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History

Named after it's founder, The Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico (ANMBF) began in 1975 in a recreation center on the west side of Dallas, Texas.

The first dancers were neighborhood children between the ages of 6 and 18.

In 1990, the ANMBF produced it's first season of professional dance employing an Artistic Director and a company composed of professional dancers trained the U.S. and Mexico

The Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to instilling cultural pride and heritage in Hispanic youth while educating the general public about the Hispanic culture's contribution to the community.

Mrs. Anita Martinez became the very first Hispanic to serve on city council in the United States, it was her dream to have a dance company that celebrated the rich heritage of Mexico.

What started out as a small group of dancers in a community recreation center grew into the most prestigious folklorico company in North Texas. Today ANMBF serves over 50,000 people annually and is one of the resident companies of the AT&T Performing Arts Center.

 

 

 
 
ANMBF Staff

photo of ana herreraAna I. Herrera - Executive Director

Appointed as Executive Director in July of 2007, Ana Herrera has an extensive background in corporate finance and comes to ANMBF after a lucrative career with Bank of America where she worked in the Global Wealth & Investment division managing Corporate Actions in Private Banking.

As Director of the Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico, Ms. Herrera delivers programs that promote its mission of instilling cultural pride and awareness in Hispanic youth while educating the general public about this culture's contribution to the community. Ms. Herrera looks forward to the future of the organization. "The Dallas Hispanic community is growing at an exponential rate. My goal at ANMBF is to create and develop events, fund raisers and strategies that will  raise public awareness of this growing communtiy."

Ms. Herrera received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Southern Methodist University located in Dallas, Texas.

 
 
Board of Directors

Officers

Mrs. Anita N. Martinez

Founder/Chief Fundraising Officer


Robin Minick

President

 

Members at Large

Carole Campbell

Lisa Mesa-Rogers

Marisia Parra-Gaona

Tabitha Wilson

Lorena Villalva

Talal Virk

 

 

 

 
 


Folklorico Fact!

Jalisco (West) - The Spanish colonized this area for an extended time. The men wore the big sombreros and the traditional Spanish charro suit with the silver studs on the pants and a big bow. The women folklorico wear is a ranchero design dress with unmistakable Indian influenced bright colored ribbons. This is the national representation for Mexican dance as is the Mexican hat dance which comes from this state. Jarabes, which means "sweet syrup," are best known as many of the dances are those of courtship and very flirtatious. This is also the birthplace of los mariachis -- the orchestras with trumpets, acoustics, violins.

Folklorico Fact!

Jalisco (West) - The Spanish colonized this area for an extended time. The men wore the big sombreros and the traditional Spanish charro suit with the silver studs on the pants and a big bow. The women folklorico wear is a ranchero design dress with unmistakable Indian influenced bright colored ribbons. This is the national representation for Mexican dance as is the Mexican hat dance which comes from this state. Jarabes, which means "sweet syrup," are best known as many of the dances are those of courtship and very flirtatious. This is also the birthplace of los mariachis -- the orchestras with trumpets, acoustics, violins.