Board of Directors

For more than 25 years, Martha Nora Zarate has participated fully in the Mexican folk dance field on stages across America and Europe. She has assumed several roles on the stage and behind them as associate artistic director, choreographer, instructor, principal dancer, costume designer and accessories designer. Martha's focus in recent years has been towards research, teaching, and artistic direction. In 2013 Martha founded Mazarte Dance Company to fulfill her vision of creating a tangible union between dance, research and authentic indigenous art. Through Mazarte, Martha aspires to create awareness about Mexican heritage and 

the preservation of our artistic techniques that are in danger of being faded or forgotten. 

Pilar grew up in the mountains of Santa Fe, New Mexico and loves dance, nature and movement.  Pilar began her structured dance training with Los Tapatios and Ballet en Fuego dance companies under the direction of France Lujan.  She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with a Bachelor of Arts in dance and developmental psychology.  She studied abroad in Habana, Cuba where she was fortunate to study dance at El Instituto Superior de Artes.  After graduating Pilar moved to New York City, where she danced with Tikola Mcree, Laura Manzella, Angela Imhoff, Calpulli Mexican Dance Company and Daniel Flores Dance.  

She joined Mazarte Dance Company as a dancer in 2013.  Pilar worked as a teaching artist for Mazarte Dance Company, Calpulli Mexican Dance Company and Mexico Beyond Mariachi.     Pilar is passionate about food, cooking and travel and aims to inspire and support others through sharing what she loves.  

Pilar is a Certified Nutrition Specialist and a cooperative partner with Food Forest Abundance.  She works to support people’s health and well-being through nutrition, food and movement.  Additionally, she aims to inspire people to connect to and cultivate relationships with the ecosystem in and out of, in which they exist.  

Yuri started at Mazarte Dance Company in April 2013 as a dancer and later as the company's vice president. She began her dance career with folklore in 2003 with Calpulli Mexican Dance Company, where she trained every year as a Mexican folkloric ballet dancer, while studying modern dance techniques at the renowned dance school Alvin Ailey School & Sandra Cameron Dance Center. Her source of inspiration comes from having spent her childhood in Mexico and her desire to preserve the tradition, dances and art forms that are deeply rooted in her heart. Her technical and professional business experience allows her to participate in the organization in a way that forges the strategic growth of the company, while establishing herself in the artistic field.  

Yesenia Mata is the Executive Director at La Colmena and board member at Mazarte Dance Company. As the daughter of formerly undocumented immigrants, Yesenia has been advocating for immigration reform. She has been recognized as a 40 under 40 Rising Star and received a prestigious Proclamation from the City of New York for her work in the Latinx community. She was also appointed by previous Mayor DeBlasio to serve as commissioner for the NYC Racial Justice Commission and appointed by Mayor-elect Adams to serve in the immigration transition team. In her free time, Yesenia enjoys running and spending time with her cute cat.