The Mariachi Miracle

The Mariachi Miracle is a film and book project documenting the transformation of Tucson, Arizona along socio-economic, educational, political and artistic lines by the city's youth mariachi and folklorico dance programs. While using Tucson as an example, the project intends to serve as an illustration of what the youth mariachi and folklorico movement is doing across America. For more go to www.mariachimiracle.com 

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Compañia-de-Danza-Folklórica-Arizona-(CDFA performs at the 2026 Tucson International Mariachi Conference Student Showcase Competition (this year's folklorico category winner).

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Ballet-Folklorico-Gadsden performs at the 2026 Tucson International Mariachi Conference Student Showcase Competition.

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Grupo-Folklorico-Los-Guerreros-de-Pueblo-High performs at the 2026 Tucson International Mariachi Conference Student Showcase Competition.

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Ballet-Folklorico-Los-Pumas-de-Roskruge performs at the 2026 Tucson International Mariachi Conference Student Showcase Competition.

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Ballet Folklorico Los Diablitos Azules performs at the 2026 Tucson International Mariachi Conference Student Showcase Competition.

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Ballet-Folklorico-de-Tolleson-Union-High performs at the 2026 Tucson International Mariachi Conference Student Showcase Competition.

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Compañia-de-Danza-Folklórica-Arizona-(CDFA performs at the 2026 Tucson International Mariachi Conference Student Showcase Competition (this year's folklorico category winner).

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Some from the Elementary and Middle School mariachis and the Canta Competition of the 2026 Tucson International Mariachi Conference.

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Student's of Tucson's Roskruge Middle School's Ballet Folklorico Pumas de Roskruge defy gravity at the Tucson International Mariachi Conference.

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Mariachi Rayos Del Sol de Tucson High School celebrates its graduating seniors and the end of the semester with the beginning mariachi classes, Norteño band Los Tejancitos and Mariachi Dragoncitos de Wakefield Elementary School.

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A week ago a place that has become a catalyst to youth mariachi excellence all over Tucson got a name change. It is now Davis-Romero Bilingual School, the Romero part of the new name coming from Dr. Guadalupe Romero. Doctor Romero was a pioneer in bilingual education research and got to watch her ideas in action as principal of the school soon after its bilingual rebirth in the early 1980s. She encouraged an English teacher there named Alfredo Valenzuela to build an after-school guitar program, then helped him turn it into a full-blown mariachi music and folklorico dance program. She was a former president of the Tucson International Mariachi Conference and quite frankly an all-around general badass community leader.

She said that of the experience of being principal there that she felt like her dream had come true. She was at a place that embraced the idea of multicultural education, working with the teachers and staff (many her former pupils at the University of Arizona) who understood the mission and were devoted to it. The love was returned as former teachers and staff, parents and students came to the rededication ceremony to talk abut how she made them feel so special. I took a lot of shots that night but this one brings it all together as these proud, prepared and awesome young musicians sing as their school is renamed for the woman who helped make their experience happen. What the still doesn't convey is what fine young musicians these kids have become, and what a point of community pride they are for Tucson.

Having them in front of the building that now bears her name, ready to sing Las Mañanitas (the Mexican equivalent of Happy Birthday) on what was actually Dr. Romero's birthday, tells so many stories in this one image. It's not the greatest shot I've ever taken, but it kinda is.

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Tucson's Mariachi Tapatio warms up the crowd waiting to see Mariachi Leyendas at the Fox Tucson Theatre, 08/09/2025

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Tucson's Mariachi Los Changuitos Feos and Ballet Folklórico Tapatio join Leyendas de Mariachi in the finale of their 08/09/2025 performance at the Fox Tucson Theatre.

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Leyendas de Mariachi and Tucson's Ballet Folklorico Tapatio perform songs and dances of the Mexican Revolution 08/09/2025 at the Fox Tucson Theatre.

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Arizona Folklórico Dance Company, Senderos 2025, Part 3b

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Arizona Folklórico Dance Company, Senderos 2025, Part 3a

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Arizona Folklórico Dance Company, Senderos 2025