"Ballet Folklórico Sol Huasteco: Preserving Mexican Culture through Dance in Las Vegas"

Discover Ballet Folklórico Sol Huasteco, a vibrant Las Vegas-based organization devoted to promoting and preserving the rich heritage of Mexican culture through the art of folk dance. Established in 2012 as an expansion group to Ballet Folklórico Sol de Rancho, the dancers' strong bond and desire to stay united as a family led to the creation of this new community group.

At Ballet Folklórico Sol Huasteco, our passion for dance drives us to provide a platform for recent graduates to continue their dancing journey while celebrating the splendor of Mexican traditions. We are dedicated to excellence in all aspects of our lives, and our commitment to our art shines through in every captivating performance.

Join us in our quest to keep the spirit of Mexican culture alive through folk dance in the vibrant city of Las Vegas. Experience the beauty, the artistry, and the love for dance that define Ballet Folklórico Sol Huasteco, and immerse yourself in the colorful world of Mexican heritage.

Folklórico Styles

Mexican folk dance is defined as, “a stylized, choreographed art form designed to display the cultural diversity of Mexico with energy, heart, and intricate technique. Rooted in the post-revolutionary period, folkloric dance blossomed in the 1960s, becoming a thriving phenomenon in Mexico and the United States, and is now performed all over the world,” Dra. Olga Nájera-Ramírez.

Mexican folk dance has three main styles that stem from these three groups/directors: Ballet Folklórico de Amalia Hernández, Ballet Folclórico Nacional de México de Silvia Lozano, and Ballet Folklórico Universidad de Colima under the direction of Rafael Zamarripa. Below you will see all three companies dancing El Son de la Negra so you can compare and contrast the different styles. It is important to recognize the different styles and choose the one you enjoy. Ballet Folklórico Sol Huasteco most closely emulates the style of the University of Colima.

The Significance of Our Name: Ballet Folklórico Sol Huasteco

Our name is a tribute to various meaningful inspirations. "Sol" is a heartfelt nod to our foundational folklórico group, Sol de Rancho, which laid the groundwork for our journey. The word "Huasteco" holds a special place as it honors the vibrant and distinct region of Mexico known as Huasteca. Just like the Huasteca region unites many states under one cultural umbrella, our dance family showcases unity despite our diverse origins – our shared love for dance binds us together.

At Ballet Folklórico Sol Huasteco, we are committed to educating and preserving the richness of Mexican culture, history, and traditions through the art of folk dance. As proud representatives of traditional Mexican folk dance in Las Vegas, we passionately embrace our heritage and aim to captivate audiences with the beauty and authenticity of our performances. Join us as we celebrate the essence of Mexican culture through the mesmerizing artistry of folk dance.

Our Director

Jacquelyn Guzman is native to Tucson, AZ. Although she began dancing folklorico when she was a little older, at 13, she fell in love immediately. She was a part of Los Tucsonenses, under the direction of Lisabeth Almgren and Marcela Cardenas from Tucson High Magnet School and graduated with a Performance Arts Credential. She then became a member of Ballet Folklórico Tapatío, where she danced under the direction of Maestro Sergio Valle Vasquez for over eight years.

It was under Ballet Folklórico Tapatío where she began her teaching career. She taught the Infantil group for Tapatío for two years and was then given the opportunity to work at Sunnyside High School as the director of Los Diablitos Azules for three years. Wanting a change of pace and something new, Jacquelyn relocated to Las Vegas, NV in the fall of 2008. She began teaching at Rancho High School, with the focus of maintaining and expanding the school’s folklórico program: Ballet Folklórico Sol de Rancho. It was here that she saw a greater need for folklórico in the community and began teaching an Infantil group in the evenings. Most of the members of the Infantil group were siblings, cousins, neighbors of her high school students. When members of Sol de Rancho began graduating, they did not want to stop dancing and so, in 2012, Jacquelyn officially formed Ballet Folklórico Sol Huasteco with former students.

Jacquelyn is a proud Tucsonan and has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Arizona and an Associate’s degree in Performing Arts with a Dance Emphasis from Pima Community College. She has also obtained her Master of Arts degree from the University of Southern California in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

Jacquelyn has coordinated the folklórico component of the Clark County School District Mariachi and Folklórico Conference since 2009. She also had the honor to participate as an Assistant Director for the Las Vegas Mariachi and Baile Folklórico Conference in 2013 hosted by Tucson’s own CHISPA Foundation. Jacquelyn has also participated in numerous conferences, such as the Tucson International Mariachi and Folklórico Conference, Las Cruces International Mariachi and Folklórico Conference, the San Jose Mexican Heritage and Mariachi Festival, Danzantes Unidos Festival, Asociación Nacional de Grupos Folklóricos, and the Gran Festival de Folklor y Mariachi in Tucson, AZ.

Traditional Mexican Folk Dancing; large colorful dresses, Can perform with mariachi if given advance notice

Sets are usually in 10-15 minute increments. Can dance two15 minute sets or three 10 minute sets in an hour with the equivalent in rest. 

We also have an infantil group- ages 5-15.