Calpulli Mexican Dance Company's Navidad: A Mexican-American Christmas

Calpulli Mexican
Dance Company
Navidad:
A Mexican-American
Christmas

Queens Theatre Thanks Its Major Funders

Queens Theatre’s year-round programming and operations are made
possible through the generous support of Howard Gilman Foundation,
the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, and by the New York State
Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and
the New York State Legislature. These contributors provide Queens
Theatre with a consistent foundation that allows us to bring artistically
and culturally significant programs and performances to the Queens
community.
A special thanks to the Mertz Gilmore Foundation for its longtime
support of Queens Theatre’s Dance Programs.

Additional programmatic support provided by:

ADCO Electrical Corporation
Association for a Better New York (ABNY)
CDML Computer Services, Ltd.
Con Edison
Crystal Window and Door Systems
Delta Air Lines
Eileen Foy
Farrell Fritz
Frances A. Resheske
Gary and Marcie Kesner
Ginsburg & Misk
Hardesty & Hanover, LLC
2 Kaufman Astoria Studios

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
Kupferberg Foundation
Mark and Dina Misk
ME Engineers
Metro Management Development
Michael James Industries, Inc.
Michael Lou Group
NYC & Company
Plaxall, Inc.
Queens County Savings Bank

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Calpulli Mexican Dance Company
Navidad: A Mexican-American Christmas

Artistic Director & Co-Founder: Alberto C. Lopez Herrera
Music Director: George Saenz
Associate Music Director: Alí Bello
Story by: Alberto C. Lopez Herrera & Juan Castaño

Associate Artistic Director & Choreographer: Grisel Pren Monje
Dramaturg & Guest Choreographer: Gabriela Garcia
Scenery and Projections: Ariel Rodríguez Flores
Lighting Designer: Carolina Ortiz
Props: Daniel Valle

Cast

Clarita: Kate Flores Mendoza
Mother/ Hada (Fairy): Grisel Pren Monje
Father/ Charro Toy Soldier: Edgar Muñiz
Diablo: Christopher Cortez

Dancers/ Friends & Family/ School Performers: Juan Castaño, Nina
Deacon, Laura DeLaurentis, Andre Deosaran, Crystal Deosaran, Miguel
Ceron, Adina Lopez, Yhasmine Moran, Tatiana Nuñez, Carbin Palafox,
Javier Rochel, Daniel Vazquez, Lucero Velázquez, Criis Vega, Yisel Xique

Musicians: Luisa Bastidas (Violin), Alí Bello (Violin), Fernando Brindis
(Bass), Lautaro Burgos (Drums), Marilyn Castillo (Voice/Guitar), Jackie
Coleman (Trumpet), Yahir Montes (Voice/Guitar)

Guest Performers from Calpulli Community: Max Bernal, Pamela
Bernal, Samantha Bernal, Jared Gonzalez, Camila Palomares, Diana
Palomares, Isabella Rivera, Alvin Vidals, Tania Vidals, Gabrielle Zaragoza

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Letter from our Artistic Director,
Alberto Lopez Herrera

Dear Friends,

I want to wish all of you a festive holiday season filled with health and
love. Before we start our performance, I want to express my appreciation
for all your support. Everyone including students, dancers, musicians,
friends, family members, and colleagues have helped Calpulli return
from the pandemic like never before. Your support means a lot to me
personally. I hope we can continue to have your support in the coming
year when Calpulli is celebrating it’s 20th anniversary!

Con cariño,

Alberto Lopez Herrera
Artistic Director & Co-Founder
Calpulli Mexican Dance Company

Carta de nuestro Director Artístico,
Alberto López Herrera

Queridos amigos,

Quiero desearles a todos unas fiestas llenas de salud y amor. Antes de
comenzar nuestra actuación, quiero expresar mi agradecimiento por
todo su apoyo. Todos, alumnos, bailarines, músicos, amigos, familiares
y colegas han ayudado a Calpulli a volver de la pandemia como nunca
antes. Su apoyo significa mucho para mí personalmente. Espero que
podamos seguir contando con su apoyo el año que viene, cuando
Calpulli celebre su 20º aniversario.

Con cariño,

Alberto López Herrera
Director Artístico y Cofundador
5 Calpulli Mexican Dance Company

Program Notes/ Synopsis (English & Spanish)

Navidad: A Mexican-American American Christmas

The Departure: A young couple leaves their home in northern Mexico
with a bittersweet farewell dance with their friends and family. The
opportunities of New York City await them. There they find work as
garment makers and, through long hours of hard labor, make their living
and begin a family.

