The first annual Phoenix Mariachi & Folklórico Festival presented by C.A.L.L.E. de Arizona and the Herberger Theater Center is scheduled for Saturday, March 2. Maestra Vanessa Ramirez, director of Ballet Folklórico Quetzalli-AZ and C.A.L.L.E. de Arizona, has organized this special event to showcase the amazing talent in the Arizona mariachi and dance communities.

The Festivities kick off at 7 p.m. with headliner Mariachi Estrella de México, the dynamic band straight from the heart of Guadalajara, Jalisco. Audiences will also hear the incredible talent of Mariachi Sonido De Mexico. But that’s not all –  they keep the thrill alive with local talents like Olivia Calderon, Mariachi Rubor, and an array of performers yet to be unveiled, building anticipation for an extraordinary showcase. Adding an electrifying touch to the festivities, the dazzling folklórico dancers from Ballet Folklórico Quetzalli-AZ will sweep the audience off their feet.

Ramirez created Ballet Folklórico Quetzalli-AZ in 2008. Since its inception, the organization has emerged from a grassroots, community-driven effort of youth advocacy, self-empowerment, and cultural education. It has grown into a full-blown studio of the arts serving more than 100 students, from the age of four to adults. In due time, the spirit of an organization known as C.A.L.L.E de Arizona, formally called C3HR, aligned itself with what Ramierez was doing, resulting in a myriad of positive influences at various levels of the community, including arts, music, dance, culture, language, stories, and civic engagement.

For more information about the first annual Mariachi and Folklórico Festival on March 2 in Phoenix, visit Herberger Theater online.