Charles Garcia’s life has been a vibrant tapestry of dance, education, corporate experience, and community leadership. With 30 years of professional dance experience, Charles has deep roots in the diverse dance traditions of Los Angeles since 1973. Charles was originally introduced to dance by Professor Benjamin Hernandez after taking a Music of Mexico class at Cal Poly, Pomona.
Charles has performed with various folk dance groups, including Ballet Folklórico Mexicapan, Ballet Folklórico Cuicalli, and Mosaico Mexican Folk Ensemble. Beyond the performing stage, Charles’s professional journey includes working 16 years with Anheuser-Busch, Inc., where he led as a corporate trainer covering domestic territories, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. This corporate experience gave him a unique perspective on sales and marketing strategies at the highest level that can help leverage the dance company’s overall growth and visibility.
In addition, Charles served as an educator in the area of graphic and web design for the Angeles United School District. His proudest achievements were having his students win four consecutive state competitions in web design and winning the coveted Gold Medal in the SkillsUSA national competition for web design.
What sets Charles apart is his talent for creatively generating ideas, communicating these ideas, and drawing consensus from various groups. This skill was formed by his experiences as a previous board member of dance companies and homeowners associations and his expertise within the creative setting of the classroom. Charles understands the nuances of advisory roles, emphasizing collaboration and collective decision-making as crucial elements for success.
Charles is an avid traveler who embraces different cultures and regularly visits Brazil, where he owns a second home. He is also a passionate amateur astronomer and a member of the Santa Clarita Astronomical Unit, exploring the wonders of the universe in his free time.
In Charles Garcia, Relámpago del Cielo would gain a board member with a rich blend of experiences—a seasoned folklorista, an inspiring educator, a marketing strategist, a world traveler, an amateur astronomer, and a community leader. His multifaceted skill set, coupled with a deep understanding of advisory roles, positions him as an invaluable asset for the continued success and growth of a Mexican folk dance company.