Mexican Traditions: Years have passed, and it’s the 12th of December.
The sound of the church bells calls the family to the celebration of La
Virgen de Guadalupe. At the gathering, the young girl observes the
dances of the concheros, native dances honor the Aztec diety Tonantzin
with now a strong Christian influence. The family enjoys the music of
the mariachi and the dances in her honor. The parents look for every
opportunity to share their traditions with their child with the hope that
she will make the traditions her own.

The Holidays: The young girl arrives at school to help with preparations
for a special holiday event. There she enjoys popular holiday music and
dance with her friends, very different from what she experiences with
her family. The performance also brings a surprise- classical music and
ballet featuring a toy soldier and a ballerina. At the end, she gathers with
friends and meets the dancers.

The Division: The young girl joins her family for a yearly ritual- making
tamales for the posada they host on the 24th of December. Guests
bring Mexican gifts of poinsettias, fruits and sweets, sweet bread, a
piñata, music, and dance. The fandango begins! The parents urge the
young girl to join them, but she remains apart. More guests arrive with
la rama (the branch)- a Christmas tradition in Veracruz. Unable to enjoy
the celebration without her, the parents bring the young girl into the
fandango against her wish. She wants to dance in the way she saw at
school and with different music. When her parents insist, she rejects
them and storms out of the room.

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The Dream: Alone in her room, the young girl tries to understand what
came over her. The emotions have taken their toll, and she can’t resist a
deep sleep. When she awakens, the bright colors of the day call to her.
Abruptly she realizes she is not in her home, but in fact in a wintery world.
Strange creatures run just out of distance, and she is taken by the beauty
of this place. She dances with joy in this new land only to pause when
a distant sound approaches. She hides while magical dancers move
gloriously. They welcome a Charro Toy Soldier. His friendly demeanor
puts her at ease. Nearby, though, a mischievous character stalks the
soldier and girl, offering a warning of separation. The soldier brings
other friends including Las Hadas (the fairies), Santa’s Tapatias, and
more Charro Toy Soldiers. Out of the shadows, Diablo appears with his
message. Diablo wants for all to be clear and separate. Very separate.
The creatures of this world fear Diablo because their existence is just
what Diablo wants to undo. But the young girl wants to hear what Diablo
has to say. The Charro Toy Soldier returns with reinforcements- one of
the brave hadas who believes cultures can come together. Diablo and La
Hada duel for the young girl.

Rejoining Family: The young girl awakens from the dream-turned-
nightmare to find her two dolls together. She turns to her phone to
recall the recent images and is shocked when she finds an image from
her dream. “Was it a dream?” she asks herself. She runs to rejoin the
celebration in the other room and to see her parents. There she surprises
them with a gift they had long hoped to receive.

[Español]

La partida: Una joven pareja se despide de su hogar en el norte de
México con un baile con sus amigos y familiares. Las oportunidades
de la ciudad de Nueva York les esperan. Allí encuentran trabajo en una
maquiladora y, a lo largo de largas horas de arduo trabajo, se ganan la
vida y forman una familia.

Tradiciones mexicanas: Los años han pasado, y es el 12 de diciembre.
El sonido de las campanas de la iglesia llama a la familia a la celebración

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de la Virgen de Guadalupe. En la reunión, la joven observa las danzas
de los concheros, danzas nativas en honor a la deidad azteca Tonantzin
con una fuerte influencia cristiana. La familia disfruta de la música del
mariachi y los bailes en su honor. Los padres buscan cada oportunidad
para compartir sus tradiciones con la esperanza de que ella las haga
propias.

Los días festivos: La joven llega a la escuela para ayudar en los
preparativos de un evento festivo especial. Allí disfruta con sus amigos
de música y bailes navideños populares, muy diferentes de los que
experimenta con su familia. La actuación también trae una sorpresa:
música clásica y ballet con un soldado de juguete y una bailarina. Al final,
se reúne con sus amigos y conoce a los bailarines.

La División: La joven se une a su familia en su tradición anual de hacer
tamales para la posada del 24 de diciembre. Los invitados traen regalos
mexicanos de flor de nochebuena, aguinaldos, pan dulce, piñata, música
y baile. ¡Comienza el fandango festivo! Los padres instan a la joven a
unirse a ellos, pero ella permanece separada. Más invitados llegan con
la rama, una tradición navideña en Veracruz. Incapaces de disfrutar la
celebración sin ella, los padres traen a la joven al fandango contra su
aparente interés. Quiere bailar como lo hacía en la escuela y con otra
música. Cuando sus padres insisten, ella los rechaza y sale enfadada de
la habitación.

