Performance
Folklórico
Related Exhibitions Graciela Iturbide: Between Two Worlds and Feel the Beat: Dance in Photographs
Thursday, July 16, 2026
5:45–6:15 p.m. + 7–7:30 p.m.
Floor 4, Gina and Stuart Peterson White Box
Free with museum admission*
Get swept up in the beauty and rhythm of folklórico dance with El Espíritu Bailarín, a dance ensemble led by Pablo Daniel Jimenez Garcia.
More than a single dance style, folklórico is a celebration of Mexico’s many regions, each with its own music, footwork, and spectacular costuming, shaped by Indigenous, Spanish, and African traditions.
Enjoy performances at 5:45 p.m. and 7 p.m. by the dancers of El Espíritu Bailarín and put on your dancing shoes for a short tutorial with Maestro Pablo following each performance.
For the ultimate experience, check out Rooftop Radio: Noise Pop on Floor 5, an unforgettable evening of rhythm, soul, and emotion rooted in the richness of Latinx musical traditions, presented in partnership with the Bay Area’s beloved and homegrown Noise Pop. Separate event tickets for Rooftop Radio are required and sell fast — lock in yours now!
About Pablo Daniel Jimenez Garcia
Pablo Daniel Jimenez Garcia is a multidisciplinary performance artist, educator, and cultural bearer born in Mexicali, Baja California Norte. Through movement, storytelling, and community practice, Jimenez Garcia’s work celebrates the whimsy, resilience, and wonder of Mexican folklore. They received formal folklórico training with Raíces de México OC, performing at venues and events across Southern California, including Disneyland California Adventure and the Orange County Fair. In the Bay Area, they have performed, taught, and choreographed with UC Berkeley’s Reflejos de México and Ensambles Ballet Folklórico de San Francisco. They also founded El Espíritu Bailarín, an independent performance collective developed through the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts. Jimenez Garcia is also a proud public school educator currently working with San Francisco Unified School District, San Francisco Youth Theater, and Young Audiences of Northern California. Visit Jimenez Garcia on Instagram @el.espiritu.bailarin.
Accessibility Information
Lightweight portable stools are available for seating during this program.
*Please note: the Matisse’s Femme au chapeau: A Modern Scandal exhibition requires a surcharged, timed ticket.
Presenting Sponsor of Thursday Night Live is Zoox.
Meaningful support is provided by Diana Nelson and John Atwater.