Questions

Questions

1) What is unique about Mexican folk dancing in comparison to American folk dancing?

 Mexican folk dance is very diverse, in the way that every region has their own dances and traditions.  While American folk dance is very diverse as well, American folk dances were never used for religious and celebratory reasons. The majority of the Mexican folk dances are symbolic for an ancient reason; it was mainly to honor nature or a certain god to gain favor for that village.
 

2) What is culture?

Culture is the characteristics of a group of people, of which things such as language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music, and arts define them. Culture is neverlasting; it constantly evolves as time progresses. Though, I believe culture can easily be lost for it only exists in our minds. Culture is more like an idea than a physical thing; government, buildings, and other manufactured things are all just the products of culture, they aren't physically it.

3) How does folk dance manifest in Mexican culture?

Folk dance is heavily influenced by Mexico's history, like the Mexican War of Independence from Spain and 1910 Mexican Revolution. Because of Mexico's history had influence, folk dance showcases the unique mix of the cultural influences that Mexico had encountered during that long path of history. Also the various folkloric dances represent the different geographical regions in Mexico from which the originates. It shows that not all of Mexico is the exact same; each village or region has their own special dance or tradition of their own.

Ballet Folklorico de Mexico

 



Amalia Hernandez

Ballet Folklorico de Mexico

Ballet Folklorico de Mexico is an ensemble of dancers  that perform Mexican folkloric dances. Amalia Hernandez is the founder of Ballet Folklorico de Mexico. The group started with eight performers, by the end of the decade, the group grew up to a fifty piece of ensemble! The choreography has an accurate historical aspect with creativity and some Hispanic influence as well. There are three types of folkloric ballet: Danza, Mestizo, and Bailes Rejionales, all being regional dances. The dance and music reflect various regions and different kinds of folk music of Mexico. Not only does the choreography show the beauty of Mexican culture, the costumes do as well!

Ballet Folklorico de Mexico performs three times a week at the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City. The group as also toured nationally in over eighty countries!

Tlacololeros

 Tlacololeros

The tlacololeros originated in the town of Chichihaulco in the sierra of Guerrero, Mexico. On September 28-29 is a festival in honor of the patron of the town, St. Michael. During that festival "The Dance of the Tlacololeros" is performed. The dance consists of sixteen dancers in all. Fourteen of the people are grouped into sevens, then there is the Tiger and the "pitero",the lead musican. The tlacololeros tells the story a tlacololero, a farmer, who hunts and kills the jugar, tiger, who harrassed the local farmers. To scare the jugar away, the farmers use a chirrion, a whip.The tlacololero decides to kill the jugar in order to protect the town's harvest and safety. In the end the tlacololero shoots the jugar. The tlacololeros was performed in honor of the rain god, Tlaloc. The tlacoloro and his village wanted the favor of Tlaloc, so that he might bring enough water and to fertilize their harvest. The village harvest was very important because it was their primary source of food.

The music in the dance is all provided by the pitero. The pitero plays reed flute, with three little holes. The reed flute is played with the left hand. From the flute hangs a seven inch drum, which is played with the right hand using a stick. The tlacololeros also consists of many melodies with a few chants that are then recited repeatedly.

The wardrobe originally consisted of tunics, pants made of a blanket sack and a sewn sisal rope. Today the dancers wear everyday shirts and pants, chaps, and palm hats with very wide brims. The hat is also decorated with colorful paper flowers, and was supported by a chin strap. .The town as well as some of the costumes are covered with marigold flowers and chains of marigold. Before dancers put the masks on they use towels and bandannas to protect their skin and the pressure from the masks, as well as to hide their face and hair. The tlacololero wears a denim jacket and carries a rifle in the left hand and the chirrion in the right.

Danza del Venado



Danza del Venado

The danza del venda, also known as the "Dear Dance", is originally from the Mexican state, Senora; it is a native Yaqui dance. The danza del venado is a dramatization of a deer hunt to honor the natural world and the white tailed deer, which provided all of the Yaqui's essentials. 

The choreography of the dance is supposed to resemble a deer's graceful and athletic movements. The dancer wear a deer head. The instruments that play along side the dancers are a reed flute, percussion, rasps, rattles, and chanting. The dance carries on with the deer running, jumping through the forest and drinking from a stream. Then suddenly the deer encounters a group of hunters, who chase it with bows and arrows. In the end the deer gives its life up for the hunters, so that they may live, demonstrating the cycle of life. The percussion begins to slowly come to a stop to represent the deer's heartbeat and life coming to its end. 

The danza del venado is one of Mexico's well known dance. This dance has barely changed over the past few centuries. Somehow the Yaqui people were able to fend for their land and culture against Spain and because of that, there is no European influence in the danza del venado. This dance is highly respected for its religious aspect.

Jarabe Tapatio

Jarabe Tapatio

Jarabe Tapatio, best known as the Mexican Hat Dance, is a traditional Mexican dance. It originates in the town of Guadaljara, Jalisco, Mexico. The jarabe tapatio has become a symbol of Mexico since the ruling of Spain. Back in the 1800s during the revolution, the dance was banned by the authorities for its sexual nature and for its defiance of the Spanish ruling. The dance was originally performed by two women and other mixed couples, which the church didn't approve of. Though after banning it, it only gave the dance more meaning. Performing the dance became a form or protest and rebellion against the Spanish authorities.The jarabe tapatio has become an identity of Mexico.  Later in 1919, the dance expanded furthermore from just Mexico because of Ann Pavlova, a Russian ballerina, who added the dance to her repertoire. 

When performing, women wear the tradition "China Problana", which consists of a blouse and a heavily embroidered skirt. The blouse and skirt combination is Asian inspired by a woman from India that came as a servant. The traditional outfit for men was a charro, which has silver trimmings. During the performance, a mariachi band accompanies the dancer.