El sueño: Sola en su habitación, la joven intenta entender lo que pasó.
Las emociones la han agotado, y ella no puede resistirse a un sueño
profundo. Cuando amanece, los colores brillantes del día llaman a la
joven. De repente, se da cuenta de que no está en su casa, sino en
un mundo mágico invernal. Extrañas criaturas corren a lo lejos, y ella
queda prendada de la belleza de este lugar. Baila con alegría en este
nuevo mundo solo para hacer una pausa cuando se acerca un sonido
lejano. Ella se esconde mientras los bailarines mágicos se mueven
gloriosamente. Dan la bienvenida a un Soldadito Charro. Su actitud
amistosa la tranquiliza. Cerca, sin embargo, un personaje travieso
acecha al soldado y la niña, dando una advertencia de separación. El

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soldado trae a otros amigos, como Las Hadas, las Tapatías de Santa y
más soldados de juguete Charros. Fuera de las sombras, aparece Diablo
con un mensaje. Diablo quiere que las cosas sean claras y separadas.
Muy separadas. Las criaturas de este mundo temen a Diablo porque su
existencia es justo lo que Diablo quiere deshacer. Pero la joven quiere
escuchar lo que Diablo tiene que decir. El Soldadito Charro regresa con
refuerzos, una de las valientes hadas que cree que las culturas pueden
unirse. Diablo y La Hada luchan por la joven.
Familia reunida: La joven despierta del sueño convertido en pesadilla y
encuentra a sus dos muñecas juntas. Acude a su teléfono para recordar
las imágenes recientes y se sorprende cuando encuentra una imagen de
su sueño. “¿Era un sueño?”, se pregunta. Corre a unirse a la celebración
en la otra habitación y a ver a sus padres. Allí les sorprende con un regalo
que llevaban tiempo esperando recibir.

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Program-Navidad: A Mexican-American
Christmas

The Departure Santa Rita Choreography: Alberto C. Lopez Herrera

Ahualulco en Wardrobe: Alberto C. Lopez Herrera & Elias
Nueva York Roldan

Choreography: Grisel Pren Monje

Mexican Traditions Musical Interlude La Guadalupana

Los Concheros Choreography: Juan Castaño

Musical interlude Wardrobe: Guadalupe Camacho, Valeria
El Gusto Medina, Aarón Chimal Carrasco, Judith
González Ríos, Delia Olarte, Luz Ariadna
Castillo Paredes, & Aníbal Alcántara
Becerril

Las Mañanitas Tapatias
(Vocalist: Marylin Castillo)

Choreography & Wardrobe: Alberto C.
Lopez Herrera

The Holidays Musical Interlude Sleigh Ride

Let It Snow Choreography: Grisel Pren Monje
The Nutcracker March Costumes: Amanda Gladu

Choreography: Javier Dzul
Costumes: Amanda Gladu

Musical Interlude Jingle Bell Rock

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The Division Musical Interlude: En El Nombre Del Cielo
The Dream El Colas
Choreography: Grisel Pren Monje
11 La Rama Costumes: Alberto C. Lopez Herrera

Choreography: Grisel Pren Monje
Costumes: Alberto C. Lopez Herrera

—INTERMISSION—

El Sueño Choreography: Juan Castaño & Grisel
Pren Monje
Set to an adaption of “The Magical Castle
on the Mountain of Sweets”

Aztec Dream Choreography: Grisel Pren Monje

Costumes: Sergio Vidaña, Rosalba Vivar, &
Daniel Valle

Set to an adaption of the Nutcracker
“March”

Charro Toy Soldiers Choreography: Juan Castaño & Grisel
Pren Monje
Costumes: Amanda Gladu

Jesusita en Chihuahua Choreography: Francisco Graciano
Costumes: Alberto C. Lopez Herrera &
Amanda Gladu

La Negra en Navidad Choreography: Noemy Hernandez & Juan
Castaño

Costumes: Alberto C. Lopez Herrera &
Amanda Gladu

Rejoining Family Diablo Choreography: Javier Dzul
La Batalla/ The Duel Costumes: Amanda Gladu

Musical Interlude: Choreography: Francisco Graciano
El Canelo Costumes: Amanda Gladu & Alberto C.
La Vieja Lopez Herrera
Musical Closing:
Silent Night/ Noche de Paz

Choreography: Noemy Hernandez

Choreography: Grisel Pren Monje
Costumes: Alberto C. Lopez Herrera

Mariachi Sleigh Ride

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Alberto C. Lopez Herrera, Artistic Director & Co-Founder

