ARAUCARIA DANCERS

Horacio Mena (Founding member)

Horacio is from Santiago, Chile. In 1976 he moved to Brazil and from there traveled to California. He lives in Berkeley has been dancing and performing for more than 15 years. Horacio is in charge of Araucaria's finances and our link to La Peña Cultural Center, where he has served as a volunteer since arriving to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Maggie Muñoz (Founding member)

Maggie is from Valparaiso, Chile. She came to San Francisco in 1979. Maggie has been dancing and performing for more than 20 years. Before founding Araucaria, she performed with "Los Andariegos" a traditional folk group from Valparaiso, Chile. Once in San Francisco, she joined "Grupo Venceremos" and later also performed with "Grupo Kamanchaka".

Raul Muñoz (Founding member)

Raul is from Santiago, Chile. He moved to Peru in 1974, then he traveled to San Diego, California. He arrived in San San Francisco in 1976 where he founded the musical ensemble, "Chile Pueblo". Raul has been performing for more than 20 years and he is currently one of Araucaria's director. Before founding Araucaria, Raul performed with Chilean folk groups "Venceremos", and "Kamanchaka".

Nestor Cuevasnestor

Nestor is from Salamanca, Chile resides in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1994. He joined Araucaria in 1998. (on leave)

 

Matias Cuevas

Matias (Matty) is the youngest and, definitely, Araucaria's most promising dancer. He was born in Berkeley, California and joined Araucaria not long after learning how to walk. He is, by far, Araucaria's most cheered member. We are all very proud of him and hope he can stay with Araucaria for a long time. (on leave)

 

 

 

Carolina Flores

 

Carolina is from Santiago, Chile. She joined Araucaria in 2000.

 

Paola Gallardo

Poly is from Santiago, Chile. She arrived to the Bay Area in 1997 and has been a member of Araucaria since 1999. Before joining Araucaria, Poly danced with Ballet Foklorico de Chile, BAFOCHI. (on leave)

 

 

 

Enrique Gutierrez

Enrique is from Santiago, Chile. He is currently Araucaria's choreographer. Kike came to the Bay Area in 1996 and has been working with Araucaria ever since. Kike was a member of Chile's prestigious National Folkloric Ballet, BAFONA, for more than 18 years. We are very lucky to have him as our friend and our choreographer.

 

 

Mariela Herrera

Mariela is from Santiago, Chile and she joined Araucaria in 2004 when she moved to Berkeley, California. Mariela was a longtime member of "Los Maipucitos", a well known children's folk dance troupe from Maipu, Chile. Before joining Araucaria, Mariela was a member of Ballet Folklorico de Chile, Bafochi.

 

 

 

Edith Sepúlveda

Edith is from Santiago, Chile. She followed her family to San Jose, California in 1976. Edith joined Araucaria in 1996 and she is one of Araucaria's two directors and its webmaster. She handles the group's administration, performing calendar, and rehearsals. Edith enjoys dancing, singing, playing the guitar and the Venezuelan cuatro. Before joining Araucaria, Edith was a member of the Andean group "Kamanchaka", (1980-1988) a group of young Chilean musicians (all children of Chilean political exiles) playing music from the Andes regions of Peru, Bolivia, Argentina & Northern Chile.

 

Inés Márquez

 

Ines was born in Villa Alemana, Chile where she lived until she was 10 years old. She then followed her family to Gottingen, Germany. She moved to the San Francisco, Bay Area in 1989 and has been dancing with Araucaria since 1996. (on leave)

 

 

Karem Ojeda

 

Karem is from Valparaiso, Chile and came to the U.S. in 1998. She joined Araucaria in 2001.

 

 

 

Amarali Soto

 

 

Amarali was born in Valparaiso, Chile and came to the U.S. in 1976. She joined Araucaria in 2003.

 

 

Members on temporary leave include:

Liliana Leni

Manuel Oliva

Rammet Muñoz

Esteban Soto

Victor Gutierrez

 

We welcome our newest member: Emilio Gutierrez!