Happy father´s day

Jose Luis Baca

Was part of the first generation of Ballet Folklorico Tapatio formed in 1997 and is still a part of the master dance level. 

In 2007 he was appointed as the new director of Award winning Ballet Folklorico Tapatio by Maestro Sergio Valle Vasquez and he takes pride as his successor. Jose Luis acts as a mentor to many of the Tapatio dancers to help them feel welcome and part of the Tapatio Family. 

He dedicates much of his heart and time into Ballet Folklorico Tapatio and has been the coordinator of many performances and shows Tapatio has hosted. He has led the group to two first 1st place titles in competitions against groups from the U.S. as well as Mexico. He has also had the privilege to be  the folklorico director and main instructor at the Rosarito Folklorico Festival in Rosarito, Baja California Mexico for 6 years. 

Jose Luis has also been the director of Folklorico programs at Sunnyside High School in south Tucson now for 15 years. Since his time there he has implemented Folklorico as part of the curriculum at Sunnyside High School where students can receive a Fine arts or P.E. Credit for graduation requirements. He has also been the director for the Annual Noche de las Estrellas Mariachi and Folklorico Festival for the past fourteen years at Sunnyside High School. The Noche de las Estrellas at Sunnyside is a program that focuses on raising funds for scholarships  to send students to continue their education  at a College or University of their choice. 

Jose Luis has also had the opportunity to teach folklorico workshops at the Tucson International Mariachi Conference for 16 years as well working with the top Folklorico instructor Rafael Zamarippa form the University of Colima. Other conferences where Jose Luis has had the opportunity to teach are the Las Vegas Clarke County School District Mariachi and Folklorico Festival where he took on the role of main instructor, choreographer and director of folklorico. Today as Director of Ballet Folklorico Tapatio Jose Luis continues to grow as a teacher and mentor and continues to expand Ballet Folklorico Tapatios repertoire by collaborating with some of the top instructors from Mexico. He is always looking for new regions of Mexico and dances and hopes to continue to grow the repertoire of Ballet Folklorico Tapatios dances so that the students can continue gaining the appreciation of the Mexican culture and traditions through dance and focus on being positive role models for the Community of Tucson. He is an instructor that makes a lasting impression on every single dancer that he has had the opportunity to teach, and he also gains more from his students every single day.  Jose Luis is married with Jimena Arely Duarte and they have two beautiful children Luis Santiago Baca -8 years and Leonardo Ariel Baca – 3 years. 

Juan Ciscomani

Juan grew up in Tucson, graduated from Rincon High School, Pima Community College and the University of Arizona.  His love of country and patriotism were born out of his upbringing in a working-class family. 

 Juan’s parents instilled in him a strong work ethic and a can-do attitude– the same values he is instilling in his kids.  After college, Juan worked at the University of Arizona and then the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.  He joined the Ducey Administration as Senior Advisor responsible for the Southern Arizona Office, Arizona Office in Sonora and Arizona-Mexico Commission. 

Today, Juan is a candidate for the United States Congress. Above all, he prioritizes faith and family. He most enjoys going to Church, coaching his kids’ football teams, attending daddy-daughter dances, and spending quality time with his family.  

Dr. Eric Cornidez

Is a Tucson native and a Physician Owner at The Pain Institute of Southern Arizona. He is involved in serving the community on different boards and nonprofit organizations. Although Eric holds many roles, the most fulfilling and rewarding is being a father to his four children: Maddie (9), Eric (8), Camila (6), and Davíd (4) Dr, Cornidez is married with his beautiful wife Ariana Cornidez.

As a dad, he is always present and fun. He never misses an event, such as a dance recital, basketball game, or school play.  Eric recognizes the unique gifts of each one of his kids and he connects with each one individually. Whether it be one-on-one dinner dates, daddy-daughter dances, or going for a ride in the ATV, he always finds a way to build lasting memories.

He is a man of integrity, honesty, kindness, and most importantly, he is a man of Christ. These are the values that he not only lives by, but instills in his children. With all of the many things that Eric is involved in, he balances everything by depending on prayer and trusting the grace of God. He would also say that his endless energy comes from the smiles and excitement that greet him every day when he comes home from work.