Ballet Folklorico Raices Mexicanas

Group Director and Founder

I’m Maria E. Valdovinos Pascual educator, artistic director, and proud cultural ambassador for Mexican folklórico. As the founder and director of Ballet Folklórico Raíces Mexicanas de Maria Valdovinos, I have dedicated my work to building a program that now serves over 200 students through disciplined, culturally authentic, and high-quality dance training.
Folklórico is more than dance to me it is identity, heritage, and empowerment. My mission is to cultivate confident, technically strong dancers while instilling deep cultural pride in every student who walks into our studio. I believe that when young people understand the meaning behind the movement, they carry their culture with strength and dignity far beyond the stage.
Alongside directing Raíces Mexicanas, I serve full-time as an elementary educator with Stockton Unified School District. My background in education shapes my structured, student-centered approach, ensuring that every dancer is challenged, supported, and inspired to reach their highest potential.
Under my leadership, Raíces Mexicanas continues to expand its impact across communities, providing meaningful performance opportunities and preserving the richness of Mexican folklórico for the next generation.
When I am not in the classroom or studio, I enjoy spending time with my family, prioritizing health and fitness, traveling, and designing folklórico shoes and custom attire through my Etsy shop.

Our Leaders

Mr. Gustavo
-Teacher

I began dancing Mexican folklórico at the age of 12. What started as something I was pushed into quickly transformed into a lifelong passion. Through discipline, performance, and cultural pride, I developed a deep respect for the art and the traditions it represents.

Today, I share that same passion as an instructor, helping my students grow in confidence, pride, and stage presence. I understand that not every dancer starts their journey in love with the art — but through dedication and heart, passion can grow.

Beyond the dance floor, I am also a professional chef and restaurant leader. Just as I express culture and creativity through folklórico, I bring that same energy and artistry into the kitchen. Whether I am leading in the kitchen or on stage, my mission remains the same: to inspire, uplift, and preserve tradition with orgullo.

Maestro Miguel
-Teacher

Miss Eliza
-Teacher

Mrs.Yvette

-Teacher

My name is Eliza, and I have been dancing for 12 years. Dance has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and throughout the years it has shaped me not only as a dancer, but as a person. Folklórico has become something very special to me, and it continues to be a huge part of who I am today. I began teaching two years ago, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share my love for dance with others. Teaching has allowed me to grow in new ways and has shown me how meaningful it is to watch students gain confidence, improve, and truly connect with the dances they are learning. Being able to pass on our culture and be a part of my students’ journey is something I value deeply, and I feel very thankful to continue dancing and teaching alongside such an amazing group

My name is Yvette Sanchez, and I have been dancing folklórico for about 20 years. I began my dance journey at the age of nine, and from the very beginning, dance became a true passion of mine. Over the years, folklórico has shaped who I am, and now being able to teach and share this beautiful tradition brings me immense joy. The reason I love teaching for Ballet Folklórico Raíces Mexicanas is because I truly enjoy seeing the look of accomplishment on my students’ faces when they finally master a dance. I also love learning from them every dancer brings something unique, and they inspire me just as much as I hope to inspire them. I see this dance group as a family, and that is what I strive to build a strong team where we support one another, grow together, and work as one.

TBA

Miss Gianelli
-Teacher

The reason I love teaching for Ballet Folklórico Raíces Mexicanas is because I truly enjoy seeing the look of accomplishment on my students’ faces when they finally master a dance. I also love learning from them every dancer brings something unique, and they inspire me just as much as I hope to inspire them. I see this dance group as a family, and that is what I strive to build a strong team where we support one another, grow together, and work as one. I started teaching around two years ago and I love it. I love seeing my kids progress and seeing them move up. I love teaching because I want to embrace my culture more and I want to help the group grow stronger and closer.

My name is Jenifer, I’ve been dancing for roughly 8 years. It started in when i was in elementary school, I stopped for a little bit, then got back into in middle school where Mrs. Maria was able to teach it as a class during the school day, and it went off from there. Dancing in general has always played a huge part of my life and has made me who I am. I’ve only been a teacher for 2 years, I’ve been very grateful for this opportunity. I teach the younger students, and I genuinely love seeing not only in their faces but as we continue working on a song, how they’re slowly understanding the steps and the song. It’s a genuine process and I can always see how much effort my students put into learning. They teach me how to be a better teacher and I’m helping them learn about our culture and how to embrace it as we continue learning new songs from different regions and such!

Miss Ivette
- Teacher Assistant

Mr. Jose
- Teacher Assistant

Miss Marely
- Teacher Assistant

Mrs. Vikky
- Teacher Assistant

Valentina
- Junior Assistant

Adamarie
- Junior Assistant

Miss Jeni
-Teacher

Miss Leticia

-Teacher

My name is Leticia, I joined Ballet Folklorico Raices mexicanas in 2018 and I’ve been dancing for 10 years now and absolutely love it. Folklorico has become such a big part in my life and I hope to continue it for as long as I can. Ive made so many close friends and even became a teacher. When I was first given the opportunity to become a teacher I was scared the students weren’t gonna like me and I thought I wasn’t going to teach them well but I was totally wrong. The students were so sweet and learned the dances smoothly. I love seeing their faces light up when they finally get a difficult step correct. It’s even better to see them perform with a big smile.