With support from the California Arts Council, Senderos will provide equitable access to after school performing arts to 80 Latino immigrant youth ages 5-24 with free Mexican folkloric dance (Centeotl Danza y Baile) and music (Ensamble Musical) instruction, particularly from Indigenous Oaxacan cultural traditions. Working with experienced bilingual teaching artists, youth will learn Mexican cultural arts, teamwork and leadership skills, deepen their connection to their family heritage, gain self-confidence and a stronger sense of self-identity, and showcase their talents with pride at over 20 school and community events, including Senderos’ signature annual Vive Oaxaca Guelaguetza festival.
Senderos core programs and services are:
Centeotl Danza y Baile – After school and weekend dance classes teaching traditional Mexican dances.
Ensamble Musical – After school music instruction with the goal of creating a traditional Oaxacan Banda de Viento.
Vive Oaxaca Guelaguetza – Authentic cultural dance, music, food, crafts festival like those held in Oaxaca held each spring in downtown Santa Cruz.
Community Performances – Senderos dancers and musicians perform at many community and school events annually, including Día de los Muertos co-presented with the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History and many more.
Plaza Comunitaria – Academic tutoring, skill building classes, family resource information for youth and adults.
¡Adelante Santa Cruz! – Scholarship program supporting selected middle and high school students to focus on the path to higher education.
Latino Role Models conference presented in Spanish at Cabrillo College inspiring students and parents to achieve their dreams for college and career.
Nido de Lenguas – a collaborative project with UC-Santa Cruz Humanities Institute and Linguistics Department to share the value of Indigenous languages of Oaxaca.

