About Us
About Pacifico Dance Co
Founded in 1992, the Los Angeles-based Pacífico Dance Company has been thrilling audiences with its unique blend of modern and traditional dance for nearly twenty years. Under the guidance of Adriana Astorga-Gainey, general and artistic director, the company has evolved and created its own unique style, costume designs, music, and choreography.
The internationally acclaimed company has performed for audiences throughout the United States and Asia since 1992. With some 40 dancers and musicians, we pride ourselves on educating culturally diverse communities, as well as providing Hispanic audiences with a forum for developing pride in their own heritage.
Pacifico Dance Academy also provides training of the highest standards in traditional Mexican dance to children and teens. Our local programs emphasize the unique zapateado technique and music necessary to create authentic Mexican folk dance. We also provide quality ballet and yoga training to help students develop proper body alignment to adapt to all dance styles.
Pacifico Dance Company is proud to serve as a 501 (C)(3) organization dedicated to the performance and preservation of traditional Mexican dance through the reconstruction of choreography and dance training.
About The Director
Adriana Astorga-Gaieney is a native born Californian, she began her dance training at a young age. Her introduction to Mexican folklore was at the Escuela del Ballet Folklorico, under the direction of Amalia Hernandez. She also trained at la Escuela de Danza, Mizoc and with the legendary Rafael Zamarripa Casteneda. She studied classical ballet with master dance instructors Don Hewitt and Joanna DIgiovanna. Throughout her dance career, Ms. Gainey had the privilege of working with Don Bondi, former lead dancer of the Gloria Newman Dance Theater, Davinci Burks, former Alvin Ailey soloist, modern dance master, Rudy Perez, and most recently modern dance teacher/choreographer Karen Mcdonald and ballet master Stephan Wenta.
In January 1992, she founded Pacifico Dance Company. In her capacity as general director, the company has grown to over 40 dancers and musicians and has toured California, New Mexico, Washington DC, North Korea, and China. Ms. Gainey is also the proud recipient of the 2003 and 2005 California dance maker grant and has been awarded certificates of recognition from both the city of Los Angeles and the Mexican Cultural Institute for her immense contributions to the folkloric dance form and the Mexican American community.
