Photo by Andy Hart
TERE LUNA – MEXICAN FOLKLORIC DANCER
Tere Luna nurtured her artistic talents at an early age while growing up in her native México. These talents were always very connected with family and the beauty and richness of Mexican culture. Tere often recalls the family gatherings where great music, food, and traditions served as breeding ground for her artistic aspirations. There she learned romantic songs that sparked her imagination and profound passion for Mexican folk music and dance. Even then, she dreamt of being a performer; this motivated her to study voice and dance.
Dancing has always been an integral part of Tere’s life. She began to study dance at age eight at Escuela Manuel Avila Camacho in México City. She later studied jazz dance under Ema Pulido and Flamenco dance under Pilar Rioja also in México City. She continued her studies of Mexican folkloric dance under Javier Bárcenas, Marlén Santillán and Soledad Zamudio in México. Most recently, Tere also studied under Amalia Hernández during her recent residency in New York City.
As a professional, Tere has performed as a solo dancer, with dance troupes, and with Mexican mariachi bands. Between 2007 and 2009, she performed at the Latino de Oro Gala Celebration sponsored by the Spanish-language newspaper Identidad Latina; with Grupo de Baile Folklórico de México at a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration; and with Fiesta del Norte, a local mariachi band at 3rd Thursday Street Festival (Willimantic), Manchester Bandshell (Manchester), Hartford Public Library, Elizabeth Park Summer Concerts (Hartford), Trumbull Senior Center (Trumbull), and several schools in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Tere also taught Mexican folkloric dance to children at Atabex Dance Academy in East Hartford, Connecticut (2008).
Between 2009 and 2012 she performed at various events, including Burlap Community Festival (Bridgeport), Santa Ana Catholic Parish (New Britain), New Haven City Hall, and Cinco de Mayo Festival (Bridgeport). Since 2012, she has performed with Grupo de Baile Folklórico Mexicano Tepeyac at various festivals and community events. In February 2014, Tere performed outdoors at Palacio de Bellas Artes in México City, México. In April 2014, she performed at Hello West Hartford! Multicultural Festival and also made a cameo appearance during the 20th anniversary concert of the Val Ramos Flamenco Ensemble (produced by the Connecticut Guitar Society) in Hartford, Connecticut.
Between 2015 and 2020, Tere Luna performed with various Mariachi bands and as a folkloric dancer at special events, including Latino/Hispanic Heritage Month, Cinco de Mayo, and Quinceañera celebrations. She has been featured in various International Festival of Arts and Ideas “Pop-up Festival” and “Arts on Call” events in New Haven, Connecticut and at such other venues as the Hartford Public Library, senior community centers, and public libraries and museums.
Since 2021, Tere has performed with Mariachi México Antiguo in a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month at the Byram Shubert Library in Greenwich; at the NICE Multicultural Festival in Norwalk; and at the New Britain Museum of American Art, among others, all in Connecticut.
Tere has been featured in numerous newspaper articles in Connecticut, including Identidad Latina, the Wallingford Record Journal, and the New Haven Arts Paper, among others.
Over the years, Tere has been the recipient of numerous awards. In 2016 she was the recipient of the Latina de Oro Award in Education for her work teaching Mexican folkloric dance and arts and crafts in public schools, and in 2017 she was recognized by the Consulate of México in New York City for her outstanding contributions in disseminating Mexican music and culture in the United States of America.
In 2014, Tere joined HARTFORD PERFORMS, an arts-in-education program with the Hartford Public Schools, and made her school debut appearance at the Breakthrough Academy Magnet School. She also performed at Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven, CT. In 2022, she joined the roster of ARTS FOR LEARNING CT, and in 2023 joined the Norwalk International Cultural Exchange (NICE) artistic roster.
Schools, libraries, and nonprofit arts presenters may contact these organizations for information on booking Tere Luna for school workshops and residencies, multicultural celebrations, and special traditional arts programs:
Hartford Performs
Arts for Learning CT
Norwalk International Cultural Exchange
TESTIMONIALS
Testimonial by Audery Barr, PTO Parent Leader, Calvin Leete Elementary School, Guilford CT (March 2025)
Testimonials on Tere Luna’s “Dia de los Muertos” performance at the Lyme Public Library, New London CT (November 2024)
“Tere Luna provided two beautiful assemblies for our school. She actively engaged our elementary students with gorgeous songs, fun dances, and interactive activities. It was great that she got the kids up and moving. What was most precious to us is how freely she shared about her culture and welcomed us to participate in it. We are very grateful that our students now have a deeper connection to and understanding of Mexican heritage due to Tere Luna’s presence in our building.” Giselle Ziegler, Music Teacher, Odyssey Community School, Manchester CT, November 2024
“Tere Luna did a great job at our school. She explained the different types of
clothing she wore and took time to answer questions from students. She used many
volunteers and had the whole assembly of children and teachers get up and dance.
It was a fun experience!” Eileen McDougal, Teacher, Northville
Elementary School, New Milford CT, April 2024
“We had a wide range of program participants, from families with toddlers, teens,
and adults attending. Tere Luna engaged the whole group with fun, participatory
activities. She was patient, kind, and flexible, and everyone learned something.”
Sarah Morgan, Library Director, East Hartford Public Library, March 2024
“We got RAVE reviews from the students and teachers for the performance…with
Tere Luna!!! Everyone enjoyed how the performance was!! It was a great program
for the students; really enjoyable!” Sarah Morrill, PTO Events Coordinator,
Dunbar Hill Elementary School, Hamden CT, October 2023
PERFORMANCES VIDEO CLIPS
Tere Luna performing at the New Britain Museum of Arts, Hispanic Heritage Month (September 2024)
Tere Luna performing at Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City (Feb 2014)
Tere Luna performs at Hello West Hartford! Multicultural Festival (Apr 2014)
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