Dance Companies

The Ballet Folklórico is a 32-member organization comprised of students who are pursuing degrees in a variety of disciplines. The Ballet presents student and public concerts annually and travels to present programs for local, state, national, and international private and public affairs. The Ballet has jointly produced ballets, concerts, zarzuelas, and musicals with the Valley Symphony Orchestra, the UTRGV Theatre, and the UTRGV Music Department. In 1996, the Ballet traveled to Ottawa, Canada to perform in their Dieciséis de Septiembre Festival. In 1999, the State of Texas House of Representatives honored the Ballet Folklórico with House Resolution N. 510. The Ballet Folklórico has been showcased at state and national dance conferences, such as the Asociacion Nacional de Grupos Folklóricos, the American College Dance Festival, the North Texas Folkloric Festival, the Texas Association of Health, Physical Education and Dance and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education and Dance. In 2006, the Ballet was one of 100 outstanding Texas artists chosen for inclusion on the Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Roster Program. The Ballet Folklorico has also traveled on a European tour visiting countries such as France and Italy.  

The UTRGV Ballet Folklorico has received national recognition through the American College Dance Association (ACDA). Their works have been showcased and selected to perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performance Arts in Washington, D.C. in three consecutive national years in 2012, 2014 and 2016. 

For information or special accommodations, call (956) 665-2230. 

The UTRGV Dance Company unifies the strengths of the department’s former companies—Ballet Español, Ballet Company, and Dance Ensemble—into a single company. This structure is designed to foster collaboration, expand artistic opportunities, and strengthen the department’s presence both on campus and within the broader community. Representing a wide range of dance genres, the company reflects the diversity of training within the program. 

Building on this legacy, the UTRGV Dance Company provides students with opportunities to participate in high-quality performances across forms including modern, jazz, ballet, and contemporary practices. These performances are presented each fall and spring at UTRGV theaters, offering the Rio Grande Valley community continued access to live concert dance. 

Committed to community engagement, the company participates in College Dance Day, an event that offers local schools' performances, master classes, and educational experiences. It also represents UTRGV at dance festivals across Texas, including the Bailando International Dance Festival, Aimed Summer Dance Fest, Brazos Contemporary Dance Festival, and the American College Dance Association Conference (ACDA). 

Members benefit from opportunities to collaborate with nationally and internationally recognized guest artists, as well as participate in professional development initiatives, including student travel to programs such as the Gibney Learning and Leadership Intensive in New York City. 

The UTRGV Dance Company is co-directed by Professors Rebeca Gamborino, Daniel Garcia, Min Kim, and Gina Laurenzi. Auditions are held annually, with additional invitations extended by the co-directors based on student participation and demonstrated development in classes.