Omar A. Lopez
Email: omar002277@gmail.com
Omar A. López is a Mexican American folklórico dancer, educator, and choreographer from the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. With 14 years of experience, he has spent the past decade training with maestros from Mexico and five years touring the United States with university and professional folklórico companies.
For the past three years, Omar has taught traditional Mexican folklórico through workshops and private instruction, encompassing indigenous dances, danzas, sones, and mestizo traditions. His work emphasizes cultural context, regional technique, traditional repertoire, and thoughtful stage adaptation.
A central focus of his work is Tierra Caliente of the State of Mexico. Omar continues to work and communicate with Maestro Maximino Casillas of Amatepec to deepen his understanding of the region’s traditions and further develop repertoire and choreography while maintaining a connection to its cultural roots.
Performance Experience:
Choreographical Work:
Niños Zapateadores: 2012-2016
Grupo Folklorico Jaguar: 2016-2020
Ballet Folklorico University of Texas Rio Grande Valley: 2020-2025
Ballet Folklorico del Rio Grande: 2024-2025
Arte Dance Studio: 2015-2016
Studio 956: 2021-2023
Ballet Folklorico de Mission: 2025-Present
Professional Training:
Directors:
Tony Garcia: Niños Zapateadores
Rodrigo Leal: Grupo Folklorico Jaguar
Miguel Angel Peña Caballero: BFUTRGV & BFRG
Workshops:
TABASCO Tabasco — Roberto Martínez Rocha • Sergio Bastar JALISCO Jalisco — Amalia Viviana Basanta Hernández • Adrián Alejandro Gámez • Marco Antonio Ramírez Castillo • Viviana Allin Garcia Perez VERACRUZ Veracruz — Amalia Viviana Basanta Hernández • Viviana Amalia Álvarez Basanta • Leobardo Luna • Blanca Ramírez Gil Afrodanza Veracruzana — Nandy Luna Ramírez Chicontepec — Alfredo Luna Santiago Huasteca Veracruzana — Juan Carlos Sánchez Pecero NUEVO LEÓN Nuevo León — Jaime Guerrero Hernandez GUERRERO Guerrero — Juan Carranza Soriano HIDALGO Huasteca Hidalguense — Teresa Montelongo TAMAULIPAS Huasteca Tamaulipeca — Teresa Montelongo • Rubén Rodríguez Tamaulipas Norte — Teresa Montelongo • Rubén Rodríguez Picotas — Teresa Montelongo SAN LUIS POTOSÍ Arribeños de San Luis — Ricardo Mendoza Alvarado SINALOA Sinaloa — Yahir Padilla • Angélica Jazmín González Almaral COLIMA Colima — Perla Dámara Cruz Reyes ESTADO DE MÉXICO Tierra Caliente — Maximino Casillas • Viviana Allin Garcia Perez Otomí — Viviana Allin Garcia Perez Mazahuas — Viviana Allin Garcia Perez Prehispánico — Javier Aguilar • Viviana Allin Garcia Perez MICHOACÁN Tierra Caliente de Michoacán — Luis Oceguera • Viviana Allin Garcia Perez SONORA Sonora Bronco — Dr. Abel Román Amador GUANAJUATO Sones Arribeños de Guanajuato — Alejandro Cordero Vázquez
Workshops Conducted:
Omar has taught workshops across the United States for universities, studios, and national folklórico events. Each program is tailored to develop technical skill, cultural understanding, and artistic projection in traditional and contemporary Mexican dance.
Institutional Workshops:
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Northern Illinois University Ballet Folklórico Aztlán – University-level residency focused on regional technique and performance interpretation.
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Los Fresnos Folklórico – High school program workshop emphasizing foundational zapateado and stage presentation.
Company and Studio Workshops:
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Ballet Folklórico Herencia Mexicana de Houston – Multi-day private company training on regional repertoire and performance dynamics.
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Studio 956 – Pop-up public workshop introducing traditional zapateado and helped dancers strengthen coordination and adapt to faster learning environments.
Public and National Workshops:
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MEX in USA Taller Nacional — Houston, TX
Multi-day national folklórico workshop where Omar served as an instructor representing Estado de México, teaching Tierra Caliente repertoire to over 120 students. -
Corazón y Zapateado — Kansas City, MO
Multi-day national folklórico workshop where Omar served as an instructor teaching Zapateado Tabasqueño.
My Work:
Performing Experience: