Our Team

Maestra Susana Quintanilla is a classically-trained Mexican folkloric dancer who began her studies at the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes in Mexico City. She has studied under accomplished choreographers such as Amalia Hernández (Ballet Folklórico de México), Rafael Zamarripa (Universidad de Colima), Francisco Bravo (Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes), Graciela Tapia (Los Angeles), Luz María Gallego (Pánuco, Veracruz) and Miguel Vélez (Universidad de Veracruz).

Over the course of her career, Maestra Quintanilla has organized and produced the Midwest Folkloric Dance Workshops (Flint, Lansing, and Holland, MI), Folkloric Dance Seminars for EBFE students (Mexico City and San Juan del Río, Querétaro) and the Huapango Dance Workshop (Houston, TX). She has brought about youth performances with Mono Blanco, Sones de México, Los Folkloristas, Zazhil, Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández and Mariachi Guadalajara. She has danced competitively in Concurso de Huapango (San Joaquín, Querétaro) and the International Folkloric Dance Competition (Chicago) where EBFE was awarded Second Place and the only U.S. group to place in the competition.

Maestra Quintanilla and the dancers she has trained have performed in concert with such internationally renowned artists, such as Angeles Ochoa, Linda Rondstadt, Lola Beltrán, Lucero, Guadalupe Pineda, Lila Downs, Pepe Aguilar, Pablo Montero, Pedro Fernández, Vikki Carr, Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, Mariachi Cobre and Mariachi Los Camperos.

In an effort to preserve the Hispanic culture within her community, Maestra Quintanilla has seen that EBFE has received continuous funding. She has helped the organization receive grant funding from the Ruth Mott Foundation, Community Foundation of Flint, Bishop Trust, Welch Foundation, Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs, Michigan Dept of Education, and the Texas Humanities Council.

Always seeking cultural preservation and continuous improvement, Maestra Quintanilla’s teaching focus for EBFE is to develop dancers and musicians as instructors with professional performance experience and academic knowledge in culture and literacy as well as to effectively empower all students with pride in themselves and respect for all ethnic groups.

Lucas is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, and studying classical guitar under Professor Francesco Cavallini at the University of Michigan - Flint. Coming from rock, funk, pop, and hip-hop experience before college, Lucas’ time at UM-Flint has only broadened his diverse interests while studying among many of the music program’s ensembles, which consist of classical guitar, jazz, and choir being his main musical ensembles of choice. Lucas strives to teach students and ensembles how to find and enjoy their passions and styles through their instruments while still having them try to be the best musicians they can be.

Hannah Nettleton began her early dance training with Young People’s Ballet Theatre. In 2017, she received her B.S. from the University of Michigan-Flint with a major in Biology and a minor in Dance Studies. Hannah is currently pursuing a physical therapy degree at UM-Flint. Her goal is to improve public health by promoting physical activity. She has taught dance classes in a variety of different styles including lyrical, contemporary, ballet, and pointe. Hannah is continuing her exploration of dance as a member of El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil.

Brandon Sexton earned his Bachelors Degree in Trumpet Performance from the University of Michigan-Flint (2022). During which time he focused largely on jazz performance and improvisation along with his studies in classical trumpet pedagogy under the direction of Dr. Chris Heidenreich. As a part of his studies, Brandon has played in many different musical settings ranging from jazz combo and big band to wind band and orchestra as well as pop and more modern settings. Brandon serves as head instructor of trumpet and principal trumpet of the organization El Ballet Folklorico Estudiantil y Mariachi (2018) with 7 years experience in mariachi.

Nathan joined the El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil Mariachi in 2014. During his time in the mariachi, he played trumpet and studied authentic mariachi music internationally with professionals such as José Hernández of Mariachi Sol de México. Nathan earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Michigan Flint. Currently, he is the webmaster and newsletter editor for El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil’s marketing team. He teaches instrumental and vocal music at St. John Vianney Catholic School in Flint where he also directs the music ministry at St. John Vianney Catholic Church.

Michael Abbasspour is a graduate of the University of Michigan-Flint (2018) where he earned his degree of Bachelor of Music - specializing in classical guitar - under the guidance of Professor Francesco Cavallini. Along with classical guitar, he loves to study other genres such as choro, flamenco, jazz, rock, and mariachi. Michael has been a member of El Ballet Folklorico Estudiantil Mariachi since 2014 and is currently the youth music director. He had the pleasure of being the music director for the production of Cenicienta (2018). He is an active educator of guitar and mariachi music.

He has traveled to places such as Puerto Rico and Mexico to collaborate and study with wonderful and world-class musicians and artists.

Michael plans to soon pursue his master's degree in classical guitar.

Gean Vincent Almendras is an instructor on multiple instruments, including Violin, Piano, Guitar, and Mandolin. He started his musical journey at a young age, playing the ukulele and guitar with his musical family. He then picked up the violin at an elementary age and continued his studies in folk and classical music, performing in various youth orchestras and ensembles in the Ann Arbor area in addition to competing in multiple district and state Solo & Ensemble Festivals. He started playing the Mandolin in middle school and fell in love with the tradition of classical mandolin and guitar music whilst still playing the Violin avidly. Soon, he became involved in many different genres of world music ensembles.

Besides playing Violin in the EBFE Mariachi, he performs with his own String Quartet and the University Orchestra. Additionally, he plays the Mandolin, Bandurria, and Laúd in the Ann Arbor Mandolin & Guitar Orchestra, PACE-MI Rondalla, and the Kalamazoo Mandolin & Guitar Orchestra. He has been invited to participate in several conferences and masterclasses on Mandolin with world-renowned mandolinists such as Chris Thile, Avi Avital, and Alon Sariel.

Currently, he is currently pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance on Classical Mandolin with a minor in violin performance, as well as a second Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. He plans to pursue a graduate degree in the field of Ethnomusicology.