Adriana Astorga-Gainey

Adriana Astorga was born in Northern California. She began her dance training at age 7 during annual summer vacations to Mexico City studying at the Escuela del Ballet Floklorico ( Amelia Hernadez, director). She also trained with Rafael Zamarripa Castaneda at La Escuela de Danza. In addition, she has worked with Don Bondi, Rudy Perez, and Karen McDonald in Modern Dance and studied ballet with Don Hewitt, Stephan Wenta, and Joanna DiGiovanna in Los Angeles, California.

She attended California Polytechnic State University, majoring in Landscape Architecture, where she met her husband Jeff Gainey. They reside in Culver City where they are raising to young boys. She also received a teaching credential and is currently teaching at an elementary school in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Along with running and teaching her company, she also choreographs new works related to the Mexican Cultural and history as well as traditional dances.

In January 1992 she founded Pacifico Dance Company (originally Ballet Folklorico del Pacifico). The company made its major first public appearance at Dance Kaleidoscope. As a result of that performance Don Bondi, dance chair at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, invited them to be artist in residence at the high school where they were in residence for 2 years.

Ms. Gainey has been the recipient of the 2003 and 2005 DanceMaker Grant as well as being honored by the City of Los Angles and the Mexican Cultural Institute for her contributions to folkloric dance and the Mexican American community. In her capacity as General Director, the company has grown to over 40 dancers and musicians and has toured California, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Washington DC, North Korea, and China.

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Categorized as: ARTIST, Artistic Director, Choreographer, Dancer, Teacher/Educator, World Arts