c. MHN August 1996; lesson created by Norma Alaniz, and Vincent P. Garcia
Time Involved 2 (50) minute periods.
Materials Online photos of dance styles and outfits, map and flag of Mexico, resource links for audiovisual and other resources.
Content
Folk dance is not only the oldest form of dance, it is also the basis of all other dance forms. people have always used dance for communicating their emotions through rhythm and movement.
Folk dancing is a type of traditional, communal dancing, passed down from generation to generation in a social or recreational atmosphere. Folk dance uses traditional costumes and accessories which aids in preserving our link to our cultural heritage. (p> The types of dances include war dances, contest dances, courtship and wedding dances, holiday and religious dances and dances for the fun of movement alone. (p) Many different steps are used in folk dance - walking, running, hopping, skipping, leaping, sliding, and jumping. The way these steps are performed depends on the traditional style of the region, the kind of musical accompaniment, outfits worn by dancers, climate, andthe history of the country.
Folk dance is an extremely popular recreation and is often taught in schools and coleges. Many dances would probably have been lost if they had not been carried on by communities.
Many of the folk dances still performed in Mexico originated in pre-Columbian times; others were brought from Europe but have been changed and developed into many regional variations.
Jalisco
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The regional dance known as Jalisco comes from the state of Jalisco in Mexico. this region, with it's tropical, hot climated, makes for a productive agriculture of maize, beans, wheat, sugarcane, rice, indigo, tobacco, rubber and livestock-farming. Jalisco also has large silver and gold depostis and Mexico's largest lake.
Conquered by the Spanish in 1529, Jalisco became an important stronghold for the independence movement in the 1820s.
Outfits - What's a Traje?
Men usually where a Mexican cowboy or charro outfit, black or brown suits with tight fitting trousers trimmed down the sides with a double row of gold or silver buttons called plata . A white shirt and rebozo (or hanging, folded) tie is also worn. A large hat or sombrero completes the outfit. Mariachi musicians have made this outfit famous.
Women wear light and colorful outfits, typically with manyribbons and beautiful lace sewn onto the arms, bodice and hem of the skirt. it is an ornate adaptation of dresses typically worn during the 18th century. It is made so that the skirt will lift up to show a colorful petticoat underneath when dancing.
Dance
Men dance with the hands behind their backs and stamp out the rhythms featured in each song. The man also uses his sombrero while dancing the national dance of Mexico, jarabe tapatio , a courtship dance also known as the Mexican hat dance. The man tosses the hat on thefloor in front of a woman; if she accepts him, she dances on its wide brim. The dance ends with a modest kiss behind the hat.
Women also carry out intricate rhythms of each dance but with a more feminine flair. Her feet gracefully stamp out the rhythms while her skirt waves in a continual motion. She spins and twirls to show off the many colorful ribbons and petticoats she wears.
