About Us
Casita de las Artes builds community through traditional & contemporary Mexican folk arts education. Through Mexican folk music and dance, Casita de las Artes’ programming provides collaboratively-inclusive, educational opportunities for multigenerational students to express themselves artistically and build skills that create well-rounded humans and engaged community members. Students across the South Bay Area participate in our studio and private classes, in-school music/dance programs, summer camps, performances and community engagements. Our three core-programs are our Music and Dance Classes, Grupo Folklórico Los Quetzales de San José dance company, and the professional musicians Los Panaderos.
Sharon Benítez, Managing Director
Sharon Benítez is a musician, dancer, educator, and anthropologist from San José who has taught and performed throughout California, México, and the UK. She holds a Master of Arts in Dance Anthropology from University of Roehampton London and dual bachelor degrees in English and Ethnomusicology from Santa Clara University. She has worked with Mexican folk dance and music ensembles throughout California and Europe to document the experiences within the Mexican diaspora. Her enquiry explores the embodiment of cultural values in a new geographical context, and how the transmigration of people affects the development of dance forms, dancers’ identities, and community creation. Her investigations have led her to believe that dance and music are intuitively expressive ways to build community through the embodiment of cultural values. She is a musician/dancer for Mexican folk ensemble Los Panaderos; is the Managing Director of Casita de las Artes; and serves as the Company Manager of La Mezcla (a polyrhythmic, multidisciplinary San Francisco-based dance and music ensemble rooted in Chicana, Latina and Indigenous traditions and social justice).
Tanya Benítez, Artistic Director
Tanya Benítez is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, dancer, actress, and educator from San José. She has taught and performed throughout the U.S., México, and Japan and dedicated her life to studying the traditions of son jarocho, son mariachero, and son huasteco under the tutelage of maestros in California and México. She has performed alongside Dia Pa’ Son, Laura Rebolloso, Los Laguitos, Saltapatrás, and with the Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit’s mariachi ensemble. Performance highlights include The Festival Internacional Cervantino Guanajuato, Mexico and The Lincoln Center of Performing Arts as part of La Mezcla’s touring production of Pachuquismo; El Teatro Degollado in Guadalajara, Jalisco, México as part of the Mexican government sponsored Encuentro Nacional de Mariachi Tradicional with Los Panaderos; and the San Francisco Son Jarocho Festival. She is a company musician for La Mezcla (an internationally recognized polyrhythmic, multidisciplinary dance and music ensemble); performs as Music Director for Mexican folk ensemble Los Panaderos; and is the Artistic Director and Teaching Artist of Casita de las Artes (a performing arts education program that provides affordable music and dance education).