Mr. Lopez Herrera is a Choreographer, Costume Designer & Maker, and
Teaching Artist with over 30 years of experience in Mexican folk dance.
Originally from San Antonio Chiltepec in Puebla, Mr. Lopez Herrera
began his studies of Mexican folkloric dance at the age of 12 at the
Centro Escolar Benito Juárez de Acatlán de Osorio. He completed the
National Dance Institute’s intensive Teaching Artist training in New York.
Mr. Lopez Herrera was a dancer and choreographer with several groups
and companies working with distinguished choreographers Francisco
Nevarez and Clarissa Marcovich. He continues to create traditional
garments used in Mexican folkloric dance. With great attention to
detail, he designs garments from across Mexico. His pivotal role in
costuming can be seen throughout the company’s repertoire. Under
his Artistic Direction, Calpulli Mexican Dance Company performed
at noted venues including Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival (Inside/Out
Series), Wortham Center (Houston, TX), Humboldt State University, the
Kingdom of Bahrain, Penn State Erie, and Lincoln Center Out of Doors,
where Dance Critic Brian Siebert hailed Calpulli a “terrific company”
after its performance. Mr. Lopez Herrera was named “Star of Queens” by
the Queens Courier for his artistic accomplishments and commitment
to community arts programming. He was also featured by People en
Español in the program “New American Voices” and is a Crain’s NY
2022 Notable Hispanic Leader. He was co-choreographer with Joshua
Bergasse and dramaturg of the off-Broadway production “A Crossing.”
Most recently, Mr. Lopez Herrera was commissioned by the Ft. Wayne
Dance Collective in Indiana for contemporary and folkloric dances telling
dia de muertos-inspired stories.

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George Saenz, Music Director

Trombonist/Multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and educator,
George Saenz is originally from Laredo, Texas. In May 2005, he moved
to Boston, Massachusetts to study brass performance and jazz
composition at Berklee College of Music. Since graduating in 2008,
he performed with many award-winning artists such as Gloria Estefan
and The Edge (U2), Ruben Blades, McCoy Tyner at the Montreal Jazz
Festival, Bob Mintzer at the Berklee Concert Jazz Orchestra, The
Cornerstone Chorale and Brass Ensemble at Carnegie Hall, Maria
Schneider and The Berklee Concert Jazz Orchestra, and Phil Wilson’s
Rainbow Band at the Beantown Jazz Festival. In addition to playing the
trombone, Mr. Saenz is also a talented button accordionist, bassist,
pianist, guitarist and composer/arranger, having an original arrangement
of the jazz standard “I Love You” be debuted at the Heineken Jazz
Festival in Puerto Rico in 2008. Mr. Saenz now resides and works in
New York City, working as a freelance musician, composer/arranger
and educator.

Grisel Pren Monje, Associate Artistic Director & Choreographer

Grisel Pren Monje was born and raised in Cancun, Mexico and always
had a strong, passionate love for dance. She began dance training at a
young age in local dance studios and the Casa de la Cultura México. She
was a professional dancer and entertainer in many of the Resorts in the
Riviera Maya. Beginning in 2007, she studied at Broadway Dance Center
under the International student program, Steps on Broadway, and The
Alvin Ailey School. She performed with Arthur Aviles Typical Theater
Company, Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, Legros Cultural Arts,
and appeared as a dancer in music videos produced by Weras Music
and Tiny Baby Giants. Ms. Pren Monje made her Off Broadway debut in
2012 with “Zapata! The Musical” at the New York Musical Festival, where
she played the role of Curandera and served as Dance Captain and
Assistant to the Choreographer. Her training, teaching and performance
14 skills are varied among Classical Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Mexican Folk

Dance and many Latin styles. She is currently a Teaching Artist with the
Society of the Educational Arts and she completed the Mexican Folk
Dance Teacher certification from the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de
Amalia Hernandez.

