Las Chiapanecas<\/em>\u00a0(The Women of Chiapas) \u00a0whirl\u00a0in an elegant tornado of color and tradition.
\u00a9 Eva Boynton<\/p><\/div>\n

One Stage, Many\u00a0Colors<\/h2>\n

When you travel, timing is everything.<\/p>\n

In a new city, any\u00a0turn down a street\u00a0can bring a\u00a0surprise—like\u00a0my walk down calle Miguel Hidalgo<\/em>\u00a0in Toluca, Mexico, that led me straight into a festival lit up with color, music, and dance.\u00a0This was Toluca’s third Festival Cultural,\u00a0<\/em>highlighting National Teacher’s Day on May 15.<\/p>\n

A single stage celebrated dances and music from around the world, showcasing performers of\u00a0traditional\u00a0Mexican dances\u00a0side by side with those who embraced more modern influences.\u00a0The event showed how\u00a0Mexico goes across cultures to\u00a0form an eclectic cultural identity.<\/p>\n

Embracing the Present<\/h4>\n

Los ni\u00f1os<\/em> (the kids) launched\u00a0the festivities with flair. In\u00a0colorful costumes, they performed dance routines inspired by movies, musicals, and—in this case—music\u00a0by Christina Aguilera and Michael Jackson.<\/p>\n

A tip of the hat to JAZZ!
\u00a9 Eva Boynton<\/p><\/div>\n

Groups of performers, each from\u00a0a different preschool or\u00a0elementary school, garnered\u00a0smiles and applause even when\u00a0a child missed\u00a0the cue or ran into a fellow dancer in a\u00a0pirouette across the stage.<\/p>\n

Ballet, originating in Europe and Russia, is a part of modern Mexico and
sometimes mixes with\u00a0traditional dance.
\u00a9 Eva Boynton<\/p><\/div>\n

The dancers’ earnest effort, costumes, choreographed moves, and elaborate set changes demonstrated their dedication to the cultural celebration.<\/p>\n

I had never imagined being at\u00a0a Mexican festival singing along to Hakuna Matata<\/em>, It’s a Hard Knock Life,<\/em> and other familiar\u00a0songs\u00a0from The\u00a0Lion King<\/em>, Peter Pan<\/em>, Annie,<\/em>\u00a0The Wizard of Oz,<\/em>\u00a0Grease, Chicago,<\/em> and Cats<\/em>.<\/p>\n

A pause in the performance by the scary Wicked Witch of the West\u00a0from The Wizard of Oz
\u00a9 Eva Boynton<\/p><\/div>\n

Yet, on this day at\u00a0this Festival Cultural<\/em>, jazz born in New Orleans and ballet originating in Europe seemed a natural part of modern Mexican traditions.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0performances celebrated these\u00a0modern-day influences, and\u00a0with a nod to the\u00a0younger generations, they incorporated new colors of culture into\u00a0Mexican tradition.<\/p>\n

Crossing Paths with\u00a0the Past<\/h4>\n

As Dorothy\u00a0and Toto\u00a0exited the stage, however, Aztec dancers entered the spotlight.<\/p>\n

A shift in cultures, for sure. But\u00a0as Mexico’s danzas folkl\u00f3ricas<\/em>\u00a0(folk or traditional dances) played out, it became apparent that these dances, from 31 different states, stepped across cultures and times themselves.<\/p>\n

Each dance told\u00a0a story of its origin and time, reflecting indigenous roots, local traditions, or\u00a0historical events:<\/p>\n

\n
• The\u00a0Danza Azteca\u00a0<\/em>(Aztec Dance) comes from the state of Guerrero where Cuauht\u00e9moc, the last Aztec emperor was laid to rest.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
  

  Feather headdresses and the noisy seed leggings are part of the
  traditional costumes worn for Aztec dances.
  \u00a9 Eva Boynton<\/p><\/div>\n

  \n
  • Las Ig\u00fciris<\/em>, with footsteps similar to the waltz, is a dance from Michoac\u00e1n performed by women as a kind of bachelorette party. Such iconic dances have\u00a0strong ties to\u00a0indigenous culture since the region was less impacted by colonization.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
    

    Even the petticoats worn for this dance are colorfully embroidered.
    \u00a9 Eva Boynton<\/p><\/div>\n

    \n
    • During the\u00a01800s, miners from\u00a0South America\u00a0migrated toward the California Gold Rush and stopped in Mexico to rest. Forms of Peruvian and Chilean dance, with their synchronous and passionate twirling of scarves, were adopted and changed by locals to create Chilena\u00a0<\/em>dances.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
      

      Chilena<\/em> dances, like \u201cEl Toro Rab\u00f3n\u201d (The\u00a0Bull Without a Tail) or “La Iguana,”\u00a0
      (The Iguana) are named after animals found in the local environment.
      \u00a9 Eva Boynton<\/p><\/div>\n

      \n
      • Dances\u00a0from La Huasteca<\/em>, the southern part of the state of Tamaulipas, were\u00a0influenced by its neighbors (Nuevo Leon to the west and Texas to the north), including the leather outfits\u00a0that resemble\u00a0the charro suit<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
        

        These dancers keep their rhythm while balancing jars on their heads.
        \u00a9 Eva Boynton<\/p><\/div>\n

        And because dances need music and movement, get a better feel for them from\u00a0this video (5:11).<\/p>\n