THE 5 MOST POPULAR TYPICAL DANCES AND DANCES OF TABASCO - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The typical dances and dances of Tabasco have their origin about 3,500 years ago, with the customs of the first inhabitants of the territory: the Olmecs and the Mayans. In Tabasco the traditions of these tribes are still in force.

During the conquest, the Catholic missionaries included Christian references in the songs of the Chontales, in an attempt to facilitate their conversion. However, some of the dances could be preserved in their original form.

Representation of the dance of the sardine fishing

These Caribbean son dances are performed to the rhythm of ensembles of flutes and drums played by drummers.

Although current rhythms are unlikely to maintain the original sound from thousands of years ago, they are still a valid representation of Aboriginal culture.

You may also be interested in the traditions and customs of Tabasco.

The 5 main typical dances of Tabasco

1- Dance of the old baila

This dance is ancient and revered. The natives used it to give thanks to their gods and ask for the peace of their dead.

The dance of the old baila was modified by the missionaries so that it became a tribute to the Catholic saints.

In ancient times the dancers had to be young virgin men, and it was performed at the beginning of the planting season.

It is a reverential dance, not a celebration. While dancing there is absolute silence, except for the music.

The ritual begins when the 2 or 4 dancers are located in front of the altars of the saints. They dress in wooden masks that resemble the features of old men with long hair. They carry a fan in their left hand and a rattle in their right.

The dancers turn to the sound of the pieces, while they sound the rattle and fan towards the saint as they pass in front of him.

There are several sounds that make up the music of this dance. It is these sounds that indicate the stage of the ritual in which they are. Originally it was danced throughout the night.

2- Dance of the horse and the giant

This is one of the dances that suffered the most changes due to the evangelization attempts of the Spanish missionaries.

Currently there are hardly any traces of the original dance. More than a ritualistic dance, it is theatrical, and it is performed in homage to the Apostle Santiago.

The person in charge of playing Santiago is assembling a doll that pretends to be a white horse, and is accompanied by the rest of the dancers.

Together they collect the offerings prepared by the neighbors in advance and take them to the church, leaving them at the entrance.

The ritual ends with the delivery of the offerings to the altar of the Virgin of La Asunción, while Santiago and the dancers go around the temple.

3- Dance of the whites

The natives danced this dance as a ritual of gratitude to their gods, as well as a request for abundant harvests for the season. The Indians dressed up as jaguars by painting themselves white with black spots.

Costume of the white dance

During the colonization the dance was adopted by a black man named José Pérez. This slave gave it a new meaning, turning it into a form of symbolic revenge against the white colonizers.

José Pérez's version is the version that is still preserved.

4- Dance of the sardine fishing

In ancient tradition, this is a ritual that is done just before fishing to bless the fruits.

It takes place in Villa Luz, in the Cueva de Azufre, where sardines are abundant. During Christianization it was modified to be celebrated during Lent.

For its realization the fishermen are guided by an "old man" or "butler" to the entrance of the cave.

Upon reaching this they are organized in a circle, with the guide in the center. Kneeling on his knees, the old man performs a prayer in which he asks the old man in the cave for an abundant catch. The dance starts right after the prayer.

During the dance, flowers and offerings are thrown into the cave. Among the offerings a preparation is thrown that serves as bait.

This preparation lulls the fish and in this way fishing is easier. The resulting catch is eaten with stews prepared to honor and thank the givers of the blessing of the food.

5- Dance of David and Goliath

This is another of the dances whose ritualistic origins have almost completely vanished due to Christianization.

The missionaries turned a dance dedicated as an offering to the gods into a three-act play that tells the biblical story of the confrontation between David and Goliath.

Costume of the dance of David and Goliath

It is a theatrical representation that includes dialogues between the main characters. It is basically in a spoken battle in which both argue for the superiority of their motives.

References

1. The States of Mexico: A Reference Guide to History and Culture. Standish, P. (2009)
2. Tabasco traditional dances. (2010) raicestabasco.blogspot.com
3. Tabasco; The Mexican Garden of Eden. (2007) mexicandancecompany.org
4. Tabasco. (2017) culturadetabasco936.blogspot.com
5. Indigenous peoples of Mexico and water: Yokotanes de Tabasco. Martínez Ruíz, JL