Born in Aurora, Colorado, 23-year-old Blanca Gallegos Castañeda began dancing at age 5 while living in California and fell in love with ballet. From age 10, while living in Guadalajara, México, she started her professional dance career at EMB with Héctor Hernández, Isaac and Esteban’s father. While at EMB, Blanca also trained under Lucia Sato, Byron and Yoko Van Reijsen and, complementary to her ballet training, studied contemporary, music, and theater. Blanca also trained at Doris Topete Dance Academy, one of the most important teachers in the city, learning repertoire like Paquita, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Bayaderé and Emerald. Blanca has also performed Moncayo’s Huapango, a Mexican masterpiece, in the Degollado Theater.

With Balanz Ballet Academy under Guadalupe Leyva, Blanca attended various different competitions winning silver medals, becoming a finalist, and receiving scholarships to Chicago and New York.  She has also attended the Mexican Society of Dance Teachers’ SMMD Summer Intensive on scholarship.  Blanca has danced in all Guadalajara theaters, including the Degollado Theater, PALCCO and Diana Theater, while performing in Nutcracker, Christmas in Tutu, Coppélia, The Four Seasons Of Vivaldi, and Cinderella in roles from corps of ballet, to soloist and even a principal character.

Before moving to Texas, Blanca was a freelance artist in Guadalajara dancing in Candlelight concerts, Nutcracker seasons, Phantom of the Opera, and many more productions.  Now, as an artist with Ballet Papillon, she teaches around the DFW area and has joined Festival Ballet of NCT and also dances with Dallas Folklorico.