Gabriela Garcia, Dramaturg & Guest Choreographer

Gabriela Garcia is an artist dividing her time between the theater, dance,
commercial and education industries. She holds a BA in Performing Arts
from Saint Mary’s College of California, and is Co-Founder and Director
of R.Evolución Latina (RL), a nonprofit organization making a difference
through the arts. Some of her theater credits Half Time the musical
directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, CHICAGO The Musical
Mexico City and Vienna (Velma Kelly), CHICAGO Broadway (cast
member and dance captain), CHICAGO Düsseldorf (Dance Associate),
and Sweeney Todd at the Barrow Street Theater (Movement Associate).
As a choreographer, she served as Associate Choreographer for
Public Works’ musical production of Twelfth Night. She has created
works for the Joffrey Ballet School’s NYC Jazz and Contemporary
summer intensive performances, BC/EFA benefits, R.Evolución Latina’s
Choreographer Festival and for Preludio Cultural Association in Peru,
where she choreographed a production of Sweet Charity and CHICAGO.
Her ballet and theater dance classes have reached schools in Sweden,
Peru, Mexico, China, Germany and other countries. In New York she
has taught at institutions such as Ellison Ballet, PACE University,
Ithaca College, and was co-coordinator for the Joffrey Ballet School’s
Joffrey Ensemble. Professional dance companies include Tanzforum
Koeln (Germany) and Pacific Northwest Ballet. TV credits include:
“Succession,” “Jessica Jones.” Film credits: In The Heights, Whatever
Lola Wants (Tribeca film festival) and Enchanted. As a voiceover actor,
her voice can be heard in numerous TV commercials and radio spots
for the US national Hispanic market as well as Spanish language audio
books. To learn more visit www.Gabriela-Garcia.com

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About Calpulli Mexican Dance Company

Founded in 2003, Calpulli Mexican Dance Company celebrates the rich
diversity of Mexican cultural heritage through dance including live music.
Based in New York City, Calpulli produces professional performances via
its international touring company, designs arts-in-education experiences
in the schools, and leads community outreach activities, most notably
Calpulli Community in Queens, Red Bank, NJ and New Rochelle.

The word calpulli (pronounced cawl-pool-lee) is an Aztec word that
means “big house,” “clan,” and “family.” We are a calpulli of dancers,
musicians, and teachers that, as a non-profit organization, contributes to
the city, country, and community we love. To learn more about Calpulli,
visit us online at www.calpullidance.org

Administration & Management

Executive Director & Co-Founder: Juan Castaño
Company Manager: Leigh Ann Gann
Grant Manager: Jay House
Bookkeeper: Patricia Burgess
Educational Projects Coordinator: Colleen Edwards

Board of Directors

Danny Garza (President)
David Ayala
Juan Castaño
Lisa Labrado
Alberto Lopez
Julio Urbina
Angelica Guel

Sponsors

Calpulli Mexican Dance Company’s programs are made possible by the
New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the

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Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional support has
been received by The City of New York, Mayor Eric Adams; New York
City Department of Cultural Affairs, Commissioner Laurie Cumbo; The
New York City Council Members Shekar Krishnan, Pierina Sanchez, and
Jessica Won; Howard Gilman Foundation; the Harkness Foundation
for Dance; New York Community Trust; New England Foundation for
the Arts; Curtis W. McGraw Foundation; Con Edison; Pfizer; and the
contributions of many generous individuals.
Donate to and Support Calpulli!
Calpulli Mexican Dance Company is non-profit (501c3) arts organization.
Donations from individuals like you are critical to our sustainability and
growth. Support future artistic works, art-in-education programs, and
Calpulli’s community outreach. Donations can be made to “Calpulli
Mexican Dance Company” and mailed to 2512 77th St., East Elmhurst,
NY 11370.
Thank you! Gracias!

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Dancers

Juan Castaño began his dance training at Grinnell College with student
instructor Alicia Gonzalez. More than 24 years later, he has performed
with several companies in NYC, is a Master Teacher with the YoungArts
Foundation, and co-founded Calpulli. He co-developed, co-wrote,
and choreographed works for several of Calpulli’s productions and
conducted research projects in the US and Mexico involving folkloric
dance. He is a dancer, arts administrator, and educator in the arts. He
holds a BA in Chemistry and MBA in Management.

Miguel Ceron began his dance career with ballet folklorico at the age of
9, learning with a family run group in San Diego and sparking an interest
and hunger for dance that he sporadically fed through school shows
and multicultural organizations. He revisited folklorico in college, even
running the Harvard Ballet Folklorico de Aztlan for 2 years, and dabbled
in other dance styles which stimulated a desire to invest time in training
and improving his dance skills. In New York, he found Latin dance and
immersed himself in learning and training as a “salsero” and “bachatero”,
with short stints in ballet, tango, hip-hop and fusion styles until eventually
finding his way back to folklorico with Calpulli.

Christopher Cortez is a California native, from the Central Coast, who
began his Folklorico training at the age of about 17 in Righetti High’s The
Marimba Band and Ballet Folklorico group and then continued at Allan
Hancock College where he graduated in 2011 with an AA in Fine Arts:
Dance. In 2012 Cortez attended Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
and graduated in 2015 with a Certificate in Dance. He continued in his
professional career primarily with touring companies Calpulli Mexican
Dance Co and Ballet Nepantla. Due to the pandemic, Christopher chose
to return to the West Coast in 2020 and began studying the healing
modality of Massage Therapy where he graduated in 2021 from San
Diego’s Pacific College of Health & Science and is also certified by
the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) and is a member of
the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). He offers his free

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time to students as a choreographer and to help bridge the gap between
dance as a student and a pre-professional/professional. Christopher
currently works as a Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) and is looking to
help those within his community of athletes/dance artists.

