupation: High school senior at Santa Monica High School.
Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA
Family Background: My mom's side of the family is from Yurecuaro, Michoacan, Mexico and my dad's family is from Cuxpala, Zacatecas, Mexico.
Dance Background: I've been dancing Folklorico for 3 years. I have also trained in hip-hop and have been involved in my shcool's dance team for three years.
Isabel Limon
Age 24
Education/Occupation: I'm a student at SMC majoring in Early Childhood Education.
Birthplace: Santa Monica, CA
Family Background:My mom is from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and my dad is from Tlaquepaque, Jalsico, Mexico. They both migrated to the U.S. in 1973 and met each other at Venice High School.
Dance Background: I have been dancing Folklorico for the last three years with Global Motion World Dance Company. I have also trained in West African, Indonesian, Salsa, Tahitian, and Bharatanatyam for two years.
Jose Martinez
Age 26
Education/Occupation: I'm a student at Santa Monica College, and pursuing my B.A. in Graphic Design.
Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA
Family Background: Both of my parents were born in San Pablo Guelatao, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Dance Background:I have been dancing Folklrico for about tenyears. I have also trained in Salsa for four years, ballroom dance for three years, and other ethnic dances.
Juan Alejandro
Age 27
Education/Occupation: I have my B.S. of Science in Chemistry and use what I have gained to tutor those who struggle with chemistry and mathematics. I am currently obtaining a teaching credential to pursue a career as a teacher in hopes to teach chemistry and mathematics at a secondary school.
Birthplace: Santa Monica, CA
Family Background: Both of my parents are from San Juan Atenco, Puebla, Mexico.
Dance Background: I have been dancing folklorico for ten years. I have also trained in Dnaza Azteca, Polynesian, and Indonesian.
Jasmine Rodriguez
Age 21
Education/Occupation:I am currently a junior at California State Dominguez Hills. I am studying business administration with a focus on Marketing.
Birthplace: Santa Monica, CA
Family Background: My mom is from Tenamaxtlan,Jalisco, Mexico and my dad is from Juchipila, Zacatecas, Mexico.
Dance Background: I have been dancing Folklorico for seventeen years, and started at the age of four. I have also trained in Danza Azteca for seventeen years and have learned other dance styles such as Salsa, Mambo, and Swing.
Liliana Rodriguez
Age 23
Education/Occupation:I have obtained my B.A. in Business Management from California State University Long Beach.
Birthplace: I was born in Santa Monica,CA but raised in Culver City and Hawthorne.
Family Background: My mom was born in Tenamaxtlan, Jalisco, Mexico and my dad was born in in Juchipila, Zacatecas,Mexico.
Dance Background: I have been dancing Mexican Folklorico for nineteen years. I have also trained in Danza Azteca, swing, west african, and Belly dance.
Maria del Carmen Quintero
Age 26
Education/occupation: B.A. in Architectural Design, UC Berkeley.
Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA
Family Background: My mother is from Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico and my father is from Quebrantadero, Morelos, Mexico.
Dance background: I have been dancing folklorico for eight years and have also trained in Danza Azteca.
Maritza Olmos
Age 25
Education/Occupation:
-A.A. Social & Behavioral Science
-A.A. Arts & Humanities
-A.A. Dance
-Teacher of Dance certificate ( pre-k - grade 5)
-B.A. Liberal Studies, California State University Dominguez Hills.
-Founder/Instructor of Alexander Hamilton High School's folklorico group under UCLA after school program.
Birthplace: Los Angeles,CA
Family Background: Jalapa, Zacatecas, Mexico.
Dance Background: I have been dacning folklorico for twelve years. I have also trained in ballroom, salsa,ballet/modern and other cultural styles.
Mayra Garzon
Age 30
Education/Occupation: West L.A. college, Biology, sales/marketing,hospitality, reporter, and medical field.
Birthplace: Santa Monica, CA
Family Background: Valle de Guadalupe,Jalisco,Mexico.
Dance Background: I have five years of experience in Folklorico and Danza Azteca.
Nancy Luis
Age 25
Education/Occupation: I have obtained my A.A. degree in Early Childhood Education from Santa Monica College. I am transferring this Fall 2019 to to CSULA, where I will pursue my B.A. in Child Development to one day work as a Child Life Specialist within a Children's Hospital.
Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA
Family Background: My mom was born in Tlacolula de Matamoros, Oaxaca, Mexico and my dad was born in Chihuiro, a small town that lies in the Southern Sierra of Oaxaca, Mexico.
Dance Background: I have been dancing Folklorico for fourteen years. I have also trained in Danza Azteca for six years.
Paola Arzate
Age 26
Education/Occupation: I'm a San Fransisco State graduate with a background in Elementary Education.
Birthplace: I was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA.
Family Background: Both of my parents are from Mexico. My mother is from Cuatla, Morelos, Mexico.
Dance Background: I have been dancing folklorico fro ten years. Through Global Motion World Dance Company, I have learned African, and Indonesian among other dances.
Victoria Quintero
Age 16
Education/Occupation: High School student at Culver City High School.
Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA
Family Background: My mother is from Morelia,Michoacan,Mexico and my father is from Quebrantadero,Morelos, Mexico
Dance Background: I have been dacning Folklorico for eight years.
Wendy Mendoza
Age 22
Education/Occupation: Sociology major at Santa Monica College.
Birhtplace: Santa Monica,CA
Family Background: Both of my parents are from Mexico City, however I have roots from Jalisco, and Hidalgo.
Dance Background: I have been dancing Folklorico for twelve years.
Yessenia Buezo Muñoz
Age 31
Education/Occupation: I have a business degree and currently work in account management.
Birthplace: Los Angeles,CA
Family Background: Chirilagua, San Miguel, El Salvador.
Dance background: I have been dancing folklorico for 5 years. I have also trained in salsa, jazz, latin ballroom, bachata, salvadoran folkore,ballet, hip hop, and tahitian.