A Brief History of Nuestras Raíces

 

Nuestras Raíces was created to address the need for the arts in the community of Gardena and its surrounding cities.

 

As with any organization that is successful and lasting, Nuestras Raíces’ birth has been debated. Nuestras Raíces Inc., a registered and trademarked 501(c)3 non-profit organization, was born when concerned parents and leaders participating in the organization since 1996 united to form the Board of Directors of Nuestras Raíces in the year 2002.

 

Prior to incorporating, the organization was simply a local Mexican dance group – a hobby that involved teaching Mexican dance to local youth. Since its inception as a Cultural Arts Center in 2002, however, Nuestras Raíces has quadrupled its membership, has added a strong music and academic program, and now has its own studio.

 

Today, Nuestras Raíces has a Board of Directors, eight instructors, and over 150 dancers and musicians learning and performing at Nuestras Raíces.

 

Important partnerships have honored Nuestras Raíces since 2002. Andrés Aguilar, Elizabeth Martínez, Julio Delgado, Martha Zambrano, Cristina Martínez, Jorge Andrés Herrera, and Juan Pablo Herrera have joined our teaching team and have contributed to the excellence of our organization. Some of the organization’s original membership is still part of Nuestras Raíces. Elízabeth Martínez, Aurora Lucero, Cristina Martínez, Alice Lucero, Érica Márquez, Arcelia Márquez, Darlene Andrade, and Paulina Vilchis were young children taking Mexican dance classes in 1996 and are now instructors, Board members, and leaders in our organization.

 

Nuestras Raíces is grateful to the first and all subsequent Board of Directors and members, including our founder Argelia Andrade, for doing all of the constant and diligent behind-the-scenes work needed to attain and to maintain our non-profit status since 2002. Since our incorporation, Nuestras Raíces has worked diligently to advance its mission: to create an artistic space that will foment college-educated leadership in our communities. We thank all who have inspired us to excellence through the years before and after we became Nuestras Raíces Incorporated!

 

Before 2002

 

Before 2002, Nuestras Raíces was a recreational hobby for all involved.

 

The name Nuestras Raíces was a name used for a cultural and dance club founded by Argelia Andrade in high school in 1992. Between 1992 and 1996, Andrade choreographed modern, Mexican, and fusion pieces for this organization, which earned her various awards and scholarships before graduating high school. Upon graduating from high school and starting her post-secondary education at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1996, Argelia Andrade began teaching Mexican dance in the old gym of Saint Anthony of Padua Church in the city of Gardena alongside Omar Andrade and Irene Rodríguez. Argelia Andrade directed the classes’ first annual Noche Mexicana in 1997 at Cal State Dominguez Hills. At that time, the organization was called Nuestras Raíces Ballet Folklórico. Nuestras Raíces Ballet Folklórico teachers volunteered at Gardena High School as they were also beginning a Mexican dance group. By the end of 1998, the organization’s teaching team was reduced to one instructor and organizer: Argelia Andrade.

Thanks to the partnerships that Nuestras Raíces Ballet Folklórico formed with local community halls and recreation parks, our annual showcase began to be performed at the Marsee Auditorium, the James Armstrong Theater, and the George Nakano Theater. In turn, our need to incorporate became necessary. Due to the arduous and diligent work of Nuestras Raíces members, volunteers, parents, and Director, Nuestras Raíces as it is known today incorporated and adopted its current mission, bylaws, and name, in 2002.