Martha Celis is the founder, enthusiastic and creative Director of “Danza Colibrí”. Martha started dancing at a very early age in her city of birth, Guadalajara, she dance in Grupo Folklórico de la Secretaría de Turismo and later was a founder member of “Grupo Folklórico Ciudad de Guadalajara''. She Graduates from the School of Arts of the University of Guadalajara as a professional dancer and started her career as a teacher. She has had the opportunity to travel around North America, Central America and Europe taking her art to all kinds of different audiences. Martha migrated to the USA in 1998 and dreamed of being able to share all the love she feels for her culture and willing to keep learning and teaching all the amazing dances and traditions among the Mexican culture. A few years later she obtained a Bachelors of Art degree in Human Development from CSU East Bay. Martha has worked with different organizations and schools around the bay area as a Mexican Folk Dance teacher and Choreographer. In 2013 Martha founded, “Viva el Folklor Mexicano” an after school educational enrichment program. Later in 2016, her love for community propelled her to found her dream project, “Danza Colibrí” a Mexican traditional music and dance community group for children, youth and adults in Redwood City. Martha Celis also teaches traditional, mestizo dances and zapateado de tarima.

Isidro Jimenez, has been involved and playing Traditional Mexican music since the mid 90's. He has played different genres of music including: Mariachi modern and traditional, Son Huasteco, Son Jarocho, Sones Abajeños and Pirekuas from Michoacán, Ranchera and Traditional Mexican music. He has played with and for many local folk dance and theater groups including: Los Lupeños de San José, Academia Aztlan, Teatro Familia Aztlan and Teatro Nahual. He has taught and continues to teach basic beginning and intermediate folk guitar for the last 12 years. He has learned from local teachers and maestros from México. He is an active part of the local bay area of Son Jarocho community also Isidro is a music teacher and the music director of Danza Colibri since January 2017, with whom he has traveled twice to Costa Rica and once to France. During the pandemic year of 2021 he has taken a virtual weekly workshop of "Antropología, historia, conservación y documentación de la música en México y el mundo 2021" at the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia de México.

Board Member Henry Villar has been leading Tae Kwon Do classes for our students for several years and we are excited to continue this partnership in the Fall of 2022 at our La Hacienda location.