Mexican Folklorico Dance & Cultural perf

All of our performances are filled with joy, celebration, and authenticity. For our quality and authenticity, we are recognized as culture keepers in Oregon (Oregon Folklife Network and University of Oregon). We have earned multiple prizes and recognitions: in 2024 we earned the 1ST PLACE in the biggest and oldest parade for children in US: the Junior Parade, at the Rose Festival in Portland OR.

Our costumes are made in Mexico and bring a vibrant energy to the performance. The music is traditional from different regions of Mexico.

We personalize our performances to each specific event. We offer traditional dances from Mexico, such as the bottle dance, Bruja (candle on the head dance), dance of knifes, native rare dances and interactive performances that brings a lot of joy and a memorable cultural experience.

We would love to discuss the details of your event to make it memorable!

Marquez was born in Mexico City to a family of artists. Her mother was a professional folklorico dancer with Mexico’s national fine arts school, the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes, and her father was a traditional musician. When Marquez and her sisters were very young, their mother taught them traditional folk dances.

Marquez danced throughout her childhood and eventually went onto study classical ballet. She returned to folk dance years later, when she went to Paris, France for graduate school. There she became the student of a professional Mexican ballet folklorico dancer who was with the Mexican Consulate.

In 2003, Marquez settled in Portland, where she founded Mexican folklorico dance ensemble Ballet Papalotl; papalotl is the Mayan word for butterfly. Under Dr. Kenya Marquez’s direction, the group, whose members dress in the costume traditional to each dance or state, performs an array of authentic Mexican folk dances.

The troupe’s repertoire includes the well-known Jalisco dance, which features brightly colored dresses and quick, whiplash motions, as well as more obscure dances like the Guerrero or Nayarit, which derive from Mexico’s indigenous cultures. The Nuevo Leon dance integrates European polka traditions into folklorico, while the Veracruz dance includes consumes representative of the Afro-Caribbean influence in Mexican culture.

According to Marquez, “Through learning Mexican folk dance, we not only remember the history of the Mexican people but we also carry on the values and traditions of our ancestors.” Ballet Papalotl’s missions is to instill in every dancer the discipline, confidence, and cultural pride that is essential for their development, to maintain authentic Mexican ballet folklorico standards of excellence, and to enrich Portland through intercultural exchange. The group performs for private and public events, including the annual Rose Festival, where it has earned several Junior Festival awards for Best Costumes and Dance Troupe.