Board of Directors, Executive & Educational Staff
Educational Staff
Jessica Montoya
Youth Dance Teacher
Jessica Montoya was born in Lubbock, Texas
of proud Navajo Indian roots. Jessica's love for dance began as a member
of her high school drill team and flag squad. She has completed her CDA
and is a Master Teacher at Tutor Time Learning Facility where, since 2000
has enjoyed teaching pre-school. Jessica has earned a variety of Classroom
Training certificates including Elementary Sign Language. She has also
received a VICA award for excellent skills in state leadership. Jessica
has been in advanced dance training with Dr. Ana Maria Maynard (Director)
since 2004 and is a dedicated, enthusiastic and hardworking Dancer (an earned title) of the Professional-level Performing Company. Jessica shares her love for
teaching and dance as PRFDance's Youth Dance Teacher, for children through
teens. Above all, Jessica is a proud parent of preteen
Alejandro Reyna who dances in the Junior Company.
Gerard Villanueva
Percussion Teacher
Gerard is an Austin native and a talented percussionist who
enjoys playing folkloric and popular styles from Haiti, Brazil, Cuba, and
Puerto Rico. He plays a wide variety of instruments including conga,
timbau, surdo, caixa, Brazilian tamborim, Peruvian cajon, bata, bongo, and
Puerto Rican barriles and panderos. He has been an ongoing student of
rhythm, taking numerous lessons and tutelage from internationally-known
folkloric masters Jorge Alabe, Mark Lamson, and Micheal Spiro. He has been
an active member of traditional music ensembles for over 15 years,
including Danse Adjae, an Afro-Haitian music/dance ensemble with whom he
has also learned folkloric music of Cuba. In the Brazilian style he was a
member of the Purple Martins, Sambaxe, and Funk Brazil, and in San
Antonio, part of experimental percussion ensembles Urban-15 and Flecha de
Tiempo. He has been member of world/folk group Happy Valley, and has
performed with Mundi, a contemporary folk/renaissance band from Austin.
Currently he is with Academicos de Opera, a bateria (Brazilian carnival
percussion group) and with them performed at the 2006 Percussive Arts
Society International Convention held in Austin. He also performed at the
Houston Fine Arts Museum's 2006 Dia De Los Muertos exhibit. Another
current project is Mar Y Viento, a group exploring rhythms and songs of
the Carribean, Brazil, and Peru. Gerard has been a member of PRFDance
since 2005. He is a lead percussionist with the Company's Professional-Level
Musicos and a Percussion Teacher for PRFDance Cultural Center's performing arts
programs. He believes it very important and enjoys guiding and teaching the
youth in their music education.
Adam Rosario
Cuatro Teacher
Adam is cuatrista of the PRFDance Musicos and Cuatro
Teacher for PRFDance Cultural Center's performing arts programs.
Full Bio coming soon.
Adalberto Ramos, aka Berto
Salsa Teacher
The original On2 dancer was born In Jersey City New Jersey. As a child growing
up in Puerto Rico, Berto was always surrounded by musica Latina. Whether his mom
was cleaning around the house or having neighborhood parties, salsa was just a
part of life. After traveling back and forth from Florida, New York and PR
Berto planted roots in Austin TX where he joined Puerto Rican
Folkloric Dance Company. There he learned traditional dances such as Bomba,
Plena, Danza, and Seis.
Berto has had the opportunity to train with several salsa enthusiasts such as
his little brother who he only met 4yrs ago Bertito Ramos (On2 NY), Stacy Lopez
(el nene de la salsa PR), Salsaeddy (Houston TX), and others. After a near
death experience on a motorcycle accident there's no doubt he's blessed.
He looks forward to inspire through his testimony and his dancing.
Berto's favorite quote: "Puerto Rico nacio bailando, y siempre ha vivido
bailando" (Cesareo Nieves).
Edwin "Ed" Baez
Host & Series Organizer
Workshop in Puerto Rican Studies & Sports
Edwin "ED" Baez was born in the Bronx, New York and raised in
Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. His Mother was from Rio Piedras,
and his Father from Camito, Puerto Rico. Edwin graduated
high school from Republic of Colombia in Rio Piedras.
Afterwards, he joined the military (1978-1985) and graduated
in military admistration and science communication.
