THE 8 MOST POPULAR DANCES AND TYPICAL DANCES OF VERACRUZ - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The typical dances and dances of Veracruz are based on the jarocha music, which was developed during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. It is the one that best represents the Veracruz population, being typical of the southern half of the state.

After trying to eradicate the typical dances of the region without success, the Spanish tried to adapt the customs of the indigenous people to Christianity and their own culture. The result is the typical dances of the region that exist today.

The music of the Veracruz region is based on a mixture of Spanish music with rhythms from Africa and the Caribbean.

The dances, also called sones and jarabes, are composed of zapateados movements and characteristics of flamenco.

Most of the typical dances of Veracruz are characterized by their fast rhythms and the emphasis on the movement of the feet.

They are usually danced with the traditional costume of the region, and the music that accompanies them is played by typical instruments such as harps, guitars, flutes and drums.

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

Typical dances of Veracruz

Bamba

As a traditional dance, «La bamba» is inscribed within the context of the so-called couple dances; normally a man and a woman dance, although in some communities two or more couples dance.

Witch

The witch's dance is originally from Veracruz, being one of the most representative of the region, because it is part of the traditional jarocho. It is about a woman who is very uninhibited and attracts men with her charms, although the lyrics of the song do not say so verbatim.

Brunette

The brunette is generally danced by a woman or two, although there are exceptions and can be danced by more.

Dance of the guaguas

This dance is typical of the Totonac people, natives of the Gulf of Mexico. It is characterized mainly by the use of a large wooden cross that rotates vertically.

This cross is usually placed in the squares of the cities or in the courts of the churches, and symbolizes the creation of life.

The dance of the guaguas is performed by seven dancers dressed in bright colors who begin to dance under the cross.

After a few first steps taken as a group, four of them step forward to get on the cross, which they drive themselves.

The cross begins to spin faster and faster with the four dancers on top, giving rise to a multicolored spectacle of movement. The dance is accompanied by the music of flutes and drums typical of the region.

Dance of lers

The dance of liers is a typical dance of Veracruz, usually presented at the festivities of San Juan Bautista and Santiago Apóstol.

It belongs to a group of Mexican dances whose main character is the tiger, an animal with great importance in the region.

The dancers are dressed in different colored robes that they use to imitate the animal's skin.

Two groups of dancers disguised as tigers face off in a simulated combat, with no music other than the sounds that the dancers emit.

Dance of the negritos

The dance of the negritos is one of the most popular in the entire state of Veracruz. It is based on a tradition from the early colonial times and represents a day's work in one of the sugarcane plantations in the region.

The typical clothing is a black mask, as well as brightly colored clothing for those who act as workers, and a military suit for those who act as lords of the plantation.

The traditional instruments used are the flute, the drum, and sometimes the violin.

Dance of the quetzals

This typical dance of the Puebla and Veracruz regions is danced in honor of the Quetzal, a sacred animal in Mayan mythology whose feathers were used to represent the Sun.

The steps of this dance are fast and complex, since it has movements that require great precision on the part of the dancers.

The dance begins with the dancers executing the cross steps to symbolize the cardinal points. They then move into a circle formation to represent the passage of time.

Cowboys dance

This dance is characterized by representing the capture of a bull made of cardboard, leather or cloth. One of the dancers carries the bull, while another plays the role of hunter or foreman. The rest of the dancers dance around them and tap their spurs. This dance goes to the rhythm of said zapateado. Some of the typical instruments of the cowboy dance are the violin and the guitar.

References

1. "Popular dances of Veracruz" in: Scribd. Retrieved on November 15, 2017, from Scribd: es.scribd.com
2. "Son Jarocho" in: Wikipedia. Retrieved on November 15, 2017, from Wikipedia: es.wikipedia.com
3. «Regional Dances» in: Escamilla Entertainment. Retrieved on November 15, 2017, from Escamilla Entertainment: escamillaentertainment.com
4. "Veracruz: Costumes, music and dances" in: Raíces de México. Retrieved on November 15, 2017, from Raíces de México: raicesdemx.wordpress.com
5. "Jarocho" in: Wikipedia. Retrieved on November 15, 2017, from Wikipedia: es.wikipedia.com