Guadalupe County Community Symposium
THANK YOU SPONSORS
Guadalupe County Community Symposium
THANK YOU SPONSORS
MEET THE STAFF
Executive Director
Ballet Folklórico De La Rosa - Co-Artistic Director
Yvonne M. De La Rosa, Ph.D.
Yvonne is a Seguin native and the Executive Director of Teatro. She holds a Bachelors of Exercise Sports Science from Southwest Texas State University and holds a Masters of Education with an emphasis in sports and leisure management from Texas State University. She is a graduate of Texas State University where she earned her Doctorate of Philosophy with a major in Adult, Professional, and Community Education. Her research study explored the struggle and resiliency of a Mexican American community in Seguin as they attempted to maintain, teach, and celebrate their Mexican American roots, customs, knowledge, and celebrations through community education. She aimed to provide insight into public pedagogy as it relates to teaching, learning, and leading as a means to record the growth and change within the community. She studied how Teatro was a vehicle for cultural sustainability and helps youth and families engage in a process of identity formation through public pedagogy, as well as community building and development. Though cultural remembrance and sustainability are necessary for future generations to remember and celebrate their ancestors, they are not sufficient when looking at the formations and sustainability of communities that have been historically, culturally, and spiritually colonized. Yvonne is a founding member of the Ballet Folklórico De La Rosa and Mariachi Juvenil. She also served as the artistic director for the Ballet Folklórico De La Rosa and Artist in Education in numerous school districts. Yvonne is a 22 year seasoned educator in secondary and higher education. She has dedicated more than half her life to the mission and goals of Teatro. Yvonne served as Teatro's Program Coordinator for 20 years until she was elevated to the Executive Director position for the organization. Dr. De La Rosa invites you to read her dissertation, Ahora Puedo Respirar (Now I Can Breathe) and invites the reader to breathe together.
Ballet Folklórico De La Rosa - Co-Artistic Director
Tiffany Rangel
Tiffany, also a Seguin native, became a member of Ballet Folklórico De La Rosa at the age of 4, where she fell in love with the art of folklórico. As a high school student, she proudly served as an Intern with Ballet Folklórico De La Rosa. During that time, Tiffany also trained and performed with Mexico Espana Dance Company in San Antonio. Tiffany earned her bachelor’s degree in business management with a minor in women's studies from St. Edward’s University, where she was able to continue performing with the SEU Ballet Folklorico. She also earned a master of education degree from the University of Texas at El Paso. After a childhood full of dance and traveling the world, Tiffany now serves as a Ballet Folklórico De La Rosa Instructor in the very same studio that planted the seed of love for this beautiful art.
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Ballet Folklórico De La Rosa - Instructor
Lauren Flores
Lauren was born and raised in McAllen, Texas where she began dancing at 7 years old at the formerly known Deborah Martin Dance Academy. Lauren attended McAllen High School, where she was fortunate enough to have a folklórico program available. Through her 4 year career in the program she received her letterman jacket for folklórico. After high school, Lauren moved to San Antonio to complete her college career at the University of Texas at San Antonio. In 2010, she earned her bachelor’s degree in education. Shortly thereafter she moved to New Braunfels to pursue her teaching career and raise her family. In 2019, Lauren began dancing with Dr. Yvonne De La Rosa at Teatro De Artes when the adult class was first introduced. Since then, her family has proudly been a part of the Teatro family. In 2021 to 2023, Lauren also had the opportunity to dance with a group in New Braunfels, Danzantes de Corazon, that also afforded her experience and opportunities in Folklórico. Currently, she is an Early Reading Interventionist with Comal ISD. Folklórico is a big part of her culture and heritage that she is proud to share with my family and community. She is always interested in learning more about Folklórico and growing as a dancer. This year Lauren will serve as the Ballet Folklórico De La Rosa instructor for the Beginner I, Beginner II, Intermediate II, and Advanced I classes.
Ballet Folklórico De La Rosa - Teacher Assistant
Abraham J. Silva
Abraham, is alumnus of the Ballet Folklórico De La Rosa where he studied under the artistic direction of Maria G. Betancourt, Noel De La Cruz, and Beto Rincón. He also studied under Olivia Chacón of Flamencura and Gabriel Torres of Roy Lozano Ballet Folklórico de Texas. He also served as an intern with the BFDLR and was a member of the Conjunto Juan Seguin.
