- The 5 main typical dances of Chiapas
- 1- The carnival of San Juan Chamula
- 2- The bolonchón
- 3- The dance of the parachicos
- 4- The Chiapas
- 5- The bull
- References
The dances and typical dances of Chiapas are happy and colorful expressions of popular sentiment that honor their ancestral traditions and accompany their festivities.
Chiapas is a Mexican state whose historical and cultural richness is majestically evident in its dance expressions.
The dance of the parachicos, Chiapas
Among these manifestations the most representative are the San Juan Chamula carnival, the bolonchón, the parachicos dance and the Cohuiná dance.
Folk dances emerged later, during the era of miscegenation as a result of colonization.
The most prominent are the chiapanecas, the bull, the pijuy, the maruncha, the rescapetate, the sleeping child, the tuxtlequita and the cachito.
You may also be interested in the traditions of Chiapas or its history.
The 5 main typical dances of Chiapas
1- The carnival of San Juan Chamula
The dances of the San Juan Chamula carnival are an ancestral tradition that is the pride of the people of Chiapas. Its foundation is the sacred text of the Mayan culture: the Popol Vuh.
The main attraction of the celebration is the dance between curators, mayordomos or paxiones, maltajimoles and xionales, accompanied by colorful clothes and native music.
In total there are 13 characters who participate in the representation that links the brotherhood between indigenous peoples and enriches the cultural mosaic of the region.
2- The bolonchón
It is an indigenous dance characteristic of the Chamula, an ethnic group directly descended from the Mayan-Quiche people who inhabited the highlands of Chiapas and Tabasco. It is also called the dance of the tiger and the snake.
This name is due to the struggle between these common animals of the region, which is evoked in the movements of the ancestral dance. In current times the tradition has lost its validity.
Now the bolonchón is danced in pairs to the rhythm of whatever they are harmonized by a guitar, a harp and two violins.
3- The dance of the parachicos
This dance is carried out by characters who wear a wooden mask, a serape and a rattle, and dance through the streets to the rhythm of the drum and a reed flute.
On their way, the parachicos visit the saints in the churches and dance to them as a sign of offering.
This chiapecan tradition is loaded with a lot of emotionality. More than half of the population participate as dancers.
The parachicos are led by a guide called "el patron", a citizen recognized as an example of life.
This distinction is transmitted from generation to generation, with the prior approval of the community.
The dance of the parachicos was recognized by UNESCO in 2010 as Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
4- The Chiapas
This original, colorful and joyful dance is an unmistakable characteristic symbol of Chiapas folklore. It originated in San Cristóbal de las Casas in 1932.
It was made known nationally in 1935 in the exhibition organized by the Ministry of Public Education called "Así es Chiapas."
In January, during the celebration of the big festival, the Parachicos are accompanied by the women of Chiapas during their tours of the streets.
Together they perform the “chamarreo”, a dance in which the parachicos court the women of Chiapas with gentle movements made with their serape.
The Chiapas costume, of Spanish influence, is delicately made and embroidered by the artisans of the region and represents the typical regional costume of Chiapas.
It is accompanied by a hand-painted handmade gourd worn by women during the dance, representing the state's artisanal and natural wealth.
5- The bull
This dance of pagan religious origin is performed in Chiapa de Corzo during the month of January. With this dance of honor to San Sebastián. The dance represents the African bullfighting festival.
During their performance the pairs are made up of a bull and a parachico, and they imitate bullfighting to the beat of 6 specific sounds:
- The sound of arrival.
- Reverence to fight.
- They are from the parachico.
- Zapateado del torito.
- They are from María Angulo.
- They are from the retreat.
References
- Chiapanecas Typical Dances. (2015, July 28). In: mexicatours.wordpress.com
- Carnivals of San Juan Chamula and Huistán: Chiapas. (sf). Retrieved on November 14, 2017 from: pueblosmexico.com.mx
- Chiapas. (July 2007). In: artesmexico.org
- Dance of the Parachicos. (sf). Retrieved on November 14, 2017 from: danzasmexicanas.com
- López, S. (January 9, 2013). The Parachicos and the Chiapanecas. In: todochiapas.mx