Quad City Arts continues 52nd season of Visiting Artists Series with Ballet Folklórico del Rio Grande
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, April 16, 2026
Rock Island, Ill. – Local and international talent will be on display as tickets are on sale for an exciting community collaboration featuring the internationally recognized Ballet Folklórico del Rio Grande, who will be visiting the region with Quad City Arts’ Visiting Artist Series. As a part of their residency, BFRG will be performing a concert in collaboration with the El Mariachi de Glenview, Mariachi de United Township High School, and Quad Cities Ballet Folklórico. The concert will take place in the United Township High School Auditorium at 7:00pm on Friday, May 15, 2026.
BFRG will be in residency May 10-15, and will visit 13 local schools in 8 communities, reaching over 3000 students and doing in-depth work with its local collaborators in preparation for the concert.
Ballet Folklórico del Rio Grande (BFRG), under the direction of Miguel Peña, is a thirty-member organization comprised of alumni of the internationally recognized collegiate folklórico program offered at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. UTRGV offers the only folklórico dance major in the United States and produces the wellspring of highly skilled professional dancers that comprise BFRG.
With numerous state, national, and international concerts under their belt, they have been showcased at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performance Arts in Washington, D.C. for four consecutive years. BFRG has toured the world visiting countries such as Canada, France, Italy, Argentina, and Mexico. Their recent international work includes performances in Santiago, Argentina and Tamaulipas, Mexico. BFRG has also performed nationwide for important artists such as Los Tigres del Norte and Aida Cuevas.
They now partner with Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar for joint shows celebrating all aspects of Mexican culture, including the Día de Los Muertos and Christmas holidays.
BFRG’s Artistic Director Miguel Peña, originally from Reynosa Mexico, is the first tenure-track Professor of Folklórico Dance in the United States, running the only Ballet Folklórico dance major at a U.S. University (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley-UTRGV). Miguel is a 2023 Othli Award recipient, a coveted recognition presented by the Instituto de Los Mexicano en el Exterior.
Understanding the vital role that accessibility plays in fostering a strong and inclusive arts community, Quad City Arts is committed to making these performances available to as many people as possible through tiered ticket pricing. Patrons can select a ticket price ranging from $10 to $60, allowing those who need it a lower price point and an option for those who can support all costs associated with the performance they will see. This approach ensures that all members of the community, regardless of financial situation, can experience these live performances.
Quad City Arts Presents series is part of the larger Visiting Artist Series, a nationally recognized residency program that brings world-class artists from diverse artistic and cultural backgrounds directly into local schools. More than 29,000 K-12 students annually can experience live performances that would otherwise be out of reach.
The Full Roster of Artists
From hip-hop to folklorico dance, this season offers students the unique opportunity to connect with
cultural practitioners, mentors, and role models in a meaningful way. Each residency provides educational activities that complement local school curriculums. The Visiting Artist Series continues to enrich local schools by supporting their curriculum, student engagement, and wider community outreach efforts.
The full list of artists in residence during the 52nd season is as follows:
• Sons of Mystro, hip-hop violin duo, visited Sept. 22-26
• Alaina Celeste & Mi Amigo Hamlet, Being Bilingual Rocks!, Oct. 11 (as part of Imagination Station in partnership with WQPT)
• Nobuntu, Zimbabwean female a cappella quartet, visited Nov. 12-14
• Barron Ryan, ‘Classic Meets Cool’ pianist, Feb. 23-27
• Ballet Folklorico del Rio Grande, in residency May 10-15, with a public performance at United Township High School in collaboration with Glenview Middle School and UT Mariachi bands and Quad Cities Ballet Folklorico
• Katie Bush, 3-D chalk artist, in residence May 29-31 as part of Quad City Arts’ 10th Annual Chalk Art Fest
Quad City Arts: Continuing a Legacy of Artistic Engagement
Since 1974, the Visiting Artist Series has engaged Quad City residents of all ages with quality arts experiences led by professional performing artists. These artists present demonstrations, workshops, and master classes at pre-K sites, elementary, intermediate, and high schools, as well as college campuses and community organizations. Through this series, Quad City Arts continues its commitment to enriching lives and expanding access to the arts.
For more information on this residency program, visit www.quadcityarts.com/vas.
About Quad City Arts
Quad City Arts is a nonprofit local arts agency dedicated to enriching the quality of life in the Quad City region through the arts. With programming that spans performances, gallery exhibitions, arts education, and community partnerships, Quad City Arts brings world-class artists to the area and supports local creatives in their endeavors.
Contact: Ben Gougeon, performing arts director at Quad City Arts, bgougeon@quadcityarts.com or 309- 793-1213, ext. 100.
