LOS NIÑOS DE AZTLÁN 46 Years of Folklorico

Los Niño’s de Aztlan was established in 1978 by Professor Ernesto Martinez of California State University Fresno. It was established to promote cultural awareness and to provide a historical perspective of the different cultural regions in Mexico through folkloric dance, music, and attire. Professor Martinez was recognized as the father of Mexican folkloric dance in the San Joaquin Valley and to his credit also founded Los Paisanos de Selma High School and Los Danzantes de Aztlan at California State University Fresno, the first Mexican Folkloric dance group to be recognized by the University system.

Many instructors who teach or have taught for Los Niño’s de Aztlan were trained by Professor Martinez and also danced with Los Danzantes de Aztlan while attending California State University Fresno. Since Professor Martinez’s passing, the next generation of instructors who have begun to teach at the studio have been trained by Elena Ybarra-Murphy and Richard Delgado as well as participating in their high school group, college group and various conferences to define their skill. 

Since its inception 46 years ago thousands of children have participated in Los Niño’s dance program. Many of these children began at the age of 3 and continued until graduating from high school. Los Niño’s de Aztlan has become a feeder program for colleges and universities in California. Many of the Niño’s alumni have continued dancing for universities such as CSU Fresno, UC Merced, Stanford, and many other universities and colleges. Many of these former Niño’s students after graduating from college have formed groups at the schools where they now teach. 

There are many children who are 2nd generation students of Los Niño’s de Aztlan. There are and have been instructors who danced with Los Niño’s as children and continued in the program through high school.  

As a tribute to the children, their parents, and their families, we schedule two recitals so that students can demonstrate what they have learned. One recital is scheduled in December and is done around the theme of Las Posadas and the other is scheduled in mid June.

In 2015 a college scholarship fund was established to help our students as they begin their college career. A portion of this scholarship is given to every Los Ninos de Aztlan high school senior who has been accepted to a university, college or trade school.