Julie Gallego
Hispanic Business Woman of the Year


For one local woman a life-long passion for culture and a desire to educate others was all it took to persevere and follow her dreams. Julie Gallego, owner of VIVA Hispanic Performing Arts Center, has translated her affinity for dance into a career of enriching the lives of children and their parents while building a legacy on the southside of Tucson.
As a child, Gallego’s parents introduced her to the colorful and exciting world of Mexican folklórico dance. “I was in awe of those productions — the music and dancing and everything,” says Gallego. She began her own dancing career at age 12 with the Ballet Folklórico Los Corazones de Oro, and continued through her time at Tucson High School. Before entering college, she expressed an interest in studying dance at UA. However, her guidance counselor felt her lack of skills in ballet, jazz and other disciplines would hold her back and encouraged her to pursue another path.
By 1986, however, her interest in dance proved to be too strong and she made the decision with her husband to start a studio for children to study Mexican folklórico. Her first classes were taught in the cafeteria at St. John the Evangelist School. “On my first day I had 65 children enroll, and from there I never looked back,” says Gallego. “In the span of the next 15 years we kept expanding and moving around on the southside, which is where they were loyal to me.” Eventually, the father of one of her students, John Peabody of KMJ General Construction, offered to build her a low-cost building that she could purchase back from him over the course of three years. “When he asked me about this I was in tears and couldn’t believe this man, my angel, would help me,” she recalls. “What he gave me is something I can leave to my children.” Now going into its third year the studio has 300 members, two dance rooms, a lobby, viewing rooms for the parents and 12 instructors, many of whom used to be students themselves. VIVA offers classes and workshops in several different disciplines, so other children won’t be discouraged to follow their dreams.
Gallego has had the opportunity to include her family in what she loves. Although her husband is her biggest supporter, her elder daughter serves as office manager, her son helps with upkeep and maintenance, and her youngest daughter teaches Folklórico and Zumba Fitness, a Latin-inspired workout for women. “Everyone knows that when you have your own business, your family has to support you,” explains Gallego. “My husband and children have been sharing me with thousands of children for 23 years!”
In addition to her performing arts center Gallego has created and oversees the Ballet Folklórico San Juan, Ballet Folklórico Arizona, CHISPA Hip Hop Dance team and the Viva Arizona Dancers. She also annually produces and coordinates the “Viva Arizona!” Hispanic Performing Arts Conference and Concert, as well as the mariachis and Folklórico for the Las Vegas International Mariachi Festival and the Arizona Christmas Mariachi Festival in Phoenix.
“To me this award is so humbling and so unbelievable,” says Gallego. “There are two sides to my business — my dance studio, and my non-profit performance groups. I have never been recognized for my business so it means a lot to me that my peers and other businesses will know a little more about what we offer and what we have done. The number one thing I’m the most proud of is all the children and parents that the business has touched and what impact it has made in their lives.”

Taken from Tucson Lifestyle Magazine.

Lauren Mashburn