Monica Mendoza

Monica Mendoza is an award-winning professional dancer, educator, and cultural ambassador, and the Founder and Director of Peru Expressions Dance Academy. Born and raised in Peru, she began her dance training at the age of six and earned her first championship at nine, later achieving national, international and world titles through her participation in multiple dance competitions before relocating to the United States. With more than 20 years of experience teaching and promoting Peruvian culture, particularly Marinera Norteña the national dance of Peru, Monica has trained students of all ages throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and has played a big role in developing numerous champions. She serves as an ambassador for Marinera en el Mundo San Francisco and brings over 10 years of experience in additional traditional South American dances, including those from Bolivia and Brazil.

In 2024, Monica won the dance competitions for the crown of San Francisco Carnaval, an honor through which she proudly represents the Latino community while celebrating and honoring its cultural roots. Additionally, she was invited for the first time as a guest artist at the ACDA Dance Conference, where she had the opportunity to teach Peru’s national dance and Afro-Peruvian dance, sharing the richness and beauty of these traditions with a broader artistic community.