Mexican Folk Dance: Language of the Soul
Tara A. Spears
“Dance is one of the most perfect forms of communication” explains Paulo Coelho. “To watch folk dance is to see into the heart of the people.” Mexico’s various folk dances are a reflection of the country’s diverse cultural richness, with distinguishing features within each dance that is determined by their place of origin. The fledgling dance group, Colectivo de danza de Bahia Jaltemba, dazzled spectators with their outdoor performance at the October 19 Guayabitos Art Show, Las Manos del Arte.
This local folkloric dance troupe is under the direction of maestro Ricardo Machuca Hurtado, who was previously a professional dancer. Considering that folk art provides a glimpse into the values, aspirations, and shared experiences of a community, folk dance offers insight into a country’s identity.
Let’s look at the three dances from the performance: La Flor de Pina, Jarabe Mixteco, and La Martiniana. Originating in San Juan Bautista Tuxtepec, the Flor de Piña dance has been one of the main attractions of the great Oaxacan festival since 1958. According to Mexico Desconosido, the state governor asked for a dance that would represent the indigenous people of that region. The teacher Solis created the dance of the Pineapple Flower using the melody of the same name by the Oaxacan composer Samuel Mondragón.
It is said that the costume design was thought out before the choreography and that the teacher Paulina Solís intended to show not only a dance, but the beauty of the typical dresses of the communities of the Cuenca; for this reason, each year the dancers wear beautiful multicolored hand-embroidered huipiles and complement them with braided hairstyles adorned with ribbons and many showy necklaces. The elaborate choreography requires the dancers to hold pineapples in their arms and at certain moments to bow with them.
Another folkdance is the Jarana Mestizo. It is danced in couples over rhythmic, lively music. This fun, flirty dance is characteristic in that while the feet are tapping away in all sorts of directions, the upper body of the dancer stays erect. The best dancers can dance to the rhythm with bottles of water over their head or even trays filled with glasses without dripping a single drop.
Mestizo dance is very common in those regions where different cultures or ethnicities have mixed in Mexico, where the influence is not only Spanish but also African. Yucatan gave rise to a rich and wide variety of mestizo dances. In traditional Mexican folk dances, clothing used covers a wide range of possibilitie, from super full skirts to body paint and loin cloth.
The third example of folkloric dance is frequently used in conjunction to day of the dead celebrations. The song La Martiniana is a famous traditional Mexican song, characteristic of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca. This song is recognized particularly for its stanza “Don’t cry for me, no, because if you cry, I suffer. On the other hand, if you sing to me, I always live and never die…”
La Martiniana is a song to life and memory written by Oaxacan Henestrosa about his mother. These lyrics reflect a vision of death that is common in many indigenous cultures of Mexico, where it is believed that the dead live in the memory and celebrations of the living.
Why is death celebrated with folklore in Mexico? It is the end of one cycle and, within the ancestral worldview, the beginning of another. Those who leave want to be remembered with joy, as a traditional song from “La Martiniana,” says, “If you want me to not forget you/ If you want me to remember you/ Sing Isthmus songs, Mom/ music that never dies….”It is believed that Mexican homes can receive their departed loved ones every year with marigold flowers, papel picado, the scent of copal and traditional food such as mole, fruits and bread.
Folk dance is specially designed to use the body and music to convey emotion. One doesn’t need to have training to enjoy watching a troupe of folk dancers. Their movement to music- the art of Dance– touches your heart while overriding a difference in language. This kinestic mode manifests emotion and artistic expression of the customs, culture, and traditions of a specific region or country. As choreographer Martha Graham said, “Great dancers are not great because of their technique; they are great because of their passion.” That’s why the local dance troupe, Colectivo de danza de Bahia Jaltemba, was such a joy to watch at the Art Show Saturday, 19 October.