Nina Deacon has the delight of having a very varied professional
career! Off-Broadway credits include “Tchaikovsky – A New Stage
Play”, “Still on the Corner”, the title role of “Golden Bird” in “Finding the
Golden Bird”,and “Odile” in “Lake of Sorrows”. Dance company credits
include “Ballet for Young Audiences” “Jersey City Ballet” “Homo Veritas
Dance Theatre” and guest artist with “New American Youth Ballet”.
She is honored to have danced in Broadway Cares benefit, “The Easter
Bonnet”. She currently dances as a principal dancer with “Ballade
Ballet Theatre”. Nina feels so blessed to be dancing with this amazingly
wonderful Calpulli Mexican Dance Company!

Laura DeLaurentis started her dance training at the age of 8 at the
Stamford Academy of Ballet and after starting Ballroom dancing
at the age of 13 and went on to achieve a professional ballroom title
in International Latin and Standard by the age of 17. She competed
nationally at the high rank of S class dancer and was awarded 2nd
place as a 10-dance Champion. Soon afterwards, she was offered the
Trustee’s Scholarship for rare talent in artistry to attend Dean College’s
Dance program and completed a full certification as a personal trainer.
During her college years, Laura also studied with the Casa Patas
Flamenco Conservatory and performed with them in Madrid, Spain
before graduating in 2011 with a B.A. in Dance and a minor in Psychology
from Dean College. She has studied and performed with Complexions
Contemporary Ballet, Spellbound Contemporary Ballet, Armitage
Gone!, Cedar Lake, Emery LeCrone, Helen Pickett, New Chamber Ballet,
Dawson Dances, Stefanie Nelson Dance Group and ExortoDanza at the
Castello Aragonese in Italy. During her time in New York, she has been
a company member with Benjamin Briones Ballet, JDMoves, Lustig
Dance Theatre, Homo Veritas Dance Theatre, Pandora Ballet Company,
CityDanceNY and American Liberty Ballet performing classical,
19 neoclassical and contemporary works.

Andre Deosaran started his folklórico dance training with the Calpulli
Community program in 2011. Andre received “Honorable Mention” from
the prestigious YoungArts Foundation 2019 National Competition in the
Mexican Folkloric World Dance Forms category. Currently, Andre is a
Biomedical Engineering student at the CUNY City College of New York.

Crystal Deosaran has been a performing artist with Calpulli since
2010. She has traveled and performed with the company nationally and
internationally in places like Lincoln Center, Jacob’s Pillow, The Town
Hall, Apollo Theater, the Kingdom of Bahrain, Turkey and more. Crystal
has served as Program Coordinator for the Calpulli Community Program
in Staten Island and continues to collaborate in diverse educational and
cultural projects.

Kate Flores Mendoza began dancing ballet folklórico at the age of 4.
Her strong and passionate love for dance was established immediately
upon taking Calpulli Community classes. Kate has trained with Calpulli
Community for 10 years. She currently resides in Staten Island, where
she is a sophomore in high school. Her goals in the future are to attend
college for architecture and design and to further her dance education.

Adina Lopez played music from the age of 8 and continued until she
was 18 years old. Thereafter, she began dancing and joined Ballet Tierra
Nueva Mexicana for 6 years. Adina has been a dancer with Calpulli for 14
years. She credits many different artists who have helped her grow as a
dancer and performer learning zapateado, skirtwork, ballet technique,
and dance theater from choreographers including Martha Zarate, Daniel
Jaquez and Noemy Hernandez. She’s learned about the history of
dances, different regional styles, and how to be a Teaching Artist from
current Artistic Director, Alberto Lopez.

Yhasmine Moran is a Mexican indigenous advocate, dancer, teaching
artist and choreographer based in NYC. Born in Brooklyn, Yhasmine was
raised in Acatlan de Osorio Puebla, Mexico. She earned her BA in Dance
at Hunter College and is currently a dancer and Rehearsal Assistant
with Calpulli Mexican Dance Company. Yhasmine has performed with
20 the company at Lincoln Center, Town Hall, Queens Theatre, Jacobs

Pillow, the New Victory Theater, and the Apollo Theater. In 2022, she
was selected as a Latinx emerging artist to be part of the First National
Cohort in David Herrera Performance Company’s LatinXtensions
program.