Mariachi Juan Seguin Co-Musical Director
Vanessa Moreno
Vanessa Moreno was born and raised on the south side of San Antonio who was introduced to mariachi music by her parents and has played the vihuela since age 6. Vanessa has been a founding member of Mariachi Las Alteñas since 2002 and the assistant administrator. In 1992, she began playing with the Wesley Community mariachi program, then moved to the Harlandale ISD mariachi, where she remained a part of that program until her senior year where she graduated from McCollum High School in 2004. In 2013 she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish with a minor in music and a mariachi certificate from Texas State University. While attending Texas State, Vanessa had the opportunity to perform with the award-winning Mariachi Nueva Generacion. In 2010, she competed at the national Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza Vocal Competition and received 1st place in the university category. In 2012, she traveled with the university group to South America, where she had the opportunity to perform for a live audience in Santiago, Chile. Music has allowed her to perform at prestigious venues and got to perform live on America's Got Talent while accompanying Sebastien De La Cruz. Vanessa is also a featured vocalist in Las Alteñas and is the spokesperson for the group during performances. She has a way with the audience that leaves people smiling and wanting more. Vanessa is known for her skills on the vihuela and was nicknamed "manita de oro." She worked in public schools since 2013 as a teacher assistant and mariachi director. In December 2021, Vanessa graduated with a double master's in Strategic Leadership and Business Administration and is now pursuing her new career in that field of study. Vanessa is happily married and has a beautiful daughter.
Mariachi Juan Seguin Violin Instructor
Christina Crow
Christina has been playing the violin since the age of 4. She grew up in Louisiana where she learned to perform in multiple styles including: Cajun, Bluegrass, and Country. She is also classically trained and has just finished her first year playing in the advanced class as well as assisting in the beginning class. Now a retired elementary school teacher Christina finds herself looking to share her passion for music and the arts. She has also been a member of the adult beginning Ballet Folklorico De La Rosa class for one year. Christina received the Crystal Fiddle two years in a row 2018 & 2019 for the best fiddle in the a duo or group. She also has been competing and playing on stage since the age of 6. Her first competition she won and that was the beginning. She is has many recordings under her belt and has recorded with Little Rock Symphony and collaborated with many Texas musicians in the area. She has recorded in Nashville, New Orleans and in the Austin area.
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Mariachi Juan Seguin Trumpet Instructor
Jesus Castillon
Mr. Castillon is an elementary music teacher at a bilingual school in San Marcos CISD and earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Music Education EC-12 with a concentration in brass studies. He obtained his degree at Texas A&M Kingsville and has worked over the last 3 years teaching students all about music literacy and instrument playing. Mr. Castillon has also participated in multiple ensembles throughout his musical career including: marching band, orchestra, symphonic band, mariachi and jazz. Mr. Castillon stated, "I am excited to teach at Teatro De Artes De Juan Seguin teaching trumpet to anyone that wants to learn and grow as a community through music literacy. I look forward to teaching young minds and the young at heart in hopes it will lead them into the future with musical awareness."
Mariachi Juan Seguin Teacher Assistant
Sophia E. Sauceda
Sophia is an alumnus of the Mariachi Juan Seguin where she studied under the musical direction of Rafael Alarcon, Jr. and Carla Medina. Sophia is a Seguin native, who has played the violin in mariachi since she was in the 8th grade. She was the group leader of the award-winning Mariachi Matador during her Junior and Senior years of High school and developed a love for teaching mariachi music when she became an intern for the Mariachi De Juan Seguin Program. Sophia became a product of the Teatro grow our own leader’s program when she became an intern and continued to gain more responsibility as the assistant instructor for the program, costume coordinator assistant, and helping with secretary/ registrar duties. She is currently a Senior Applied Physics Major earning a double minor in Math and Mexican American Studies at Texas Lutheran University (TLU). She hopes to continue her education by going to grad school and earning a Doctorate in Medical Physics.