Meet CaliDanza
Founder
Executive/Artistic Director
Steven Valencia
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Steven Valencia, founder of Calidanza in 2013, is an award-winning director and passionate artistic leader. With over two decades of experience, he has been creating, commissioning, and producing professional, award-winning choreographies since 2005. As an artistic director since 1998, Steven brings dynamic vision and creativity to every project. He’s also a skilled grant writer and arts administrator, dedicated to advancing the arts and fostering innovation. With his bold productions and visionary leadership, Steven continues to inspire and transform the dance world.
Lead Instructor/Coordinator
Academy Instructor
Rosario Rosas
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Rosario has danced for several groups and companies since 1996. In 2015, she completed a Diplomado Didactica de las Artes through SEP (secretaria de educación pública) and ANMPA (Asociacion Nacional de Maestros para las Artes) with the culmination in Los Mochis, Sinaloa. She has been teaching Folklorico since 2018.
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Academy Director
Company Assistant Director
Social Media Manager
Megan Benitez​
Megan has been dancing with groups and companies since 2003. She has taught Folklorico since 2018 in Sacramento and Southern California. She completed her dream of dancing Folklorico in the Disneyland Parade celebrating 100 years of Disney and 10th anniversary of Viva Navidad. Most recently she has trained with esteemed, Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez and Mexico de Colores. Now back in Sacramento she is Assistant Directory to CaliDanza performing Company. She also leads the new generation of dancers as Director of CaliDanza's Academy.
Dance Instructor
Fatima Gutierrez-Ramirez
Fatima Gutierrez-Ramírez started dancing folklorico more than 10 years ago. She has danced with multiple groups in the bay area, and started teaching in 2021. Her favorite region to teach is Sinaloa because of the upbeat music. Fatima currently studies at UC Davis with the goal of obtaining her teaching
credentials.
Dance Instructor
Briana Hanes​
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Briana began dancing at age six with El Ballet Folklórico Tepatitlán led by Monica Zuniga for 10 years. When she moved to Sacramento, to attend college, she danced with Raices de Mi Tierra, and later with Grupo Folklórico Los Alteños. Briana has been teaching locally since 2016. Her two most favorite regions are Chiapas and Sinaloa. Briana is very excited to have the opportunity to share this art with our newest generation!
Dance Instructor
Larisa Rosales
Larisa Rosales started dancing folklorico 8 years ago with Nuevo Amanecer and since danced with other groups. She is also an alumni from a Calidanza afterschool program. She has been teaching with Calidanza since 2023 and her favorite region to teach is Sinaloa.
Dance Instructor
Alejandro Murguia
Alejandro is an alumni from a Calidanza afterschool program. He participated for 2 years in this program and was a co-president of the folklorico club at his high school. He is also part of our Calidanza Dance Company. His favorite region to teach is Jalisco.
Dance Instructor
Marjorie Santana-Gonzalez
Marjorie Santana-Gonzalez started dancing folklorico in 2014 with Maestra Janet from Nostalgias de Mexico. Since then she has danced with multiple groups in Sacramento. Her favorite regions to teach are Sinaloa and nayarit costa. Marjorie is excited to start as a dancer instructor with Calidanza.
Dance Instructor
Karen Angel
Karen is a dedicated dancer and instructor with over a decade of experience in ballet folklorico. She discovered her passion for the art form at Sacramento High School under the mentorship of Roxana Reyes and later continued dancing at UC Davis with Danzantes del Alma while earning her bachelor's degree. In 2009, she joined Raices de mi Tierra, where she performed and taught both children and adults, refining her skills through workshops with Roxana Reyes. In 2018, she expanded her teaching and choreography experience with Folklorico Latino de Woodland and is now excited to begin her journey as an artist instructor at CaliDanza.
Dance Instructor
Belen Thompson
Belen Thompson has been working with kids in her community since 2023. Belen has also danced folklorico for 4 years in Sacramento. She is excited to start her Folklorico teaching journey with CaliDanza. Her favorite region to dance is Jalisco.
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Dance Instructor
Saira Ruelas
Saira Ruelas has danced folklorico for 6 years with Groupo Cali. Her favorite regions to teach are Sinaloa, Jalisco and Chihuahua. She has 2 years of teaching experience to all levels of dancers. Saira is always open to learning new techniques and dances.
Dance Instructor
Melanie Ramirez
Melanie Ramirez danced for two years at West Campus High School, where she developed a strong passion for folklórico, especially the vibrant region of Jalisco. In her senior year, she served as Vice President of the school’s folklórico club and taught kindergarten through 6th grade students at a local elementary school. For Melanie, performing is more than just a hobby—it’s something she truly enjoys and finds incredibly fun.
Dance Instructor
Sherlyne Gomez Laredo
Sherlyne Gomez Laredo has been dancing folklórico for about six years, with a special love for the regions of Sinaloa and Jalisco. She served as President of West Campus high school’s folklórico club and had also spent two years teaching dance to to fellow students. Sherlyne says, “I really like folklórico—I feel like it’s a great way to stay connected to my roots and make friends who also love to dance.” She’s excited to continue learning about new regions while working with Calidanza.
Dance Instructor
Josué Sánchez
Josué Sánchez has been dancing for over 20 years with groups such as Nube de Oro and Calidanza. With five years of teaching experience, he especially enjoys sharing the vibrant styles of Baja California and Sinaloa. Josue holds a bachelor’s degree in Dance and is passionate about preserving and promoting folklórico through both performance and education.
Dance Instructor
Monica Rodriguez
Monica Rodriguez has been dancing folklórico for over five years with Grupo Folklórico de Woodland and has participated in conferences like DUF and Festival Sin Fronteras. Her favorite region to teach is Yucatán, and she’s excited to begin her folklórico teaching journey with Calidanza. Monica also brings 20 years of experience in jazz, contemporary, hip hop, waltz, ballroom, salsa, cumbia, and bachata—and has been teaching these styles for the past 10 years.
Dance Instructor
Sebastian Tejeda
Sebastian Tejeda has been dancing folklórico for 16 years and recently began his journey as a teacher, with a special passion for sharing the vibrant traditions of Michoacán. He toured as a company dancer with Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles and now focuses on making folklórico more accessible in Northern California. Sebastian is excited to begin this new chapter with Calidanza and continue spreading the art form he loves.
Dance Instructor
Aurora Hernandez
Aurora Hernandez brings 20 years of dancing experience, with a special passion for teaching the regions of Jalisco and Veracruz. Having learned folklórico from a young age, she has spent the past 10 years sharing her knowledge through teaching. Folklórico has helped Aurora and her children stay connected to their culture, making it a meaningful part of their family’s life.
Apply Today
Do you have experience in Folklorico? Join our team today by contacting Calidanza:
916-599-3441