Growing up out-of-touch with his Mexican roots, Rafael Valero—the founder of Folkicks—decided to embark on a journey to self-discovery through Mexican folklore dance, known as Folklórico. In 2009, Rafael began dancing with Grupo Folklorico Los Mejicas de UCSC (@losmejicas) and fell in love with the history, art, and dedication that Folklórico brought into his life. 

Folklórico can be described as traditional Mexican dances that emphasize local folk culture with ballet characteristics. You will generally find folk dances in the villages, not on stage—providing a sense of community along with entertainment. Each region in Mexico is known for a handful of local dances with unique characteristics.

Being a dancer himself, Rafael has had firsthand experience in struggling to find the right dance shoes. Many shoe stores made it difficult to find the right fit; be it through low quality materials, expensive shipping costs, and unhelpful customer service. 

In 2015, Rafael decided it was time to step in and make the world of Folklórico more accessible to other Chican@s like him by starting his company, Folkicks. After turning his bedroom into the company’s warehouse, Folkicks began gaining traction on Amazon, and eventually set up his own website at Folkicks.com.