Jesús “Jacoh” Cortés began his training in Mexican folk dance when he was six years old under the direction of his great uncle Juan Natoli. After training as a Deer Dancer under the direction of Lucas Zarate Lobato, he performed as a soloist on tour in Mexico, Europe and the US with Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernandez. In Santa Fe and Española, New Mexico, he choreographed and led Los Niños de Santa Fe y Compañía, taught in Arts in the Schools, performed with Moving People Dance Theater and founded and directed Arte Sin Fronteras, now known as Moving Arts Española. In San Francisco, he founded and directs Cuicacalli Dance Company (“house of culture” in nahuatl), teaches and choreographs for indigenous dance company Dancing Earth, and has worked with the SFUSD, Brava Theater, Printz Dance Project Company, Arts and Literacy in Children’s Education, Ballet Folklorico de Stanford University, Theatre of Yugen, and SF Symphony.
Jésus Cortés (right) performing with Dancing Earth.
