I was born in Santiago de Chile and I started to be motivated to dance when I was 5 years old.  My choice of dance at that time was classical ballet.  After that my family and I moved to another town called Maipu, where I spent about 8 years with a children folk group called "Los Maipucitos" where I learned about my native dances and music.  They introduced me to the guitar, harp, flutes from Los Andes, and percussion instruments.  With Los Maipucitos I enjoyed traveling to countries like  France, Germany, Ukraine, Holland, Poland, Belgica, Mexico, Argentina and others.  I also joined  BAFOCHI (Ballet Folkloric from Chile), Arte Chile dance company.  I studied traditional Chilean culture at the Catholic University of Chile and I took theatre courses at the University of Chile.  I moved  to the US in 2004 and have participated in music time at Public Libraries, Studio Grow Place Space, Hola Kids, Centro Vida, Richmond  Latina Center, Duck's Nest preschool and La Peña Cultural Center and many others.  I have continued learning with groups like Araucaria dances from Chile, Jaranon y Bochinche and De Rompe y Raja afroperuvian folk.

I am a student of Early Childhood Education, and my job is something that I am delighted handing over the years working with children at indoor playspace, museums, and libraries my career has taken more sense and the need for
continue to learn different teaching methods through melodies that connect cultures and learning in this wonderful meeting place like the Bay Area and make a multicultural community. I found
many moments of satisfaction, that let me do my job with great pleasure. But even bigger desire to continue discovering how the cognitive development of children right through the music
.
  
                                                             Rounds, plays, tales and legends

      Folk group LOS MAIPUCITOS :
     This Chilean Folk group is primarily made up of older children from 7
     to 17 years  of age.  The group is based out of the commune of Maipu, a city located two kilometers from   Santiago, Chili. 
   Singers, dancers and musicians express their cultural heritage and mix five centuries of old traditions.  They present dances and traditional songs supported by instruments and are enriched by scenic elements, centered around the topic of the topics indude rounds, plays, tales and legends. Los Maipucitos was created in 1992 and still performs today with freshness that exhibits the spontaneity and natural talent of these children from Chile.
Bray-dunes - France
Festival of the Folklores of the World                                                                                                             
 www.marielaherrera.com   © 2009            e-mail:  mariela.arts@gmail.com 
 kkk
  picture by May-Li khoe
  picture by May-Li khoe
 La Peña Cultural Center 2009
singing "Cueca" in a benefit concert with "Los Materos"
 Holiday celebration with children from "Latina Center"  Richmond CA

 SF Carnaval 07' with "Jaranon y Bochinche" and "Good Samaritan Family Resource Center"

  picture by May-Li khoe
 
 Where is Chile?
 More about Chile...
 ... South-America / Los Andes / Violeta Parra /
Antartica / pinguinos / llamas / Torres del Paine / Easter Island / Pablo Neruda / Gabriela Mistral / Violeta Parra / Atacama / fruta / mimbre de Chimbarongo / chapaleles y milcaos / curanto /  greda de Pomaire / pudú / Santiago ...
 
 And my Childhood...
 ,
 Benefit concert for The Oakland Children Hospital. Thanks to Rosa Los Santos!!