Maestro Rudy Figueroa

Maestro Rudy, as he is affectionately known, has been a performer and instructor of Mexican Folk Dance for many generations. He is a lead instructor with Los Lupeños Academy and has taught throughout California and in Mexico for various audiences including Danzantes Unidos, San José Mariachi Festival, and the University of San Diego’s Summer Program in Guadalajara. He directed the children’s group, Niños de Aztlán, for six years and was an instructor for Hilos de Plata, a senior dance group. Maestro Rudy has been teaching baile folklórico since 1972.

Maestro Rudy began his folklórico career as a dancer with Los Lupeños de San José in the 1970s. He studied under the direction of Co-founders Susie Cashion and Ramón Morones. Maestro Rudy has studied other dance genres such as Spanish, Okinawa Folk, and Classical Japanese. One of his most memorable experiences as a folklórico student was when he was taught by Maestro Tizoc Fuentes at an ANGF Conference in San José. Some of his favorite Mexican regional songs are from Yucatan, Veracruz, and Oaxaca. Maestro Rudy is also a talented floral designer and enjoys costume design. Teaching many generations of families in our Academy, Maestro Rudy takes pride in seeing how his students have blossomed as dancers. “You can tell who is a dancer by the way that they carry themselves”.