El Grupo Folklorico Atotonilco Maria Chaurand, Director

Founded in Kansas City’s Westside in 1979 by Maria Chaurand, El Grupo Folklorico Atotonilco has come a long way from its beginning stages. Starting with a group of 16 children and a handful of costumes, Mrs. Chaurand has taken this dance company to newly reached heights.

The dance company has served the youth of Kansas City for 24 years and has had over 700 children come through its doors. To date, the dance company boasts 85 members, ranging in ages 5 – 40 years old. El Grupo Folklorico Atotonilco is also the most highly requested dance group on the state of Missouri folk arts roster and the U.S.

Over the years El Grupo Folklorico Atotonilco has garnered a reputation as one of the best Mexican folk dance companies in the country. And in 1997 received the honor as the “Premiere Mexican Folk Dance Company in U.S.” This award (the first of its kind) was given to the group by the National Association of Mexican Folk Dance Companies. This organization boasts over 500 members in the U.S. and Mexico. To date, no other U.S. folklorico dance company has been awarded that honor.

El Grupo Folklorico Atotonilco has also had the honor of representing the U.S., the state of Missouri and Kansas City at the World’s Fair in Seville, Spain. The dance company has been highlighted in national publications, such as, The President’s Book on Arts in 1998 and the book “Americanos” by actor Edward James Olmos in 1996.

On May 6, 2004, El Grupo Folklorico Atotonilco celebrated its 25th anniversary with three sold-out performances at Kansas City’s historic Folly Theater. The dance company received rave reviews in the Kansas City Star Newspaper, Pitch Magazine and from several other artistic publications.

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