By Mandy Marksteiner

Los Nños de Santa Fe. Courtesy Photo

Los Alamos Community Winds will present “Cinco de Mayo – Celebrating a Century of the Music and Dance of Mexico and New Mexico,” at 7 p.m., Saturday May 5, at Crossroads Bible Church.

Los Nños de Santa Fe will perform traditional Mexican dances, directed and choreographed by Antonina Valdez Romp, on three pieces (Danzón no. 2 by Arturo Marquez, Huapango by José Pablo Moncayo, and La Bamba de Vera Cruz by Terig Tucci).

Los Niños de Santa Fe (LNSF) is a local program dedicated to preserving traditional dances of Mexico.

Romp, a native of Santa Fe, has been the Artistic Director of LNSF since 2005. 

She has a bachelor’s degree in education from Benedictine College.

Romp started dancing at the age of six and received professional training in Mexican dance in Las Cruces with Rafael Zamarripa, in Tucson with La Universidad de Colima Ballet, in Mexico City with Carlos Antunez of reowned Ballet Folkorico de Amalia Hernandez, and in Guadalajara, Mexico with La Universidad de Guadalajara and La Universidad de Autonoma Guadalajara.

“Mexican dance has always been my passion,” said Romp, whose students range in age from three to adult. “It’s always such a treasure to come into contact with so many people. Meeting the children and their parents. I’ve had students who began when they were four, and now are in college.”

The collaboration between LNSF and the Community Winds will make “Cinco de Mayo – Celebrating a Century of the Music and Dance of Mexico and New Mexico” an exciting and unique performance. 

“I am honored that (Community Winds Director) Ted Vives asked us to perform in the concert,” Romp said. “It is the first time that I’ve been asked to direct and choreograph a piece with an orchestra.”

Los Nños de Santa Fe. Courtesy Photo