Cuicacalli (House of Culture) is a year-round youth dance program, based at Brava Theater in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission District-the ​​unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone who are the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula. Founded in 2008 by renowned international performer Jesus “Jacoh” Cortes, Cuicacalli is an international, cross-cultural, dance-arts educational institution, providing Indigenous, Ballet Folklórico, and Contemporary Dance programs.

 

Cuicacalli values its mission to serve the diverse community of San Francisco with dedication towards excellent instruction, performances, and community programs for intergenerational students, artists, teachers, and audiences of all backgrounds and continues to build relationships through dance while expanding and celebrating the cultural traditions of the Americas. 

 

Cuicacalli instills life skills such as self expression, confidence, discipline, focus, leadership, teamwork, and positive attitude in its teachings to create responsible agents of change and influential pillars in our community. The offering of versatile dance styles give students a well-rounded curriculum of body awareness, movement dynamics, strength, flexibility, spatial composition, and the appreciation for the vibrant cultural rhythms that are the pulse of the Mission District.

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Cuicacalli strongly holds its values that all its participants are treated equally, respectfully, and with dignity. Cuicacalli does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or disability.