We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nadia Arambula a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Nadia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I believe my artistic path began before I fully understood it as a profession. I started dancing when I was 5 years old, and from a very young age, dance was always more than movement for me; it was something much bigger than myself.

The first time I truly knew I wanted to pursue folklórico professionally was when I became aware of the impact it had on my life, especially during difficult moments. Dance gave me strength, purpose, and a way to express what words could not always say.

When I began sharing this gift by teaching others, first teaching dance at my elementary school when I was 9 years old, and later took on a more professional teaching role at the age of 16, I saw how powerful this art form could be. I watched dancers grow not only in technique, but also in confidence, discipline, and personal development. Seeing that transformation made me realize that folklórico was not just something I loved; it was something I felt called to preserve, teach, and share.

There is a special feeling that comes with putting on a traditional costume, hearing the music begin, and realizing that every step, every movement of the skirt, and every detail carries meaning. It is not just a performance. It is history, beauty, discipline, and cultural pride coming alive.

Over the years, that calling grew stronger. Dance became the center of my creative life and eventually became my professional path as a dancer, choreographer, costume designer, educator, and artistic director.

When I immigrated to the United States, my connection to Mexican folklórico became even more meaningful. It became a bridge between where I came from and where I was building my future. It gave me purpose, community, and a way to keep our traditions alive for new generations.

Nadia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Nadia Arámbula, and I am the Founder and Artistic Director of Ballet Folklórico San Diego Dance Company. I have dedicated more than 40 years to Mexican folklórico as a dancer, choreographer, costume designer, educator, and director.

My work is centered on preserving and presenting the beauty, discipline, and cultural richness of Mexican folklórico. Through my company, we provide professional performances, dance education, cultural programming, and community engagement across San Diego County and beyond.

Ballet Folklórico San Diego Dance Company was created as a home for excellence, tradition, and artistic growth. Under BFSD, we also continue the legacy of our community programs, including Ballet Folklórico El Tapatío in San Diego and Ballet Folklórico de San Dieguito in Encinitas. These programs allow dancers of different ages and levels to learn folklórico in an environment that values discipline, respect, teamwork, cultural pride, and personal development.

As an artist and director, I am passionate about every part of the process. I love teaching dancers the technique, creating choreography that honors tradition, designing and coordinating costumes, preparing dancers for the stage, and creating performances that leave a lasting emotional impact on the audience.

What sets my work apart is the level of care, detail, and purpose behind everything we do. Folklórico is not just entertainment to me. It is cultural representation, storytelling, and a way to inspire the next generation.

My company serves clients and communities who are looking for high-quality cultural performances that are professional, meaningful, and visually beautiful. Whether we are performing at a theater, a school, a corporate event, a community festival, a private celebration, or a major cultural event, our goal is always to bring artistry, excellence, and cultural pride to the stage.

I am most proud of the dancers I have helped train and inspire throughout the years. Watching students grow in confidence, discipline, leadership, and love for their culture is one of the greatest rewards of my work. Many dancers come into the studio shy or unsure, and through folklórico they discover strength, identity, and pride.

I want people to know that Ballet Folklórico San Diego Dance Company is more than a dance company. It is a place where art, beauty, and culture come together. It is a space where dancers are challenged to grow, where families become part of a community, and where Mexican traditions are honored with love and excellence.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Yes. My mission is to preserve, elevate, and share the beauty of Mexican folklórico while helping dancers grow artistically and personally.

I want my work to honor Mexican culture with excellence. I want audiences to experience the joy, color, rhythm, and history of Mexico through our performances. I also want my dancers to understand that what they do on stage carries meaning. They are not only performing steps; they are representing culture, heritage, discipline, and pride.

A major goal in my creative journey is to create opportunities for dancers to develop as artists and as individuals. Through folklórico, dancers learn commitment, confidence, teamwork, respect, leadership, responsibility, and discipline. They also develop skills and values that can positively impact their future lives beyond dance. These lessons go far beyond the studio and the stage.

My journey is also driven by faith, purpose, and the desire to uplift others through art. I believe creativity is a gift, and with that gift comes the responsibility to serve, inspire, and create beauty in the community.

Ultimately, my mission is to continue building a company that represents Mexican folklórico with excellence, heart, and cultural pride, while creating a legacy that future generations can continue to carry forward.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

One story from my journey that illustrates my resilience is the season when I immigrated to the United States and had to rebuild my life while holding on to the dream and purpose that folklórico had given me.

Coming to a new country brought many challenges. I had to adjust to a different culture, a different language, and a new way of life, while still carrying the responsibility of creating opportunities for myself and, later on, for my daughter. There were moments when the path felt uncertain, but dance became one of the things that kept me grounded. Folklórico reminded me of who I was, where I came from, and the strength I carried within me.

That resilience was tested again during the pandemic. Like many artists and educators, I had to quickly adapt in order to continue serving my dancers and families. I taught classes through Zoom, found ways to keep students motivated from their homes, and when it became possible, we practiced in parking lots and parks so the dancers could continue training safely and stay connected to their art.

During that time, I also made the decision to continue teaching some of my most low-income dancers for free, even though I knew it would affect my own finances. It was not an easy decision, but I believed deeply that their access to dance, culture, discipline, and community should not disappear because their families were going through financial hardship. For me, this work has always been about more than business. It is about purpose, service, and creating opportunities.

Even when resources were limited, I continued teaching, creating choreography, preparing costumes, organizing performances, and finding ways to share Mexican culture with the community. I still wear several hats at once as a dancer, teacher, costume designer, director, administrator, and leader. It was not always easy, but I kept going because I believed the work had a purpose beyond myself.

That resilience eventually helped me build and continue the legacy of my dance programs and later establish Ballet Folklórico San Diego Dance Company. What began as a passion became a mission: to preserve our traditions, create opportunities for dancers, and bring the beauty of Mexican folklórico to new generations.

Looking back, I see that every challenge helped shape the artist, educator, and director I am today. My resilience comes from faith, love for my culture, and the belief that when something is part of your calling, you keep moving forward, even when the road is difficult.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://balletfolkloricosandiego.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balletfolklorico.sandiego/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/balletfolklorico.sandiego
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@folkloricoeltapatio_sd

Image Credits

Patrick Christman