Guadalupe County Community Symposium
THANK YOU SPONSORS
Guadalupe County Community Symposium
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. M.Ed.
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.
Mariachi Juan Seguin Co-Musical Director
Sofia Gonzalez
Sofia Gonzalez was born in Austin, TX, but raised in Kyle, where she was a member of the mariachi program in Hays CISD. She began playing the vihuela at the age of 9 when she joined the San Marcos Mariachi Academy, directed by Frank DeLeon, and later, at age 12, started learning the guitarrón. Sofia was a varsity mariachi member at Lehman High School, alternating between playing vihuela and guitarrón. After graduating in 2019, she began attending Texas State University as a Music Education major with a minor in Mariachi. As a member of Mariachi Nueva Generación, Sofia had the opportunity to record a CD in 2021 dedicated to the late Maestro Rigoberto Alfaro, featuring his arrangements of well-known compositions by artists such as Juan Gabriel, Tomás Méndez, and José Alfredo Jiménez. Outside of school, Sofia has traveled and performed with distinguished groups such as Mariachi Las Coronelas and Mariachi Las Alteñas. Notable performances include accompanying Los Tigres del Norte in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio in 2022 and 2023 with Las Coronelas, as well as performing at the Seguin Teatro de Artes Noche de Gala in 2024 and 2025 with Las Alteñas. After graduating in 2024, Sofia participated in additional performance projects, including performing with Mariachi Las Alteñas in collaboration with the Austin Symphony Orchestra in the esteemed Young People’s Concerts program for the 2024–2025 season. This performance featured the world premiere of Midsummer in Marfa: A West Texas Fairy Tale, based on William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night’s Dream and compositions by Felix Mendelssohn. Additionally, Sofia served as the Musical Director for Mariachi Perlas de Orlando during their performance at Sol y Sabor: A Celebration of Culture & Music, hosted by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra in 2025. As a certified teacher through the State of Texas, Sofia has served as a mariachi consultant for various schools and districts, including Laredo College, Southwest ISD, Seguin ISD, Hays CISD, and Laredo ISD. With her expertise in armonía and voice, Sofia has guided students from middle school to high school in developing foundational vocal and instrumental techniques that enhance both individual and ensemble performance. Her goal as an educator is to provide access to specialized mariachi instruction that creates opportunities for students to gain a deep understanding of mariachi music and performance.
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 three 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 Advanced Violin Assistant
Hector Maldonado
Bio coming soon