Andrea Guajardo is the Founder, Director and Resident Choreographer of the New York City-based dance company Ballet Nepantla. Created with co-founder Martín Rodríguez, she envisioned a production that combined traditional and contemporary dance while tapping into the historic and social dynamics of Mexican-American culture.

Dancing has always been a central part of Guajardo’s life. She was born and raised in South Texas where she began training in ballet and folklorico, a traditional style of Mexican dance. At the age of seventeen, she received a college scholarship to The Ailey School in New York City and moved east to pursue her passion. Upon graduating in 2013 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, she joined the dance company Momix where she performed and toured until 2017 under the direction of Moses Pendleton. She has also worked as a teaching artist for Dance Theatre of
Harlem and Ballet Hispanico and performed with Kazuko Hirabayashi Dance Theater.

In partnership with Edinburg Dance Theatre, Ballet Nepantla was born in January of 2017. The name Nepantla comes from a Nahuatl term of the Indigenous people of Mexico meaning “in-
between space” or “in-between-ness”. As described on Ballet Nepantla’s website, “Nepantla provides a historical, intellectual, and artistic framework through which to explore the “in-
between” spaces of history and culture by exploring new artistic expression that fuses different traditions on stage.”

The dance company has since run three different productions, each with a distinct focus on bridging the gaps of cultural and historic “in-between-ness”. “Sin Fronteras” harmonizes
traditional Mexican Folklorico, Contemporary Ballet, Classical Ballet, and West African dance. “Valentina” focuses on the strength and resilience of women during Revolutionary Mexico.
“Mística” pays honor to ancestors by celebrating the creative and spiritual energies of Indigenous, Afro, and Hispanic roots.

In addition to live performances, the dance company offers master classes in Folklorico, Contemporary Ballet, West African, Classical Ballet, and Modern dance for all levels and ages.

Quotes

“Being able to connect my border roots with my professional training has been a way to find who I am as a person, and as a Mexican-American.” – Andrea Guajardo, Quoted in the Texas
Observer’s “Dance Without Borders” - https://www.balletnepantla.com/about

“I got back in touch with my roots. I realized how important it was to me. This is what I should be doing: to represent my culture.” – https://artsalivesa.com/ballet-nepantla-returns-with-valentina/

Website and Social Accounts

Facebook Andrea Guajardo
Instagram @andreaguajardo_choreo
Instagram Official @balletnepantlaofficial
Twitter @BalletNepantla
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-guajardo-1668067a/
Website Andrea Guajardo

Youtube

Ballet Nepantla “Mistica” Promo Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcUj2xVhyck

Ballet Nepantla “Valentina” Promo Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_5rSC6TmkM

A Look Inside Ballet Nepantla “Adelitas”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ_cbsJpEsM

Andrea Guajardo “Let Down”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UwRJB0UjRY

*ALL PHOTOS FROM BALLET NEPANTLA WEBSITE: PHOTO CREDITS - Eddy Fernandez, Claudio Rodriguez, Frank Segovia, Arnulfo Segovia, Tony Pena, Luis Guajardo

https://www.balletnepantla.com/andrea/