Maxaira Baltazar, left, Mexican Consul in Santa Ana, presents a certificate of recognition to Marlene Peña-Marin, center, artistic director of Relámpago del Cielo and Norma Trujillo, right, Chair of the Board, during the non-profit group’s 50th anniversary launch event in Santa Ana on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Audience members listen during the 50th anniversary launch event for Relámpago del Cielo at the Bower’s Museum in Santa Ana on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Relámpago del Cielo dancers are introduced by Norma Trujillo. left, chair of the board, at the non-profit group’s 50th anniversary launch event at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mia Lopez and Alex Martinez perform during the 50th anniversary launch event for Relámpago del Cielo in Santa Ana on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. The group is the oldest operating non-profit institution of it’s kind within the region and the largest in the United States. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Relámpago del Cielo dancer Mia Lopez stands next to a display of historical photos of the group in Santa Ana on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. The non-profit group was launching their 50th anniversary celebration at the Bower’s Museum. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Relámpago del Cielo dancers Camila Brambila, 6, left, and Priscilla Christine, 6, wait for the music to start before beginning their performance for the non-profit group’s 50th anniversary launch event at the Bower’s Museum in Santa Ana on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Marlene Peña-Marin, artistic director of Relámpago del Cielo, speaks at the non-profit group’s 50th anniversary launch event at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Sandy Armenta, left, helps prepare dancer Priscilla Christine, 6, for her performance at Relámpago del Cielo’s 50th anniversary launch event at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Norma Trujillo, board chair of Relámpago del Cielo non-profit group, addresses those atttending the group’s 50th anniversary launch event at the Bower’s Museum in Santa Ana on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Relámpago del Cielo dancers Camila Brambila, 6, left, and Priscilla Christine, 6, perform at an event launching the 50th anniversary of Relámpago del Cielo in Santa Ana on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. The group has served more than 400,000 students and families and awarded over $300,000 in scholarships since 1975. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
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Maxaira Baltazar, left, Mexican Consul in Santa Ana, presents a certificate of recognition to Marlene Peña-Marin, center, artistic director of Relámpago del Cielo and Norma Trujillo, right, Chair of the Board, during the non-profit group’s 50th anniversary launch event in Santa Ana on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Some of the nonprofit’s talented young dancers performed at Wednesday’s kickoff hosted at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, showcasing the impact on youth and culture the program has had through generations of students.
Relámpago del Cielo, which means “Lightning from the Sky” in Spanish, supports not just the preservation of the traditional dance style, but the history, culture and music of regions throughout Mexico.
Since its founding in 1975 in Santa Ana, the group has served more than 400,000 students and families with classes, its leaders said, and more than $300,000 in scholarship funding has been provided.
