Senderos Instructors

Jenny Robles – Dance Instructor
Jenny is an original dancer and an inspiration for the founding of Centeotl Danza y Baile, where she has taught for 12 years. Jenny studies and consults with experienced folkloric dance teachers in California and Oaxaca to ensure the authenticity of the cultural traditions she is teaching. Jenny currently performs with Esperanza del Valle in Watsonville. Each spring she teaches at the Danzantes Unidos Festival, the largest gathering of folkloristas in the United States. Jenny is studying for a masters in dance at Colegio de Bellas Artes de Oaxaca. Jenny is proud to share her cultural heritage and love of dance with Senderos students.

Malena Vega – Dance Instructor
Malena Vega began studying folklórico at an early age amongst some of the most prominent pioneers in Mexican Folkloric Dance. She later graduated from UCSC with a degree in anthropology where she was a member and co-director of Los Mejicas, a student-run folklórico group. She has participated in multiple folklórico conferences in the US and Mexico and appeared in the last two Linda Ronstadt's “Canciones de mi Padre” tours. Currently, Malena is sharing her lifelong passion for folklórico education with her children as a Senderos dance instructor and as a lecturer in the music department at UC Santa Cruz. Malena also serves on the Senderos Board of Trustees.

Chanel Robles – Dance Instructor
Chanel is an original dancer of Centeotl, has played with Ensamble Musical, and is a member of Senderos Board of Trustees. Chanel started dancing when she was ten years old and has studied with many folkloric teachers in California and Mexico. Chanel taught high school science and then returned to grad school to obtain a Master’s in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Chanel strives to build relationships with the Latino community so that she can pass on her love for science, traditional cultural arts, and learning.

Leonardo David Mendez Gonzalez – Dance Instructor
David Mendez is native to Zimatlán Oaxaca. He has been part of Senderos for 15 years since he immigrated to the U.S. David is currently teaching Danza de la Pluma (Dance of the Feathers), which reenacts the Spanish conquest as a ritual of remembrance. David has studied with master teachers in California and Zaachilla, Oaxaca. David is also a musician and plays the tuba with Senderos Ensamble Musical. He is currently attending Cabrillo College and Monterey Community College towards achieving a degree as an Automotive Technician. David is excited to be part of Senderos and pass these cultural traditions to future generations.

Raul Diaz Robles – Music Instructor
Raul is from Santiago Laxopa, Oaxaca. He began studying music at a young age and developed his skills at Centro de Integracíon Social No. 8 in Zoogocho, Oaxaca. He came to Senderos in 2014 as the first Ensamble Musical instructor. He then studied music specializing in the trombone at the Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca, Facultad de Bellas Artes. He has played at international festivals with renowned artists including Lila Downs and Los Tigres del Norte. Raul believes that through music you can convey feelings and he wants his music to alleviate the sadness and pain of longing for their homeland that immigrants carry.