INSTRUCTORES/INSTRUCTORS
Artistic Dir. and Maestro
Int. & Adv. Performers
Adults Fundamentals
Jacob Fernandez Ontiveros
Specialized Instructor
Int. & Adv. Performers
Asst. Artistic Director
Int. & Adv. Performers
Elias Guerrero
Asst. Artistic Director
Int. & Adv. Performers
Karina Gutierrez
Asst. Artistic Director
Int. & Adv. Performers
Jovan Lopez
Asst. Artistic Director
Int. & Adv. Performers
Clase Infantil
Irma Hernandez Abella
Maestra
Briana Zamora Hanes
Maestra
Abdiel Trejo
Maestro
Clase Juvenil
Tatyana Cordova
Maestra
Daniel Trejo
Maestro
Osvaldo Ramirez Vidales
Osvaldo Ramirez Vidales is originally from Guadalajara, Jalisco and began his dance career at the age of 17 in Sacramento. Starting with a 10-year trajectory with Raices de mi Tierra Grupo Folklorico, from new dancer to artistic director, his enjoyment for dance became a passion. He was also part of Instituto Mazatlán de Bellas Artes (IMBA) for about 2 years, and later eventually co-founded and co-lead Grupo Folklorico Los Alteños (GFLA) for 9 years. Now, with over 25 years of experience as dancer, artistic director, and choreographer, Osvaldo serves as the current Artistic Director for Nube de Oro since 2021.
His passion for dance has granted him the opportunity to travel and attend various conferences across the United States and Mexico to diversify his professional dance training. Currently, he serves as teaching faculty for the Danzantes Unidos Festival (DUF) and for the American College Dance Association (ACDA) where he teaches Mexican Folklorico workshops. Also, he is an active member and participant for over 15 years in La Asociación Nacional de Grupos Folkloricos (ANGF) in the United States and 10 years in Mexico, for La Asociación Nacional de Maestros de la Danza Popular Mexicana (ANMDPM). It’s through these conferences that our director learns various repertoire styles, dances and traditions which he then teaches our Nube dancers.
Prior to 2019, Osvaldo had closely worked with Nube de Oro as guest instructor and guest dancer through his previous dance companies which made his transition easier as Artistic Director. Furthermore, as part of his professional dance development, our director has training in other dance styles such as Ballet, Capoeira, Flamenco, Indian Classical Dance Bharatanatyam and Bhangra, Salsa (former trainee with Yemaya Salsa Dance Company), and Samba (current trainee with Samba da Terra).
In his professional life, Osvaldo works part-time as faculty lecturer and choreographer with the Department of Theater and Dance teaching Mexican Folklorico Dance college courses at California State University of Sacramento. In his full-time job, he is a manager for the state at the Employment Development Department where he trains and oversees auditing processes for career services. His education includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and two minors in Anthropology and Spanish from UC Davis and a Master of Science degree in Career Counseling from CSU Sacramento.
Tatyana Cordova
Tatyana Cordova began dancing with Ballet Folklorico Nube de Oro at the age of 7. Throughout all four years of high school, she expanded her dance skills as a member of Elk Grove High School’s dance company, where she trained in ballet, contemporary, jazz, and hip-hop.
She continued her passion for folklorico and other dance styles at Saint Mary’s College of California, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, with a double minor in Ethnic Studies and Latin Dance. She was an active member of Ballet Folklorico Guadalupano and performed in multiple Saint Mary’s Dance Company showcases. During her undergraduate years, she served for three years as the Diversity Organization Council Representative for the Ballet Folklorico Guadalupano executive team, collaborating with other campus organizations to promote Latine culture and cultural appreciation. In her fourth and final year, she served as Co-President of Ballet Folklorico Guadalupano.
Currently, she works as an educator supporting TK-6 students. She is honored to serve as a Co-Instructor for Nube de Oro’s Juvenil performing class. As an instructor, she focuses on building strong technique, confidence, and cultural pride, empowering young dancers to grow and shine on stage.
Briana Hanes
Briana began dancing at age 6 with El Ballet Folklórico Tepatitlán led by Monica Zuniga. During her 10 years with Monica, she attended workshops and learned varying styles, techniques, and the history of various dances.
