Mexican Dance Packed With Culture, Fancy Footwork
 Amy Hadley - news8austin.com
| | There are 32 states in Mexico, and every state has their own traditions, their own music, their own culture and costumes. |
The costume, the posture, the steps - every part tells a story.
"He is trying to win her over," one dancer explained. "He is trying to win her love."
Dancers at Roy Lozano's Ballet Folklorico de Texas celebrate their heritage through a dance of traditions.
"We have 32 states in Mexico and every state has their own traditions, their own music, their own culture and costumes," Artistic Director Chuy Chacon said.
"While this one requires a macho look," a male dancer pointed to a charro (or bullfighter) costume. "Then you have your peasant's towel, where your head is down, you're barefooted."
The traditional dance from Jalisco is a tale of romance.
"What happens is in the beginning they are barely meeting," dancer Jennifer Martinez said. "That's when you see this type of footwork, forward and back."
"Folklorico dancing is a lot of acting," Gabe Torres admitted. "You do forget, 'I'm a regular guy,' and you become a couple."
"Then when they dance around each other," Martinez continued, "that's a bit more flirty. Finally, you can tell he wins her over."
This story of the heart is expressed through the feet.
"The girls have the hardest part," Torres said. "They have to do the skirt work, be pretty, do footwork. We are supposed to just flirt with the girl, we take care of them."
"Some girls I teach they just do this," Martinez showed, bending her arms at the elbow. "It's a rough skirt, we call it. We just say, 'You need to look graceful, make your arms flow and have your body flow with it.'"
Once a lady learns that, the rest follows.
"He throws off his hat," Martinez concluded, "she's so amazed, and they dance around the hat, and that's how he wins her love."
It's a courtship that also keeps the past alive.
"You have your traditions, which is the people's tradition, then you have the music, then you have the dancing. So, it's three parts you combine together," Torres said. |
Vallarta Weddings
Entertainment | April 2005 
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