Famous Valley dancers, performance artists
The Valley has had a number of people whose bodies have taken them on stages across the world or into the movies. These are just a few of the locals who have made a splash in the performance world. Click here to read more about performances around the Valley this winter.
DORIA AVILA The late Avila appeared in more than a dozen Broadway shows in the 1950s and 1960s, including a role in the first run of Rogers and Hammerstein's The King and I. He also appeared with actress Judy Holliday in the 1960 movie Bells are Ringing. In 1972, he established the Rio Grande Valley Ballet Company, now operating under the Deborah Case Dance Academy. Avila was murdered in a house fire in 2005.
LIZ RAMOS The McAllen resident has come a long way since being scouted at a South Padre Island dance competition. She's danced in the production of Mambo Kings, just finished some choreography work on Guys and Dolls and is helping choreograph the stage version of The Adam's Family. And Ramos also helped on the set of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, where she taught big name stars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie how to tango. Read more about Liz Ramos
VANESSA LOPEZ Over 200 people audition to be part of the 22-member Houston Rockets Power Dance Team, and in 2005 Lopez was one of them. Before dancing on the big-time sports dance circuit, Lopez was a captain for the Dorados' dance team.
MELISSA LENZ Dance has taken Valley native Lenz all over the world, from dancing in San Antonio to performing in the Wild West Show in Disneyland in Tokyo. But everything pales in comparison to her gig as a member of the famed Rockettes in New York City, where she scored a spot in 2001.
Festiva's "Hometown Hollywood" profiles track down the big names that have emerged from the Rio Grande Valley, as well as the rising stars who are bound to make us proud in the future. Click the links below to read more.
* VERONICA LOREN: A McAllen actress and singer who's sweeping 2008's indie awards
* LIZ RAMOS: A McAllen dancer who taught Brad Pitt to tango
* ERIC HAHN: A clown at the Nolana IHOP who did stuntwork in 'Platoon,' 'Delta Force'
* MANDO ALVARADO: San Juan actor shared scene with strippers, Doogie Hauser
* RICK DEL CASTILLO: A Brownsville rocker who found a knack for screenwriting
* RAUL CASTILLO: A McHi grad who has acted and studied with Philip Seymour Hoffman
* TANYA SARACHO: A Valley playwright who is hot in Chicago
* DAVID BARRERA: A San Juan native who was in an NYPD Blue episode everybody saw
* MICHAEL RAY ESCAMILLA: A writer, actor, director and producer from Pharr
* MARISA QUINTANILLA: A McAllen Memorial grad who was in Road House 2
* FAUSTO CUEVAS: A Brownsville drummer who has toured with Britney Spears and Stevie Wonder
* GABRIEL PENA: An Edinburg North grad who does Matrix-style stuntwork
