Administrative Staff Bios
Armando Silva | Acting Executive Director
713.802.9370
armando@meca-houston.org
713.802.9370
armando@meca-houston.org
Liz Salinas | Associate Director of Programming
713.802.9370 ext. 24 or 832.865.6307
Liz Salinas has been a MECA employee, volunteer and parent for over 40 years. She has over 15 years of acting and directing experience, including performances at Houston’s diverse and respected theater sites, such as Jones Hall, Stages Repertory Theater, Talento Bilingüe de Houston, Alley Theater, Miller Outdoor Theater, and MECA. As MECA’s programs director, she has overseen the expansion of MECA’s In-School, After-School and Summer Arts Programs. Salinas has helped MECA students perform at such noteworthy events as the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and the 2004 Houston Mayoral Inauguration and has organized international MECA performances in Mexico, Northern Ireland, Norway and Vietnam.
713.802.9370 ext. 24 or 832.865.6307
Liz Salinas has been a MECA employee, volunteer and parent for over 40 years. She has over 15 years of acting and directing experience, including performances at Houston’s diverse and respected theater sites, such as Jones Hall, Stages Repertory Theater, Talento Bilingüe de Houston, Alley Theater, Miller Outdoor Theater, and MECA. As MECA’s programs director, she has overseen the expansion of MECA’s In-School, After-School and Summer Arts Programs. Salinas has helped MECA students perform at such noteworthy events as the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and the 2004 Houston Mayoral Inauguration and has organized international MECA performances in Mexico, Northern Ireland, Norway and Vietnam.
Julio López | Ballet Folklorico Director
713.802.9370 ext. 28 or 832.865.6123
Julio Lopez was appointed as the Director of the MECA Ballet Folklórico Department in 2005. Born in Ciudad Madero Tamaulipas, he began his artistic studies at the Instituto Regional de Bellas Artes where he studied classical dance with Michael Reznikov in Tampico Tamaulipas. Lopez also attended other state and city institutes like the ITCA in Tamaulipas, ACADEA in Jalisco, and Escuela de Ballet de Amalia Hernández, INBA in Mexico City where he acquired intensive training in foot work, classical dance, choreography, contemporary dance, and set design. López is an award-winning performer and choreographer with decades of experience. He was formerly the Artistic Director of Ballet Folklórico Umalayapem of the Casa de Cultura in Tampico, Tamaulipas and is a graduate of the Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas. He continued his artistic studies at Instituto Regional de Bellas Artes de Tampico with Professor Manuel Vargas. His commitment to excellence resulted in his receiving first place awards in various competitions, as well as invitations to participate as a special guest artist in numerous ensembles throughout Mexico. López’s extensive experience and education has provided him with expertise in traditional dances, history, and costumes from the different regions of Mexico, and he is a skilled and enthusiastic teacher.
713.802.9370 ext. 28 or 832.865.6123
Julio Lopez was appointed as the Director of the MECA Ballet Folklórico Department in 2005. Born in Ciudad Madero Tamaulipas, he began his artistic studies at the Instituto Regional de Bellas Artes where he studied classical dance with Michael Reznikov in Tampico Tamaulipas. Lopez also attended other state and city institutes like the ITCA in Tamaulipas, ACADEA in Jalisco, and Escuela de Ballet de Amalia Hernández, INBA in Mexico City where he acquired intensive training in foot work, classical dance, choreography, contemporary dance, and set design. López is an award-winning performer and choreographer with decades of experience. He was formerly the Artistic Director of Ballet Folklórico Umalayapem of the Casa de Cultura in Tampico, Tamaulipas and is a graduate of the Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas. He continued his artistic studies at Instituto Regional de Bellas Artes de Tampico with Professor Manuel Vargas. His commitment to excellence resulted in his receiving first place awards in various competitions, as well as invitations to participate as a special guest artist in numerous ensembles throughout Mexico. López’s extensive experience and education has provided him with expertise in traditional dances, history, and costumes from the different regions of Mexico, and he is a skilled and enthusiastic teacher.
Lizeth Gonzalez | Director of Out of School & In School Program
713.802.9370 ext. 16
713.802.9370 ext. 16
Ruth Ramos | Project Associate
ruth@meca-houston.org
ruth@meca-houston.org
Jordan Brady | Graphic Coordinator & Administrative Assistant
jordan@meca-houston.org
Eddie Gonzalez | Registrar TBH & Facilities Assistant Manager
eddie@meca-houston.org
Hugo Baliño | TBH Facilities Manager
jordan@meca-houston.org
Eddie Gonzalez | Registrar TBH & Facilities Assistant Manager
eddie@meca-houston.org
Hugo Baliño | TBH Facilities Manager
Arts Faculty Bios
Paulette Williams | Piano
Edgar Cazares | Mariachi, Armonia
Guadalupe Gonzalez | Mariachi, Armonia
Simeon Beltran |Trumpet
Deanna Santiago | Visual Art : In-school
Jose Pecina | In-school
Edgar Cazares | Mariachi, Armonia
Guadalupe Gonzalez | Mariachi, Armonia
Simeon Beltran |Trumpet
Deanna Santiago | Visual Art : In-school
Jose Pecina | In-school
