Los Lupenos de San Jose

Dominic Ortiz began dancing in Los Lupeños Academy at a very early age. He saw his mother dancing and wanted to be just like her. After taking years of classes, Dominic was invited to join the youth performing ensemble, Los Lupeños Juvenil.

Maestra Jasmín shares dances from the different states and regions of México with all types of students but especially with kids where she loves to get them excited about their culture as their appreciation grows and grows.

Imelda Chávez began dancing in Los Lupeños’ Escuela de Arte y Cultura at the age of 7 years old. She saw the group performing at the fairgrounds and fell in love with the twirls of the colorful skirts.

A Salinas, California native, Oscar Benavidez began his folklórico dance career with Tonatiuh Danzantes del Quinto Sol. He attended Hartnell College where he received his AA in Liberal Arts with an emphasis in performing arts.

In addition to directing our two dance companies, Los Lupeños de San José and Los Lupeños Juvenil, Maestro Sam oversees the artistic content of our Academy, lending his wealth of knowledge to peer instructors and staff. Maestro Sam occasionally provides instruction in some of the advanced classes.

Maestra Monika Angeles has been teaching with Los Lupeños Academy since 2017. Just like many of our students, Maestra Monika wanted to connect more with her Mexican culture and family. She began her folklórico career 15 years ago as a dancer with Aztlán Academy then joined Grupo Folklórico Luna y Sol de San José State University.

Steven Gastelum has been teaching with Los Lupeños Academy for two years. He began dancing at Stanford University in 2012 with the Ballet Folklórico de Stanford. This group was completely student-led and run, which gave Steven the opportunity to learn how much work it takes to manage a folklórico group “behind the scenes.”

Maestro Rudy Figueroa has been a performer and instructor of Mexican Folk Dance for many generations. He is a lead instructor with Los Lupeños Academy and has taught throughout California and in Mexico for various audiences including Danzantes Unidos, San José Mariachi Festival, and the University of San Diego’s Summer Program in Guadalajara.

This class is designed exclusively for Los Lupeños Legacy Dancers, including all Los Lupeños alumni. Each week, we’ll revisit repertoire in a drop-the-needle style, focusing on different regions of Mexico. Expect to dance through familiar pieces while also encountering new material—just follow along and enjoy the movement! Whether you're brushing up on classics or simply getting your body moving again, this class offers a fun and welcoming space to reconnect with the rhythms and energy of traditional Mexican dance.

This fast-paced, advanced-level class is designed for experienced dancers looking to refine their skills in Mexican Folk Dance. Forcing on intricate footwork, body control, rhythm, and complex choreography, students will engage with selected repertoire from our performing companies. The class also emphasizes key elements like skirt work, stage presence, and partner interaction, pushing dancers to elevate their technique and performance quality. Ideal for dancers who are committed to growth. This class offers a focused and challenging environment.

Fast-paced class for experienced students focused on complex concepts of Mexican Folk Dance, footwork, body control, rhythm, and intricate choreography. (By instructor recommendation Only)

Fast paced advanced level of step & sequence execution, body control & posture, regional styling, and complex choreography. (By instructor recommendation Only)

Students are prepared with a basic level of step & sequence execution, body control & posture, regional styling, and basic choreographic patterns.

Students are introduced to the concepts of space, time, and energy as they relate to Mexican folk dance while they also learn more specific and complex dance patterns, precise footwork, rhythm, and basic choreography.

Students are introduced to the concepts of space, time, and energy as they relate to Mexican folk dance while they also learn more specific and complex dance patterns, precise footwork, rhythm, and basic choreography.

Students are introduced to Mexican folk music and basic folk dance forms with an emphasis on acquiring the skills to take a class independently.

Students are introduced to Mexican folk music and basic folk dance forms with an emphasis on body movement, rhythm, balance and other skills used for folk dance.

Class for toddlers, accompanied by their parents or caregivers, to build important motor skills in a fun and interactive way by dancing and exploring musical rhythms from a variety of México's regions.