• A Historic Moment: The piece “Vertical,” by instructor and co-coordinator Johnny Millán, was presented last night in the Main Hall of the Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes) during the final gala of the 43rd INBAL-UAM Contemporary Choreography Creation Contest.
• CMA Pride: The outstanding participation of graduates from the Mazatlán Professional Dance School (EPDM) on the country’s most important stage solidifies the institution’s prestige and legacy.
Mazatlán, Sinaloa, September 2, 2026 – The Mazatlán Municipal Institute of Culture, Tourism, and Art and the Municipal Center for the Arts celebrate the consolidation of the career of choreographer and performing artist Johnny Millán. They also recognize the historic participation of students and graduates from various EPDM cohorts in the final of the Guillermo Arriaga National Dance Award (INBA/UAM), held last Tuesday night at the Palace of Fine Arts.
With the piece “Vertical” reaching the final stage of the Guillermo Arriaga National Dance Award (43rd INBAL-UAM Contemporary Choreography Creation Contest), instructor Johnny Millán—co-director of the Mazatlán Professional Dance School (EPDM)—placed the school under the discipline’s most demanding spotlight.
The participation of the renowned dancer and choreographer highlighted his creative mastery in Category B (Consolidating Career); however, the grand final night at Bellas Artes took on even greater significance through the valuable participation of EPDM students and graduates. Their stage performance at Mexico’s premier cultural venue demonstrates the comprehensive, excellent training that distinguishes the school and the impact its creators have on Mexico’s contemporary dance scene.
For instructor Xitlali Piña, co-director of the EPDM, this collective… …represents a historic event for the institution:
“Seeing EPDM students and alumni gathered for an event of this magnitude and participating in one of Mexico’s most important competitions—on a stage like the Palace of Fine Arts—is, without a doubt, a source of pride for the entire EPDM community.” “It is proof that the work carried out daily in the classrooms can transcend educational settings and make a significant impact on the national stage,” she states.
“Our graduates and students are everywhere: at festivals, in scholarship programs, in dance companies, in independent projects, in educational spaces, in research and creative processes, in competitions, and now at the Guillermo Arriaga National Dance Award,” highlighted the renowned dancer and choreographer.
The final performance brought together the country’s best dance works, and for Mazatlán, the event held special significance as the talent and performances of EPDM teachers, students, and alumni from various generations shone brightly.
Through their performance, Johnny Millán and the EPDM students and alumni not only competed for the top honor of the contest—organized by INBAL, the UAM, and the Secretariat of Culture—but also left an indelible mark on the history of contemporary dance in Sinaloa.
They took the stage to triumph at Mexico’s premier cultural venue:
Johnny Millán – EPDM Co-director and Class of IV alumnus
Arat Fernández – Class of XXVI student
Brenda Chi – Class of XX alumna
Humberto Vega – Class of XIII alumnus
Hensa – Class of XV alumnus
Carlitos Acqua – Class of XXI alumnus
Alexander Sánchez – Class of XX alumnus
Yamilet Morelos – Class of XXIII resident
Maria Laura Gomez Llano – Class of XXII alumna
Karen Vidals – Class of XXII resident
Arantza Rosales – Class of XXV student
Giovanny Santos – Class of XXVI student
Alexandra Elenes – Class of XIX alumna
Dano Trujillo – Class of XXIV alumnus
Citlaly Solano – Class of XXIV resident
Henry Torres – Class of II alumnus
Radha Mar – Class of IV alumna
Issabel Monge- Graduate of Class XIV.