When she moved to Sacramento, to attend college, she danced with Raices de Mi Tierra, and later with Grupo Folklórico Los Alteños.
Aside from teaching Nube, Briana also teaches folklórico at a Sacramento elementary school. Her two most favorite regions are Chiapas and Sinaloa.
Briana is very excited to have the opportunity to share this art with our newest Nube generation!
Irma Hernandez Abella
Irma first discovered Ballet Folklórico in elementary school, where she had her earliest exposure to the art form. It wasn’t until adulthood, however, that she began training after enrolling her daughters in Ballet Folklórico de Sacramento under the instruction of Erik Berumen and the direction of Ralph Baez.
As one of the founding members of Ballet Folklórico Nube de Oro, Irma served in several board roles while continuing to grow as a dancer and instructor. Under the mentorship of Robert Lopez, she became Assistant Dance Director, choreographing works and developing programs for the group’s annual performances. She later served as Artistic Director of Nube de Oro for over ten years. Throughout her time as an instructor and leader, she continued her own education by attending Danzantes Unidos Festival workshops annually, participating in the Asociación Nacional de Grupos Folklóricos in Veracruz, and hosting renowned maestros including Monica Zuniga, Cecilio DeCastro, Jose Borrego, Zenon Barron, and Netzahualcoyotl Vidal.
During her years directing Nube de Oro, Irma also danced with Raíces de Mi Tierra for nine years, performing throughout California. One of her most unforgettable experiences was the connection she built with fellow performers through the audition and performance process after successfully auditioning with Raíces for the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, where she performed on its stages five times. She also served as maestra for the Raíces children’s classes. Her time with the company allowed her to learn from many respected maestros, observe a wide range of teaching styles, and develop a deeper appreciation for regional variations.
Among her most meaningful experiences was attending a conference with Rafael Zamarripa, where she strengthened her understanding of purposeful movement through RAZA Técnica and embraced his philosophy of not only teaching dancers, but truly knowing them — a value that closely reflects Nube de Oro’s spirit of familia.
Irma finds her greatest reward in watching dancers grow in confidence, strengthen their footwork, and refine their skills and style. She takes great pride in seeing many of her former students grow into accomplished dancers and now serve as maestros with Nube de Oro. After a brief break, she is excited to once again be teaching and inspiring Nube’s newest dancers.
Elias Guerrero
Elias Guerrero began dancing with Ballet Folklórico Nube de Oro in 2014 at the age of ten and has grown within the company as both a performer and leader. His training has been shaped by BFNDO’s directors and senior dancers, who served as role models in developing his strong foundation in technique, musicality, and regional style.
His work is rooted in the traditions of Jalisco and Zacatecas, regions closely connected to his family heritage and known for their strong, grounded, and distinctly masculine styling. His artistic focus also includes the polkas of Chihuahua, as well as the southern traditions of Yucatán and Veracruz.
Rather than specializing in a single region, Elias approaches folklórico as a broad, interconnected practice, prioritizing versatility and stylistic fluency across regions. At this stage of his career, he values an all-around approach to training and performance as essential to artistic growth and adaptability. His experience includes participation in numerous folklórico conferences, involvement with the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, and ongoing engagement with folklórico artists and organizations throughout California.
As an assistant director, Elias focuses on technique, footwork, posture, and performance readiness, supporting dancers through direct, disciplined instruction while maintaining a collaborative rehearsal environment. He remains committed to preserving the traditions and repertoire of Ballet Folklórico Nube de Oro while contributing to the continued growth and quality of the company.
Jován MartÃn López
Rooted in Sacramento’s folklórico community, Jován Martín López has spent nearly two decades learning, dancing, and teaching within traditions passed down through movement, memory, and community. The son of a singer and a folklórico maestro (Roberto López), he entered Ballet Folklórico Nube de Oro at the age of seven, growing up alongside the company and coming to know it not only as an artistic home, but as familia.
Throughout his journey, Jován has trained with cultural conservators across generations, engaging in workshops, conferences, and communal spaces that shaped his understanding of folklórico as a living, evolving practice rather than a fixed form. His work reflects a commitment to honoring tradition while allowing it room to breathe.
