- The 5 typical dances of San Luis Potosí
- 1- The huehuadas
- 2- The Aztec dance
- 3- The dance of the xochitines
- 4- Folk dance
- 5- The dance of the xexos
- References
The main dances and typical dances of San Luis Potosí are the dance of the huehuadas in the Xantolo festival, the Aztec dance in Holy Week, the dance of the xochitines, the folk dance, and the dance of the xexos.
San Luis Potosí has a varied tradition of dances and many of the dances are linked to its frequent festivals.
Most of the holidays in the state are accompanied by parades and dance performances. Whenever the typical dances are presented in this region, special costumes or distinctive masks are used.
You may also be interested in the traditions of San Luis Potosí or its history.
The 5 typical dances of San Luis Potosí
1- The huehuadas
Xantolo is another name for the feast of all saints and is celebrated on November 1. This is the most important festival in the region.
The dances of these parties are made with masks, usually black and white, that represent the “huehues”, a local name for a type of elf.
According to legend, the huehuadas were started by the king of the gods Xantolo himself, who sent the huehues to teach the people that the Day of the Dead should be celebrated without sadness or crying.
These dances are usually represented by groups of masked men and are often comical and energetic in appearance.
2- The Aztec dance
The current territory of San Luis Potosí was historically part of the Aztec Empire. For this reason there are many dance groups that pay homage to the old Nahua customs.
Groups with names like "Xaman-Ek" and "Amayab" are nationally recognized for the athletic dances that they perform dressed in traditional Aztec warrior uniforms.
Although these dances can be seen in various settings during the year, Holy Week is the most propitious time to see them in San Luis Potosí.
3- The dance of the xochitines
"Xochitl" means "flower" in the Nahuatl language, which was the language of the Aztecs. The dance of the xochitines is also called "the dance of the flowers."
This dance honors Aztec gods and has been danced in the lands of San Luis Potosí for hundreds of years.
Today you can see this dance in the state with traditional costumes, which consist of trousers and a blanket shirt on the body, and a headdress of various colors that refers to flowers.
Like the dance of the huehuadas, it is danced in a group and the dancers form in lines.
4- Folk dance
Folk dance is the name given to Mexican dances that are distinguished by movements similar to those of ballet and by the use of regional costume.
Like all regions of Mexico, San Luis Potosí has its own style of this type of Mexican dance. Although the choreography is similar to that of other regions, the clothing worn during these dances is distinctive.
The women wear white skirts, a flowered blouse and a blanket bag. The men dress completely in white.
Folk dance is very popular in the region. There are marathons of dancers that include hundreds of participants.
5- The dance of the xexos
The dance of the xexos is another type of dance that is seen on All Saints' Day. It is similar to the huehuadas because a mythological story is represented through dance.
In this case, the xexos are spirits from beyond that symbolize sins and virtues. As in the huehuadas, the dancers also wear masks and perform a theatrical and energetic dance.
References
- Salinas, M. (November 14, 2015). Day of the Dead in the Huasteca. Recovered from sierra-madre-oriental.blogspot.si
- Informative Plan. (April 16, 2011). They will present an Aztec dance show at Easter. Recovered from planoinformativo.com
- Tamazunchale, San Luis Potosí. (November 8, 2017). Tamazunchale. Recovered from tamazunchale.jimdo.com
- Mexican Folk Dance. (November 11, 2012). The typical costume of San Luis Potosí. Recovered from dance-folklorica.tumblr.com
- San Luis Agenda. (February 12, 2016). 1st Marathon of Folk Dance in San Luis Potosí. Recovered from agendasanluis.com