Alfonso Meraza Prudente was born in San Jerónimo de Juárez, Guerrero, Mexico. After graduating with his Bachelor's degree in Mexican Arts and Dance from the Instituto de la Danza Mexicana in Acapulco, Alfonso was determined to follow his dreams. Alfonso traveled to Mexico City where he earned the coveted position of Principal Soloist, with Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernández, one of the most prestigious dance companies in the world. He maintained his position as a Principal Soloist for 9 years. The Ballet Folklorico performed weekly at the historic Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City and toured world-wide. Alfonso moved to Denver, Colorado in 2019 after marrying the love of his life and partner of Artistico, Jose Rosales. Alfonso has spent the last year as a dancer with Kim Robards Dance and working on the launch of Artistico. Through all the places in the world, dance has taken Alfonso, he is most excited it has led him here to his new adventure and life, in Colorado .
José “Chepe” Rosales is a retired principal soloist of the world-renowned Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández in Mexico City. Jose was the first U.S. born dancer to earn the role of “El Venado” in the history of the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez. He has performed in many international dance festivals, toured the world and danced in more than 400 shows annually throughout Mexico. But his pride and greatest moments were in the historic Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, where the company would perform on a weekly basis.
Prior to joining the Ballet, José was a member of Fiesta Colorado Dance Company based in Denver, Colorado for more than 10 years, where his early dance training began under the direction of Colorado dance Maestra, Jeanette Trujillo-Lucero. While in Mexico, he earned a Master of Liberal Studies in Art Development and Program Management Degree at the University of Denver. Prior to that, he received his Bachelor of Arts in Ethnic Studies and Dance from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Through artistic dance alliances with other world-renowned dance companies and artists, José transformed into a universal performer. His performance and collaboration repertoire have included: Kim Robards Dance, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Company, the National Ballet Company of Mexico and many more. While José’s signature dance form is Folklórico, other genres like ballet, jazz, African, hip-hop, modern and Middle Eastern transfusion have influenced the strength and diversity that José offers as an artist, dancer and choreographer.
José is proud to be returning to the U.S. to share his love of dance and to give back to the community that was instrumental in helping him achieve his lifelong dream of performing on an international stage as a professional dancer in Mexico City. He has spent the last year being civically engaged on projects for the City of Denver, working on the launch of Artistico with his business partner and husband, Alfonso Meraza Prudente and reconnecting with his community.