Edgar Muñiz hails from Acatlán de Osorio, Puebla. He began dancing
at age 6 and studied Mexican folkloric dance for many years at the
Normal Superior del Estado de Puebla and Superior de Danza Folklórica
Mexicana C’acatl in Puebla, Mexico under the direction of Vidal Calvario
Tepox. Later, he performed with Ballet Folklorico Nacional de Mexico
under the direction of Silva Lozano and at the Ballet Folklórico de la
Universidad de Colima under Rafael Zamarripa.

Tatiana (Tati) Nuñez, originally from South Florida, is a generous and
well‑rounded multi‑disciplinary artist. Tatiana has received her B.F.A. in
Dance from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She has performed at various
venues including the Joyce Theater, Radio City Music Hall, Orpheum
Theater, Little Island, and Symphony Space. Her work has been
selected and performed at Battery Dance Festival, Queens Theatre, and
Garet&Co Film Festival. She is also an alum of various dance programs;
Jacob’s Pillow, The Ailey School, Joffrey Ballet, and Ballet Hispanico.
Tatiana is thrilled and honored to be joining Calpulli Dance for this
production! More info: tatiananunez.com / @tatinunez143

Carbin Palafox has been dancing ballet folklorico since the age of 7.
She has trained with Calpulli Community and has been with them for
almost 14 years now. She has received some jazz and ballet training from
both high school and college courses she is enrolled in. Currently Carbin
is a film major at Hunter College and is planning on minoring in either
Theater or Dance.

Javier Rochel was born in El Paso, Texas and raised in Ciudad
Juárez, Chihuahua. He received a Bachelor in Dance from Universidad
Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, graduating with honors. Rochel started
to dance Mexican Folklorico when he was 11 with different local groups,
at the same time he did Musical Theatre productions in Mexico City and
21 his hometown. He was an apprentice with Ballet Folklórico de Mexico

de Amalia Hernández and a figure with Mexico’s Compañía Nacional de
Danza in the Swan Lake 2018 season. He had done summer intensives
with Joffrey Ballet School NY and Texas, Complexions Dance Academy,
and ChoreoLab with Ballet Hispánico SoD. Rochel trained with JBS TX
under the direction of Thelma Flores from 2019-2021 and BH Pa’lante
Scholars Professional Studies directed by Rodney Hamilton from 2021-
2022. Javier is very proud to be a new company dancer with Calpulli
Mexican Dance.

Daniel Vasquez is from Sonora, México. He started his training and
passion for dance and Mexican Folklore at an early age. Throughout his
career, he has had the opportunity to perform as a dancer and show
host for companies like “Walt Disney World” “Universal Orlando Resort”
“Norwegian Cruise Lines” “Nickelodeon” and “Disney Live!”

Criis Vega is a dreamer, dancer, actor and singer from Oaxaca, Mexico.
Raised in Mexico City, he graduated From The National Institute of
Fine Arts Mexico (INBA). Studied at The Institute for American Musical
Theatre NYC, graduating as a Musical theater Dancer. He has danced
on important stages in Mexico City such as Teatro Metropolitan and
Auditorio Nacional sharing the stage with the National Dance Company
of Mexico City. His great passion is Musical Theatre and his dream role
is Angel from the musical “RENT”. -I just want to thank God, my mom
Patricia, my husband Jiravat, family, friends Quetzalli & Arantza and
teachers Alberto Peniche, Itzel Gali, Andrew Drost, Michael Minarik,
Justin Ramos, Withney Sprayberry & Andrea Herrera for helping me to
achieve my dreams. “Make it Shine”

Lucero (Luz) Velazquez was born in Queens, NY and raised in her
parents hometown in Puebla, Mexico. There, at the age of 6, she began
to dance folkclorico. She then moved back to New York and joined Ballet
Xochiquetzal where she danced for 4 years and later joined Ballet Nueva
Juventud. She joined Calpulli in 2016 and initiated her dance training at
Hunter College where she received her BA in psychology with a minor
in dance. Lucero has had the opportunity to perform works from Kyle
Abraham and participated in intensives by MODP and Contra Tiempo

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Company. She has worked as a dance specialist with various youth ages,
teaching dance movement and creating works. Aside from dancing,
Lucero works as a case planner and is a mommy to a 7 month old
baby girl.

Yisel Xique graduated as a Dance Theater major from the American
Musical and Dramatic Arts Conservatory in New York. A student of
Calpulli Community since the age of 12, she now not only performs with
Calpulli Mexican Dance Company, but also is a Teaching Artist in training
with the company’s Arts-In-Education division. She is grateful for her
parents who always pushed and supported her throughout her journey.