A 1993 graduate student from the University of Texas at
Austin, Ed teaches at the Dept. of Physics and is a member of the Technical
Staff. Ed attended the Austin Graduate School of Theology Associate
Ministries of Jesus Cristo (2002-2004) and is member of the
Royal Ranger SR Commander at a Pentcostal Church. From 1993 to
present, he has been a board member for Southwest Key Charter School.
Ed has worked for Austin I.S.D. as a P.E. Teacher (1993-2000), and an
Instructor for the after school program in basketball and flagfootball.
He has a beautiful wife and two sons, one attending U.T. undergradute
mechanical engineering, the other, San Marcos Baptist Academia. Edwin is a
"die hard" Roberto Clemente fan! He collects baseball and basketball
cards, and usually goes to Puerto Rico and New York on vacation
to buy cards for his collection. Ed loves to teach
children how to start up sports cards collections and plans
to have a card shop when he retires. Edwin is thankful to God for the
blessings in his life.
Board of Directors & Staff
Board of Directors & Staff
PRFDance is served by a small, but extremely hardworking Board and Executive
Staff including:
Dr. Ana María "Tekina-eirú" Maynard,
President, Board of Directors
Bio above.
Rose M. Irizarry
Vice President, Board of Directors
Rose Massanet Irizarry was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, of a Puerto Rican
father and an Italian mother. She fondly recalls her childhood growing
up in both cultures. Rose moved to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico in 1953, learned
Spanish and graduated from the
Catholic University of PR. She received a Master's Degree in Medical Technology
from Wayne State University. After marriage and living in Puerto Rico for over
20 years, all of the family moved to Texas in 1977. Rose became involved with
PRFDance when her three granddaughters started taking dance classes in 2002 and
daughter Rose joined the Performing Company and became the Youth Choir
Teacher. Rose enjoys the family environment of PRFDance. She is an active
Board Member and the right hand of the Founding Director.
David Simons
Board Secretary
David is an Austin native. He and his wife, Olga, have four children who have
all been active in PRFDance's youth dance and musical programs since 2005.
He volunteers his time at PRFDance's performances, at the Cultural Center on
Saturdays while his kids are taking classes, writing the PRFDance newsletters,
and helping with the Center's administrative responsibilities. David earned
bachelors and masters degrees in civil engineering from the University of Texas
and is currently working for a consulting firm in Leander.
Zera Thompson
Company Photographer
Zera Thompson was raised in San Marcos and San Antonio, TX. She attended St.
Phillips College in San Antonio, TX. (1992-1993) and afterwards moved to
Austin to work for Dell Computer Co. (1993-1999). In 2000 she moved to Round
Rock, TX where she pursued a career in the medical field at the Round Rock
Hospital (2002-2004). She is currently continuing her education in
Social Work and Photography at Austin Community College in Austin, TX, while
raising three children as a single parent. All three of her children
have danced in PRFDance's youth programs. Zera also has many
other talents, including Event planning, Culinary, Marketing, and Photography,
all of which she brings to PRFDance. Zera has been
with PRFDance since Spring 2004, and served on the Board from 2005-2007.
Zera is PRFDance's Company Photographer, sharing her talent for Photography
with PRFDance's performances each year. She believes wonderful memories
last forever with the perfect picture. Thanks to Zera, we have many
wonderful memories to enjoy over and over again!
Additional Adminstrative Staff & Volunteers
Jenny Deleza (Development), Rosa Montoya (Company Seamstress),
Jose Irizarry, David Maynard, Betsy Delbrey, Mini Moons-Ruth, Vilma Merril,
Carolyn Briggs, Maria Mercedes Capestany, Keyla Merced.
Advisory Board
Joe Alvarado
Accounting Advisor
Joe is on the Board of Directors and is the Professional Accountant for Roy Lozano's Ballet Folklorico de Texas. He has served as PRFDance's Accounting Advisor since our inception.
Contact us if you feel a calling to help our volunteer-run nonprofit mission.
For more information:
Dr. Ana Maria Maynard, Director
Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance & Cultural Center
Center Location: 701 Tillery Street, Austin TX 78702-3740
Mailing Address: 15228 Quiet Pond Court, Austin TX 78728-4555
Phone: +1.512.251.8122
Email: dance@prfdance.org
Web: www.prfdance.org
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