History of Dance in Mexico

There are three eras of dance in Mexico's history.

Beginning with the Aztecs and Mayans worshiping their gods and dancing for plentiful crops to modern day dances depicting Mexican heritage and values, Mexico has a rich history of dance. There are three eras of dance in Mexico: pre-Hispanic, period of conquest and modern. These eras span the time before the Spanish conquest, the introduction of Christianity and the melding of the Mexican and Spanish cultures.

Pre-Hispanic

Because dancing was such an integral part of pre-Hispanic culture, children were taught to dance before being introduced to more formal education. Not only was dance considered an important aspect of maturing, but also dancing was a deep-rooted part of religion, with some ritual dances lasting days.

Period of Conquest

When the Spanish arrived in Mexico, they brought their desire to colonize and their religion: Catholicism. Dances often utilized to pay homage to the gods began to be replaced by dances reflecting Spanish Christian history and values and the Spanish domination over the native peoples of Mexico.

Modern

According to an article published on the South Dakota State University website, "The final era of dance (Modern Mexican), evolved from intermarriages of the Spanish with native Mexicans." The result was subsequent generations embracing more Spanish customs. For instance, some of the modern dance moves and costumes are similar to the flamenco, a traditional dance of Spain.

References

• South Dakota State University: Spanish/Mexican Dance and History
• Kislak Foundation: Invasion and Conquest in Mexico
• Mexconnet: The Masks of Mexico
• Barragan Zone: Mexican Dances