Mexican Folk Dancing Facts
Mexico has 31 states in its federation and each stakes a claim to its own version of a traditional folk dance. The dances vary in style, dress, and meaning, but all remain a vitally important art form.
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Function
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Mexican folk dancing represents a way to celebrate one's own cultural heritage and traditions. Many Mexican folk dances also serve as a means for expressing the ups and downs of everyday life.
Geography
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Different regions of Mexico play host to different types of folk dance. For instance, Ballet Folklórico originated in Mexico City, the Mexican Hat Dance started in Jalisco, the Dance of the Machetes began in Nayarit, and El Baile de Los Viejitos is widely associated with the state of Michoacan.
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Types
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Mexican folk dancing combines various cultural influences from the nation's history. While some folk dances date back to ancient Mayan or Aztec customs, others incorporate European influences, such as the polka, flamenco, and waltz dances.
Identification
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Costumes vary depending on the Mexican folk dance. For instance, Ballet Folklórico female dancers usually wear long, colorful dresses. Folk dancers from Veracruz boast a mixture of Cuban and Spanish fashion, including guayabera shirts for men and flowered headpieces for women.
Famous Ties
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Anna Pavlova, the legendary Russian ballerina, helped make the Mexican Hat Dance (also known as Jarabe Tapatío) famous worldwide after adding elements of it to her repertoire. Pavlova herself saw the dance in person after visiting Mexico in 1919.
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