THE 5 MOST POPULAR HIDALGO DANCES AND TYPICAL DANCES - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

Among the main dances and typical dances of Hidalgo are the dance of the arches, the dance of the concheros, the dance of the Acatlaxquis, the dance of the disguised and the indigenous Texoloc women's dance.

The flower dance, which is danced in Tenango de Doria, is also part of the dance traditions of the state of Hidalgo; and the dance of the Huehuentines, in Calnali.

Hidalgo includes in its vast repertoire dances from neighboring states, such as the dance of the Quetzales and the dances of Santiagos, Moros, Negritos, Matachines and Acatlaxquis.

In these dances ancient rites, traditions and beliefs of the first settlers are represented.

You may also be interested in the history of Hidalgo or its customs and traditions.

The 5 most outstanding dances of Hidalgo

1- Dance of the Acatlaxquis

It is a ritual dance linked to the agricultural cycle. The dancers make an arch with reeds in the shape of a dome.

Through this dome divine favors are requested, such as the fertility of the land and the abundance of the harvest of corn and other agricultural products.

The dance group is made up of five or seven pairs of men who dance in the zapateado style together with the «maringuía», a woman or child in an indigenous dress carried on an anda or throne.

Sometimes the maringuía wears a bandana, with a gourd in its left hand and a reed snake in the right.

2- Dance of the cabbages or disguised

This dance is performed at the Xantolo festival (all saints).

The dancers wear old clothes and cover their faces with cloth masks, so that death does not recognize them and take them away.

Only men participate in this dance, some of whom are dressed as women.

It is a dance that is executed with side stomping at the end of three times, making lines, crosses and circles.

The music that accompanies the dance is performed with guitar and violin, and sometimes with revelry.

3- Dance of the arches

This ancestral dance is danced in Acaxochitlán in homage to San Bartolomé and the Virgen del Carmen, patron saint of the sea. It was brought to Mexico by the Spanish.

It is also danced by men in odd numbers, dressed in white, wearing colored ornaments on the left shoulder.

These men also wear a colored cross band on the chest, running from right to left, and a floral scarf at the waist.

In front of the group is a guide who marks the steps, dressed in a distinctive Manila shawl.

4- Dance of the shells

This dance is typical of the Cuenca de México. The concheros perform this ritual dance that is part of indigenous-Christian syncretism, and is closely linked to religious celebrations.

This dance is also known as dance of tradition, Aztec or Mexica dance and dance of the conquest.

It is danced on the festivities of Sacromonte, Santa Cruz, Santiago Apostol and the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Apparently the word conchero comes from the name of a musical instrument similar to the mandolin, which is made with a shell or shell of an armadillo.

The clothing used for this ritual dance is very brilliant. It consists of a plume of pheasant, rooster or peacock feathers.

They also wear a skirt, accompanied by wristbands, knee pads and a pectoral. The dancers wear a headband.

5- Texoloc indigenous female dance

It is danced during the festivities in honor of the Virgin of Concepción, patron saint of Texoloc in Xochiatipan, on December 7 and 8 of each year.

It is a traditional Hidalgo dance performed only by women and is accompanied by songs in the Nahuatl language.

References

1. Culture of Hidalgo. Retrieved October 31, 2017 from explorandomexico.com.mx
2. The Traditional Dance. Consulted of hidalgo.gob.mx
3. Hidalgo Center Culture. Consulted of culturacentro.gob.mx
4. Hidalgo (State). Consulted of en.wikipedia.org
5. The Huasteca from Hidalgo. Consulted of huastecahidalguense.wikispaces.com
6. Dance of Acatlaxquis. Consulted of danzaytradiciondemexico.blogspot.com
7. Hidalgo State. Consulted of wikivisually.com