Instructors
Argelia Andrade lives in the intersection between scholarship and art. Argelia Andrade was introduced to dance at age three in Jalisco, Mexico, where she was born. Since then, Andrade has performed Mexican dance, modern, flamenco, and traditional Danza Azteca-Chichimeca in Mexico, Spain, and the United States with various dance ensembles. Argelia Andrade directs Nuestras Raíces and teaches Mexican dance and flamenco at Nuestras Raíces and at Santa Monica College. Currently, She performs with Danza Azteca Xipe Totec and Flamenco Los Angeles. Andrade’s graduate work focuses on the linguistic performance of identity. Argelia Andrade obtained her B.A. and M.A. from UCLA, where she also teaches, and will finish her Ph.D. June 2009, also from UCLA.
Elízabeth Martínez has been involved with Nuestras Raíces since the organization was founded in 1996. She is one of the organization’s instructors and has been on the Board of Directors of the organization since 2002. Elízabeth Martínez co-coordinates our annual Noche Mexicana event. Ms. Martinez graduated from UCLA in 2007 and she started graduate school at Loyola Marymount the summer of 2009.
Andrés E. Aguilar was born dancing. His parents direct Danza Mexicayotl, one of the oldest traditional Danza Azteca-Chichimeca circles in the United States. Following his love of Mexican dance, Aguilar continued to study Mexican dance in high school and college. A graduate from UCLA, Andrés Aguilar is a graphic designer who still finds time to travel to Mexico yearly to continue to learn about traditional indigenous Mexican dance. Andrés Aguilar honors our classroom and productions by bringing his deep-rooted knowledge of syncretic indigenous Mexican dance to Nuestras Raíces as well as by designing our website, programs, and promotional materials.
Julio Delgado is a student at El Camino College and has been involved in Nuestras Raíces for twelve years. Julio Delgado has served on the Board of Directors of the organization and teaches in our organization.
Cristina Martínez assists Nuestras Raíces dance instructors. She has been dancing Mexican folklórico since age 6 and is one of the founding members of the organization. She is currently a student in Santa Monica College.
Martha Zambrano is one of our organization's instructors. Ms. Zambrano has been dancing Mexican folklórico since she was a child and believes in sharing this art form with the youth of our community. She is currently pursuing a B.A. degree in psychology at CSU Dominguez Hills.