Jován’s experience includes choreography for private events, instruction in youth folklórico programs, service on the Nube de Oro Board of Directors across multiple terms, and recent work as a Maestro Liaison for the Danzantes Unidos Festival. Each role has deepened his belief in collaboration, mentorship, and shared leadership as pillars of cultural sustainability.
As a member of our team of Assistant Directors at Ballet Folklórico Nube de Oro, Jován approaches teaching with intention and care. His focus centers on migration stories, the mestizaje of Mexican culture, and the connections between regional dances and their Spanish, Indigenous, African, and nomadic roots—honoring culture as something lived; heredado y compartido through movement and community. He emphasizes the importance of understanding how language, religion, politics, economic conditions, social norms, and historical context shape our art and cultural expression.
Committed to continuity and growth, Jován looks ahead to nurturing the next generation of dancers and leaders, ensuring that folklórico remains a vibrant expression of history, identity, and collective belonging.
Karina Gutierrez
Having been introduced to Ballet Folklorico Nube de Oro through her grandfather’s mariachi, Mariachi Zacatecas, Karina has been dancing since the age of 7. She has grown up in Nube de Oro, learning from many talented maestros and peers. Karina, through the years, has attended and performed at countless conferences, workshops, and festivals for community organizations, and at various cultural events.
She learned the meaning of “amor hacia la cultura” through Nube and continued her cultural development while attending Saint Mary’s College of California, where she received her degree with a Bachelor of Arts in Ethnic Studies & Spanish Linguistics double major and Politics minor. Additionally, she had the opportunity to study abroad in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico, where she deepened her intellectual understanding of Mexicanidad, Chicanismo, Culture, Literature, and Society through storytelling and immersion. Karina is currently working towards her master’s degree in Career Counseling at Sacramento State University and is continuing her professional career in State Service.
She has served on the Board of Directors as Secretary and Interim Vice President as well as a Student Instructor throughout her years in Nube. As an assistant director, Karina’s most profound excitement is performing with her peers and watching how new dancers flourish with their dedication displaying their love for their culture on stage.
Alexis Atherley
Alexis Atherley began dancing at the age of 5 with Ballet Folklorico Nube de Oro under the direction of Maestra Irma Hernandez Abella. Alexis is a second generation folklorico dancer through her father, Richard Atherley, a Danzantes Del Alma Alumni. It was during this young age that she fell in love with folklorico, and never looked back.
Throughout her training with Nube, she has had the privilege of learning from many guest maestros, including Cecilio de Castro, Netza Vidal, Zenon Barron, Angelica Hernandez Barajas, Maria Luisa Colemenarez, Rudy Garcia, Erik Diaz, and Osvaldo Ramirez Vidales. She began attending Danzantes Unidos Festival from a young age, attending more than 10 festivals. Through the festivals she has learned a variety of repertoire from many maestros. She also served as student instructor for Nube during her high school years.
Her greatest achievement, and favorite memory, is performing dances from the state of Chihuahua in the 2016 San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival through World Arts West, where she had the opportunity to perform a world premier folklorico piece on the stage of the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco.
During her undergraduate education, she served as board intern, student instructor, Co-VP, and Instructor Coordinator for Ballet Folklorico de UC Irvine. There, she continued to promote cultural appreciation and support the Latinx community at UCI. She also choreographed regions for the 2018 and 2019 annual shows. While the pandemic halted the 2020 annual show, she returned as an Alumni and choreographed Senior Dance and Alumni Dance during the 2022 Annual Show.
Not only has her love for Mexican folk dance grown, she is passionate about learning more about the rich history of Mexican Folklorico. She has continued her folklorico education by attending workshops at ANGF, Coalición de Folkloristas Unidos, and others. She continues to research on her own time and actively seeks opportunities to supplement her skills as a dancer and instructor.
As a returning dancer and instructor in Nube de Oro, she hopes to inspire and support the next generation of dancers. She is grateful for the doors that folklorico has opened for her and hopes to give back to the community that raised her.