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Con ustedes… Ballet Folklórico Aztlán & Mariachi Internacional Aztlán

México in motion.

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Hola,

somos Aztlán.

Pride, tradition and Mexican cultural excellence. For more than two decades, Ballet Folklórico Aztlán de México and the Mariachi Internacional Aztlán have carried our identity to the great stages of Europe and the Americas — preserving, promoting and sharing Mexico’s traditions with undeniable artistic excellence.

Ohtli AwardThe highest honour the Government of Mexico gives to those who carry our culture abroad.
A first on Parliament HillThe first Mexican folkloric company to perform at the Parliament of Canada — with special recognition from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Invited by royaltyPerformed at the official reception for King Charles III and Queen Camilla in Ottawa, 2025.
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Zapateado

Since 2002 · one heartbeat

Three ways
to bring México
to you.

A full folklórico ballet, a live mariachi, or both on one stage — for festivals, galas, weddings and every celebration in between.

Featured repertoire

A journey
through our land.

01 / 04

Aguascalientes

Feria de San Marcos · Deshilado

The joy of the Feria de San Marcos state. Blouses of hand-drawn deshilado — Aguascalientes’ signature threadwork — full sunset-coloured skirts and painted trays that turn every turn into a burst of flowers.

02 / 04

Nayarit

Jarabe Nayarita y la Boda

An emblem of western Mexico’s folklore. Colour, mischief and regional pride recreate a traditional wedding: elegant zapateado, flirtation and choreographic games tell a story of country love, carried by the full force of the mariachi.

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03 / 04

Veracruz

Son jarocho · Sotavento

A dazzling homage to the jarocho soul and the elegance of the Sotavento. Zapateado, the ring of the jarana and the traditional white costume with red rebozos recreate the festive coast — celebrating the Afro-Caribbean, Indigenous and Spanish heritage of the Gulf of Mexico.

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04 / 04

Jalisco

Jarabe Tapatío

National pride at full volume. An explosion of colour, rhythm and joy for the cradle of the charro, the mariachi and tequila — crowned by the iconic Jarabe Tapatío.

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Our story

Since 2002.

Ballet Folklórico Aztlán de México, led by Maestro Josué Nieto, is the Mexican folkloric dance company with the greatest international reach in Canada. Its mission: to promote and share Mexican traditions through dance, music and cultural research.

Aztlán dancers mid-spin in full folklórico skirts
  1. 2002

    Co-founded in 2002 as a non-profit by Josué Nieto, after six years touring the world with the Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández.

  2. SRE

    Cultural ambassador of Mexico in North America, in strategic collaboration with Mexico’s Secretariat of Foreign Affairs.

  3. On stage with

    Plácido Domingo, Céline Dion, Cirque du Soleil, the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and the Grammy-nominated Le Vent du Nord.

  4. Parliament

    The first Mexican folkloric group to perform before the Parliament of Canada. Recognized by Prime Ministers Justin Trudeau and Mark Carney, and by King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

  5. 100+

    International recognitions from city and state governments, including the mayors of Rome, Warsaw, São Paulo, Ottawa, Chicago and Barcelona.

  6. 2026

    Hundreds of stages in Mexico, Canada, Brazil, France, Spain, Poland, Italy, the Czech Republic and Türkiye, and hundreds of thousands of spectators. This year the company officially joined IFFGA.

The Ohtli recognition from Mexico’s Secretariat of Foreign Affairs
The Ohtli Award

“Ohtli” means path.

The highest honour Mexico’s government awards through the Institute for Mexicans Abroad (IME) of the SRE. It recognizes those who have opened the way for new generations and raised Mexico’s name. With it, Ballet Aztlán and Josué Nieto join figures such as astronaut José Hernández, activist Dolores Huerta and writer Sandra Cisneros.

Stages
we've owned.

0year founded
0countries on tour
0international recognitions
0stin music, Istanbul 2025

The people
behind the fiesta.

A team deeply committed to preserving our roots.

Josué Nieto
Founder & Director

Josué Nieto

Danced six years with the Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández before co-founding Aztlán in 2002. Ohtli Award recipient, honoured by two Prime Ministers of Canada.

Armando Ortega
Artistic Direction

Armando Ortega

Shapes the choreography and staging of every production, from the Jarabe Tapatío to the Sotavento.

Dante Cardona
General Coordination

Dante Cardona

Runs the tours, festivals and partnerships that take Aztlán to stages across Europe.

Derick Cardona
Photo & Video Lead

Derick Cardona

The eye behind the company’s photos and films, from Parliament Hill to the festival stages of Poland.

Josué Nieto
Founder · General & Artistic Director

Josué Nieto.

Dancer, producer and cultural manager. For more than twenty-five years, Josué Nieto has combined artistic direction with the strategy, management and partnerships that carry Mexican culture to international stages — with experience across the cultural sector and in federal institutions of both Canada and Mexico.

The path

  1. 1992–95

    Dancer with the Compañía Nacional de Danza Folklórica de Nieves Paniagua of INBA, Mexico’s National Institute of Fine Arts.

  2. 1994–96

    Classical dance performance training at INBA, alongside the company.

  3. 1996–2001

    Dancer with the Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández.

  4. 2002 →

    Founds Aztlán de México, and leads it to this day as General and Artistic Director.

Cultural diplomacy

His role goes well beyond the stage: executive production, institutional and financial management, strategic alliances and multidisciplinary teams. He represents Aztlán before governments, universities, embassies, international organizations and sponsors such as Casa Cuervo, Tequila Sauza, Jarritos, Herdez, Bimbo and Cervecería Cuauhtémoc. Today he works closely with Mexico’s Secretariat of Foreign Affairs (SRE), the Embassy of Mexico in Canada and Mexican consulates on cultural-diplomacy projects that strengthen Mexico’s presence abroad.

Signature productions

“Los Mayas” · Canadian Museum of History

Producer and artistic director of the official stage event for the exhibition, created with Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).

Viva México at Niagara Falls

The festival he created and has produced every year since 2022 — the night the falls light up in the colours of the Mexican flag.

Latin Award

Honoured three years in a row for his work.

Letters & honours

Wanna join us?

Dance with Aztlán.

We are always looking for dancers and mariachi musicians who want to carry Mexico’s traditions to the world’s stages. Adults only.

Our assistant takes your details and the team gets back to you.
The result of discipline and great work over these twenty years.
Josué Nieto — Founder, on the City of Gatineau's recognition

México
at your party.

Tell us the date and the occasion. We'll bring the dancers, the mariachi, the costumes and the fiesta.