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| Lani Almanza-Marshall
is the Director, Instructor, and Program Organizer
for Ballet Folklorico Azatlan. She was a former
dance member of the prestigious “Ballet
Folklorico Mexicapan,” directed by Benjamin
and Patricia Barragan of Los Angeles. She was
also the Co-Director of “Ballet Folklorico
America,” a former youth dance group in
Santa Fe Springs, California, which was founded
and directed by Alex Vargas, also a former member
of “Ballet Folklorico Mexicapan." |
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Lani has been giving Folklorico dance instruction for the past twenty-five years at various recreation centers and schools, and she continues to teach Folklorico using much of the experience instilled by her former directors and colleagues. As Director of Ballet Folklorico Azatlan, she artistically choreographs the dancers so that they glide from one point to another with fluid movements while turning and crossing in diagonals, verticals, or horizontal lines in perfect unison.
Lani loves her students and despite the disciplined regime that she requires
of them, she tells them often how much THEY inspire HER, and that “they make her world turn.”
Apart from dance, Lani has experience as a Management Analyst II with the City of Los Angeles and is an Office Assistant with the City of La Puente.
 Juanita S. Lopez is the Folklorico Advisor to Ballet Folklorico Azatlan. As such, she gives dance instruction, lectures the group on Mexican customs and culture, tradition, and history of dances. She is extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of presentation of Mexican Folklorico dance and the music of Mexico. She is the “heart and soul” of Folklorico and her main objective is to preserve that culture.
“Juani,” as she is affectionately known, has been a professional dancer for twenty-five years and was a veteran dancer with “Ballet Folklorico Mexicapan” and “Danza Teocalt.” She has given dance instruction and workshops for over thirty years and her experience is wide-ranged. For fourteen years, she taught dance for the L.A. School District, and at various parks and recreation centers, including the “Performing Tree” under the direction of Emilio Pulido, formerly the Inner City Cultural Awareness Program directed by Carmen Maytonera. Juani also assisted in the choreography and also danced in Carmen Zapata’s Bilingual Foundation of the Arts play, “Rosalba y Los Llaveros.” She currently gives Folklorico, tap and ballet dance instruction for adults and children in the South El Monte Community Center.
She studied tap and ballet with Carlos Ochoa, tap & jazz with Pat Lefler, and jazz under Pauline Sugine and ballet under Tony Barberio at ELA College. Juani also studied with the renowned Professor Rafael Zamarripa, the former general director of “Ballet Folklorico of the University of Guadalajara.” Apart from dance, Juani majored in Art and Fashion Design, and Illustration and received her Associate Arts degree from ELA College/LA Trade Tech.
Juani is on the Folklorico Advisory Board of “Moziaco Folk Ensemble” and is a member of ANGF. She attends various dance workshops to expand her knowledge in Mexican dance, especially the annual Las Cruces Mariachi Conference in Tucson, Arizona hosted by Rafael Zamarripa and Jose Tena, and the Tucson Mariachi Conference hosted by Rafael Zamarripa and Nati Cano of Mariachi Los Camperos. In addition to all her accomplishments, she has toured with Mariachi Los Camperos and has judged various folklorico dance competitions.
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Ms. Liliana
Martinez is the Group Announcer and dances
with the group on special occasions. She has many
years experience as a ballet dancer. |
| Ballet Folklorico
Azatlan would be remiss if it did not mention
the group assistants, Dolores Salgado, Christina Ruvalcaba, Ana Caudillo, and Maria Tavarez, whose help has been instrumental
in making the group a great success. We are very
grateful for their ideas, improvisations, and
their dedication to the group. |
Dolores Salgado |
Christina Ruvalcaba |
Ana Caudillo |
Maria Tavarez
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Adriana |
Andrea |
Angel |
Brittanee |
Edith |
Angy |
Esme |
Johanna |
Gisselle |
Elizabeth |
Krysta |
Brianna |
Joseph
Arciniega |
Isabella |
Julia |
Julianna |
Blanca |
Sophie |
Lizi |
Mandy |
Brittannee |
Brianna |
Isa |
Serena |
Carolina |
Genesis |
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