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. In 2007 she performed at the Latino de Oro Gala Celebration sponsored by the Spanish-language newspaper Identidad Latina and with Grupo de Baile Folklore de México at a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. Since 2009 she has performed 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 has also taught Mexican folkloric dance to children at Atabex Dance Academy in East Hartford (2008) and at several public schools in Connecticut.
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, Tere 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 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.
Since 2015, Tere Luna has performed with various Mariachi bands and as a folkloric dancer at special events, including Latino/Hispanic Heritage Month, Cinco de Mayo, and Quinceañera presentations. She has been featured in various International Festival of Arts and Ideas “Pop-up Festival” events in New Haven, Connecticut as well at numerous private events. In 2021, Tere performed with a Mariachi band in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month at the Byram Shubert Library in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Tere Luna is registered with the Hartford Performs, Arts for Learning, and Norwalk International Cultural Exchange rosters of teaching artists. Schools, libraries, and nonprofit presenters may contact these organizations for information on booking Tere Luna for school residencies, multicultural celebrations, and special programs:
Hartford Performs
Arts for Learning CT
Norwalk International Cultural Exchange
TESTIMONIALS
“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
“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
VIDEO CLIPS
Tere Luna performing at Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City (Feb 2014)
Tere Luna performs at Hello West Hartford! Multicultural Festival (Apr 2014)