All works of Grandeza Mexicana are developed by Jose Vences. Some of these pieces are developed in collaboration with assistant choreographers and outside collaborators. 

Grandeza Mexicana’s choreographic staff includes:

 

 

ELOISA HOLGUIN (assistant choreographer and director, female ensemble) A disciplined professional with tight, powerful technique, Ms. Holguin has devoted her life to dance. Aside from being trained in ballet and modern dance, Ms. Holguin has expanded her training to include Pilates, Yoga, and Girokinesis. She has studied and maintains mastery of Mexican folklore, flamenco and Middle Eastern Dance. Learning ethnic dances has become a great passion of Ms. Holguin’s, so much so that she recently traveled to Egypt to learn more about the culture and dance. Currently, Ms. Holguin serves as Assistant Artistic Director to Grandeza Mexicana as well as Director of her own dance ensemble Cultures In Motion. 

 

PORFIRIO VIDAL (assistant choreographer and director) began dancing at 17 in his hometown of Puebla, Mexico, taking workshops with Vidal Calvario Tepox. Watching a performance of the great Ballet Folklorico de Amalia Hernandez in those early years ignited Mr. Vidal’s passion for ballet folklorico, an inspiration he has carried with him across international borders. After arriving in the U.S., Mr. Vidal danced first with the Los Angeles High School Folklorico Group and then with Santa Monica College Folklorico. In 2000, he joined Ballet Folklorico del Pacifico as a principal dancer. Mr. Vidal then became a founding member of Grandeza Mexicana in 2003, and continues to serve as Jose Vences’ principal artistic and choreographic assistant. Mr. Vidal also serves as the artistic director of Grandeza Mexicana’s Dance Academy, leading that group to regional recognition.

 

RAFAEL VALPUESTA (assistant choreographer) began his dance training at the age of seven under the direction of Alberto Muriel where he was taught the foundations of Mexican folk with great professionalism far beyond his young age. During his years in High School, Mr. Valpuesta formed part of the dance department at Roosevelt High School and later becoming its director. Mr. Valpuesta has conducted several workshops for various dance companies and been a member of Los Angeles’ strongest folklorico organizations. His broad training as a dancer has allowed him to fuse universal ballet with traditional Mexican folk dances, creating a more dynamic interpretation. He is also the general and artistic director of Ballet Folklorico Resureccion.

 

ALFONSO ESCALANTE (consultant, Yucatan choreographies - 2006) was born and raised in Yucatan, Mexico, enrolling at the age of 13 at Academia de Danza Pepe Dominguez in Yucatan. Four years later he moved to Los Angeles and at age 21 taught Mexican folk dance at Banning High School in Wilmington CA, and a year later at Cerritos College. In 1990 Mr. Escalante became a member of the Los Angeles Mexican Dance Company and 1993 he was one of the founding members of Ballet Folklorico del Pacifico where he was a principal dancer for 8 years. While a member of that group, Mr. Escalante had the pleasure of being selected to tour North Korea and China with Mariachi Sol de Mexico in 2001 and also consulted on their Yucatan suite which debuted in 2002. In 2003, Alfonso became a founding member and board of director for Grandeza Mexicana Ballet Company. 

 

ELIAS ROLDAN (consultant, Nayarit choreographies - 2005) was born in the coastal state of Nayarit, Mexico, where he lived until furthering his education at the Universidad de Guadalajara in Jalisco, Mexico. It was there that Mr. Roldan was first introduced to ballet folklorico, as a member of Compania de la Danza Mexicana, led by professor Jesus Vidal Guerra. In addition to developing his talent and technical skill in ballet folklorico, traditional ballet and modern dance, Mr. Roldan studied costuming under a number of apprentices. Mr. Roldan continued his studies in the U.S. at East L.A. Community College after moving to the Los Angeles area in 1990. Mr. Roldan serves as a principal dancer with Grandeza Mexicana Ballet Folkloric Dance Company. Before joining the Company as a founding dancer, Mr. Roldan was a member of the Pacifico Dance Company for ten years.