belinda cervantes

Born in McAllen, Texas and raised in Chicago, Belinda is an actor, musician, singer/songwriter and educator.  She completed her BA in Theatre and English at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin and became an Associate Artist with Voice of the City in 2008. 

Belinda is co-founder of The Luna Blues Machine, a band formed with sister Maritza Cervantes that infuses the sounds of folk, hip-hop, Latin and soul.  They have had the pleasure of playing such Chicago venues like Elbo Room, The Underground Wonder Bar, Funky Buddha Lounge, Goose Island, Chicago Cultural Center, The Hot House, Subterranean, The Morseland, and The Hideout. They were part of the Great Performer's of Illinois for two consecutive years and won Underground Wonder Bar's Battle of the Bands in 2006.  Their self-titled debut album was released in 2009 and their song Roots Run Deep was released as part of the Ten x Ten project in 2012, (a collection of prints and music between Chicago artists).  They were featured on WGN's Adelante Chicago in 2011 and were thrilled to be a part of Howard Zinn's The People Speak, Live! in 2012 at the Metro.  They had the honor of playing for Gathering of Nation's Powwow and Miss Indian World Pageant in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2013, which sprouted their latest live album released that year.  They were happy to return to Gathering of Nations in 2015 as well.  They won Moe's Tavern's Battle of the Bands in the spring of 2017 and had the pleasure of playing the Budlight Stage at The Taste of Chicago that summer.  Most recently, their song El Cubano was featured in Heath Takes a Trip, a short film directed by Ted James.  

As an actor, Belinda has worked both in the theatre and in front of the camera.  Favorite credits include The House on Mango Street for Steppenwolf for Young Adults, Kity Y Fernanda for 16th Street Theatre, and Machos (Non-equity Jeff award-winner for Best Ensemble), Lunatic(a)s, and S-E-X Oh! for Teatro Luna where she was an ensemble member from 2006-2010.  She has been in countless industrial films and has had the pleasure of being in a few commercials.  

When Belinda is not performing, she is a homeschool mom to her two wonderful daughters.  

Chicago