Isabel Gomez, 32, and Melissa Camargo, 29, have been dancing together for the vast majority of their lives—they met at the International Folkloric Ballet company in 2001.
Under the direction of Dolores Castillo Burnett, they honed their ballet folklorico (traditional Mexican dance) skills while also developing a friendship.
In 2015, Castillo Burnett retired; Gomez and her mom, Veronica, along with some friends from the dance group, took over. They rebranded the company as Ballet Folklorico Flor de Castilla (BFFC), which was voted Best Dance Company this year by RN&R readers.
Gomez, who has served as president and co-founder since 2021, said the company was doing “pretty good” at the start of the rebrand, but it really took off the 2017 release of the animated Pixar film Coco, which was inspired by the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead. The company got another boost after the COVID-19 shutdowns ended.
Camargo started teaching at BFFC in 2018 and became artistic director in 2021. “Our company has grown from about 30 dancers to about 70 now,” she said.
The dancers, also known as folkloristas, range in age from 3 to their late 40s. Dancers are placed into one of four levels, depending on their experience and skillset. Advancement to the next level is based upon instructor discretion.
“We start having them come into the other, more-advanced classes and see how they do,” Camargo said. “And then, the same thing when our teens age out, they move on to the adult class.”
As artistic director, Camargo organizes performances, choreographs new dances, puts together set lists, and assists with costuming and stage management.
“I also help with the headpieces, like the ones that we wear with our dresses to kind of match everyone,” said Camargo.
She also acts as Gomez’s assistant. “Anything she needs help with, I’m there to help or help her manage,” she said.
As a company, BFFC strives to be inclusive by teaching children, teenagers and adults from all walks of life while providing education regarding Mexican and Latinx culture.
“For us, the best way to share your culture is through food and dance—and we bring the dance element,” said Camargo.
Gomez explained how the dances vary in dress, footwork and style, and tell stories of the different regions of Mexico.
“Sinaloa is very popular for the banda music,” she said. “Jalisco would be the mariachi music. In the north part of Mexico, they do more of the polkas, like the German polka and stuff like that.”
“For us, the best way to share your culture is through food and dance—and we bring the dance element.”
Melissa Camargo, Ballet Folklorico Flor de Castilla artistic director
As far as live performances go, BFFC performs at events both large and small. They also perform during Cinco de Mayo, at church events and at multicultural nights. The group performed at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., in 2023, and at Universal Studios Hollywood in 2024. Watch BFFC’s social media accounts for information on local performances during National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15).
Gomez was actually out of state when we spoke over the phone. “Right now, we’re actually in Los Angeles, because we got asked to be a part of a Día de Los Muertos parade scene for a big hit TV show,” she said. “So that should be airing soon.”
As longtime friends and dancers, Gomez and Camargo are both passionate about growing the company, keeping traditions alive, and sharing their culture with the Reno community.
Gomez said that even though she’s been dancing for 29 years, there is still a lot to learn. “I just would like to continue to grow and keep the youth involved, and keep our traditions and culture involved in our community,” she added.
Camargo said that anyone who is interested in learning the art of ballet folklorico can join the company.
“Our doors are always open,” she said.
Ballet Folklorico Flor de Castilla will perform at the Biggest Little Latin Festival, taking place from 6 to 10 p.m., Friday, Sept. 12; and 4 to 10 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 13, on the Mezzanine inside the The Row in downtown Reno. For updates on Ballet Folklorico Flor de Castilla shows and events, follow @bffc_reno on Instagram and @bffcreno on TikTok. For more information, email info@bffcreno.org.