Co-Founder
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Itza Sanchez was a founding member and former director of Grupo Folklórico Luna y Sol as an undergraduate student at SJSU. She comes to the group with more than 20 years of folklórico experience with the Ballet Folklórico de Carlos Moreno in Oakland, CA having also spent time training with the Ballet Folklórico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez in Mexico City. Itza graduated from San José State, with a degree in Cultural Anthropology and a minor in Dance. As an undergraduate she was a member of the Spartan Spectrum Dance Team which allowed her to spend four years performing as a San Jose Saberkitten and recently retired as a five year veteran of the Oakland Raiderettes.
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Itza has delighted audiences domestically and internationally having toured several times throughout México, performing in nearly every state during her tenure with BFM. She has performed in the Eurobowl in Austria and most recently returned from a performing tour for the US Military in Japan representing the Oakland Raiders. Itza worked for San José State in the office of Enrollment Services as an Analyst and Project Manager while pursuing her Masters studies in Applied Anthropology. She is currently working at Ebay.
Artistic Director
Monika Angeles began her folklórico career 17 years ago as a dancer with Aztlán Academy de San Jose under the direction of Javier H. Salazar and later joining Grupo Folklórico Luna y Sol de San José State University under the direction of Itza Sanchez. Maestra Monika has taught for over 12 years throughout the bay area in various community and school programs. She has shared her talents with Raices de México de Palo Alto and is still actively instructing children and adults for Los Lupeños Academy de San Jose. Most recently she was invited to teach at Danzantes Unidos Festival (DUF) 2022. Maestra Monika has participated in various workshops including DUF, University Folklórico Summit, and various Mariachi Festivals to enhance her skills. Maestra Monika took on the role of GFLS artistic director in January 2021.
As an undergraduate student at San José State University, she studied Child and Adolescent Development with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education. She works as an elementary school teacher and is currently pursuing a Masters in Teaching and Credential from Santa Clara University. |
Monika truly lives out the mission of GFLS by sharing her passion for education of cultura mexicana. She emphasizes the importance of artistic expression and cultural representation. “I owe so much to my maestros for all they have taught me. Sharing our beautiful culture with students of all ages brings me joy and I hope that they may pass down what they have learned to future generations.”