Ricky Munoz – “Little Ricky”
– Liz Drury Newton. Jan 9, 2023.

Ricky Munoz, a folk dance teacher from San Antonio, passed away a couple weeks ago. He will be remembered as a fun and inspiring folk dance teacher at San Antonio camps and many other events.

There will be a funeral mass for Ricky Munoz Saturday, January 14th at 10 am, Saint Matthews Catholic Church, 10703 Wurzbach Rd., San Antonio, TX. There will be a reception following the funeral Mass in the church hall.

As a very young boy, Rick Muñoz showed interest in dance and proved to be very talented. His parents provided lessons with Ms. Lopez, a well-known local dance teacher with Ballet Regional Mejicano. Later, he danced with Juan Casados’ Ballet Esplendor de Mexico. He continued his dance studies during his high school years with Nelda Drury at San Antonio College. Rick said he would leave Fox Tech High School during his lunch period and go down the street to San Antonio College to practice with Nelda’s San Antonio College International Folk Dancers performing group. While dancing with Nelda’s and Juan’s groups, he started an adult group of his own. A few years later he left San Antonio to dance with Ballet de Sylvia Lozano in Mexico City.

Rick was life-long teacher and supporter of Folkloric traditions. He brought his talents to teach at the Fun Arts Day! program of the San Antonio Folklife and Dance Festival, and he included his students to participate and perform for their peers.

The 72nd Annual Texas Thanksgiving Folk Dance Camp had the honor of hosting Ricky as a co-teacher where they reconstructed and taught Nelda’s dances. His culture corner enthralled and delighted the participants as he told of his teachers and performances throughout his life.

For 15 years Rick Muñoz taught Ballet Folclorico at Bonham Academy, a kinder through 8th grade campus. Jacob Saucedo and Nathan Busse had this to say about Rick:

“Mr. Muñoz and Bonham Academy were among the first schools to teach Folclorico, its origins, and its traditions to multiple generations. His passion, experience, and sense of humor touched thousands of children and their families. As a model of our bi-cultural, bi-literate community at Bonham, he accepted students from all across San Antonio into his program. In addition to teaching at our school, he shared his passion by teaching at Sofia’s Dance Studio, San Antonio Dance Academy (which included recitals at the Lila Cockrell Theatre), and Image Dance Company.” For the past year and a half, Rick’s teaching at Bonham Academy was contracted through the distinguished Tobin Center Arts Program.

Rick Muñoz, affectionately known by his peers as “Little Ricky” was deeply loved like a brother and will be deeply missed.