About Artistic Director

Texomazatl - David Vargas  (Blue Deer)

David Vargas, also known as Texomazatl (Blue Deer) among traditional Aztec dance circles, founded  the original Tezkatlipoka Aztec Dance in 1988 in San Jose, California which is still active today. Texomazatl has led the group as its Executive/Artistic Director as a ceremonial dance group among traditional circles, as well as a community-based performing arts group. 
 
For the past 30 years, Texomazatl has continually studied in the traditional schools (Calmecac) of Aztec dance and music and has taught several new generations of Aztec dancers and groups in San Jose.  Over the years, Texomazatl has drawn from the Calmecac traditional knowledge, which has been passed on from many generations, to share the beauty of Aztec culture by conducting quality school educational programs, residencies and workshops locally and throughout the entire United States and Canada. 
 
Some of the highlights of Texomazatl's experience as a performing artist include:

        • Founder and head teacher of Calmecac Tezkatlipoka Aztec Dance & Drum

        • Residencies for Mexican Heritage Plaza, Escuela Popular, Sacred Heart Community Center, Roosevelt Community Center and several San Jose high schools

        • Organize and set up Youth Culture Camps for community events or festivals

        • ABC7 News “Profiles of Excellence” recipient, April 2011

        • Resident Artist at Danzantes Unidos Festival (DUF)

        • Resident Artist for Young Audiences of Northern California,1999–Present (Young Audiences of Northern CA)

        • Resident Artist with Green Meadows Productions – Festival of Cultures, 2002–2006 (Festival of Cultures Blog)

        • Design and custom make traditional jewelry, regalia, and drum instruments



ARTIST RESIDENCIES/TEACHING

• Plan and facilitate artist residencies and workshops of traditional Aztec dancing and drumming
• Curriculum covers various levels of drumming and dance techniques

 Annually since 2012 Danzantes Unidos Festival (DUF), Various festival locations in CA
 01/1999 to Present Young Audiences of Northern California, San Francisco, CA
 Jul/Aug 2015 School of Arts and Culture, Mexican Heritage Plaza, San Jose, CA
 December 2012  BuddaBOOM, 1stACT Silicon Valley Collaboration, Almaden Valley Schools

COMMUNITY OUTREACH
• Participate in city efforts and neighborhood support events and activities to promote community, cohesiveness, harmony and fun through the exposure of Aztec dancing and drumming
• To engage on a personal level, at various events, attendees are invited to participate in short demonstrations of techniques

 Annually since 2014 National Night Out, Roosevelt Community Center, San Jose, CA
 September 2016 Viva Calle San Jose, San Jose, CA
 April 2016 Beautiful Day Community Mural Project, 1st and Oak Streets, San Jose, CA
 September 2013 The Amanda Network, Anti-Bullying Campaign, San Jose, CA
 Oct. 2012/Mar. 2013 Lipstick & Bullets, San Jose, CA

PROFESSIONAL COLLABORATION

• Collaborate with local art groups to bring cultural arts awareness
• Promote Museum of Arts to the community with focus on children and youth using classical, iconic images

 2009–2015 American Leadership Forum, Oriki Theater and San Jose Taiko
 02/2013 “Epic Battle”, Performance Art Piece with Artist Mike Lai, Team Bruce Lee
 2012 “The Legacy of the Drum” Hip Hop and Aztec Dance with Future Arts Now

PROFESSIONAL CULTURAL PERFORMANCES
• Direct, execute and present culturally relevant and educational information for school-age audiences and present staff, teachers and accompanying parent at school assemblies
• Supervise and train visiting dancers from Mexico to our dance company’s repertoires of traditional dances, including instruction in associated drum-percussion music for these pieces
• Choreograph all shows
• Design/direct stage set up, props and use of regalia

 Annually since 2009  Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF), Mountain View, CA
 Annually since 2000 Intertribal Elders Gathering, Eureka, CA
 01/1999 to Present Young Audiences of Northern California, San Francisco, CA
 October, 2014-2016 Music at Noon, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA
 October, 2014-2016  Children’s Discovery Museum, San Jose, CA
 October, 2014-2016  Skylawn Memorial Park, Half Moon Bay, CA
 October 2016 Osundun Fest, Oakland, CA
 October 2016 Rhythmix Cultural Works, Alameda, CA
 October 2016  SF Yerba Buena Art Walk, Museum of Performance and Design/Mexican Museum
 September, 2015/2016 Six Flags Discover Kingdom, Vallejo, CA
 Oct. 2015/Apr. 2016 Santa Clara University MEChA, Santa Clara, CA
 November 2014/2015 Saratoga High School, Saratoga, CA
 November 2014/2015 Cedar Lawn Memorial Park, Fremont, CA
 November 2015 Fall Arts Series, Cupertino Library, Cupertino, CA
 October 2014/2015 Chabot College, Hayward, CA
 September 2015 San Jose Earthquakes/Avaya Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
 December 2014  Stanford Live, Sing and Play at the Bing, Stanford, CA
 10/2002 to 06/2006  Green Meadows Productions, Los Angeles, CA

Email Texomazatl for a copy of his Resume and/or Bio.

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