Luisa Bastidas is a Latin Grammy nominee that gives the violin a
unique sound. She was born and raised in Cali Colombia and migrated
to New York City in 2000. She has shared the stage with Red Bull World
Champion Dancer Bboy Neguin as the resident violinist for the Kinetic
Junglist Movement founded by dancer Amy Secada.

Alí Bello is Venezuelan-born, and has become one of the most dazzling
and sought after violinists, distinguishing himself for his versatility among
different music styles in addition to his well-founded classical training
and multidimensional improvisational skills, which have made him a top
violinist of the Latin jazz arena.

Fernando Brindis is a Mexican musician from Orizaba, Veracruz. He
has had the privilege to collaborate as a session bass player for Blumen
Records and multiple traditional music groups both in Mexico and Brazil
and now in the United States. Since 2021 he has performed in NYC as a
traditional instrumentist and bass player for groups such as Jarana Beat,
Radio Jarocho and Los Guachinangos and he is excited to share his love
of music with the warm community that has received him in New York.

Lautaro Burgos was born in Chaco, Argentina. He studied music in
Escuela De Musica Contemporanea in Buenos Aires. He has played with
traditional figures of Argentine folk and tango, such as Maria Volonte,
Marina Santillan, Broder Bastos and Sebastian Ibarra, as well as avant-
garde jazz with trio del futuro and Javier Lozano.

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Marilyn Castillo is a singer and songwriter from Juarez, Chihuahua and
El Paso, TX. She has worked extensively with many Mexican and Latin-
American musical groups and entities that promote arts and culture
throughout NYC. She was awarded a ‘Premios Fama’ in 2019. Living
in NYC, and being far from Mexico, she finds that music helps her find
herself and the perfect vehicle for bringing people together in a sense
of unity.
Jackie Coleman, born in Indiana, is a Trumpeter and Electric Bassist.
Jackie Coleman is well trained in a wide variety of musical styles. After
receiving a Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and a Masters
degree from NYU, she decided to pursue music in New York full-time. In
2017 she won a Latin Grammy with the all-female group Flor de Toloache
for their album “Las Caras Lindas.” In the past she has worked with
artists such as Solange, Leon Bridges, Wu-tang Clan, Kali Uchis, Miguel,
Natalia Lafourcade, Mon Laferte, Cuco, and Chris Perez. She was also
able to work with H.E.R., Fantasia, Yolanda Adams, Victory, Jazmine
Sullivanand Ledisi as part of the 2018 Black Girls Rock Band.Currently
she can be seen performing with Durand Jones and The Indications,
Antibalas, and many more artists.

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Queens Theatre Board of Directors

Executive Committee

Gary Kesner, President
The MBS Group

Tracy Capune, Vice President
Kaufman Astoria Studios

Bruce D. Levine, Treasurer
Real Estate and Finance Consultant

Mark Misk, Secretary
Nash Builders, Inc.

Alfonso Quiroz,
Con Edison

Members

Jennifer Bai
Barclays

Georgiana Benatti
New York Community Bank

Steve Chen
Crystal Window and Door Systems, Ltd.

Salvatore DiMartino
New York Community Bancorp, Inc.

Cameron R. Hernandez
Mount Sinai Queens

Susan B. Lipsky
Kepco, Inc.

Irene Zoupaniotis
Farrell Fritz

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Ex- Officio Members
The Honorable Eric Adams
Mayor of the City of New York
The Honorable Donovan Richards
Queens Borough President
Laurie Cumbo, Commissioner
NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
Michael Dockett
Borough Commissioner of Queens Parks
NYC Department of Parks & Recreation
Frances A. Resheske, President Emeritus
Con Edison

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Queens Theatre Staff

Taryn Sacramone, Executive Director

Programming

Dominic D’Andrea, Director of Community Engagement
Richard Hinojosa, Director of Education
Rob Urbinati, Director of New Play Development

Development

Bernadette Ott, Development Manager

Finance

Angelica Rodriguez, Finance Manager
James Cooke, Senior Financial Advisor

Operations

Jay Rogers, Director of Operations
Connie Baker, Rentals & Events Manager
Anthony Lackram, Facilities Coordinator
Charles Bennett & Jorge Toro, Building Attendants

Front of House

Willy Mosquera, House Manager
Gabriel Rodriguez, Box Office Supervisor
Vasilios Leon, Box Office Assistant
Jordi Toro, Box Office Assistant
Robert Lavin, Shuttle Service

Production

Victor Catano, Production Manager
Steve Wolf, Assistant Production Manager/Lighting Supervisor
Jerry Rodriguez, Sound Associate

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