The Ballet Folklorico, or folk dancing, began before the arrival of the Spanish. Its two main presentations were dedicated to war or religion. The Aztecs were known to dance before battles against other tribes or during rituals.
In the sixteenth century a mestizo historian named Fray Diego Duran wrote admirably about the skill and beauty present in the choreographed folk dances. He detailed the movement and color that the dances displayed.
The Great Tenochtitlan is a ballet that represents the history of the Aztecs. The ballet traces the movement north in search of the great city. The Aztec gods had given specific instructions on how and where to build the great city known as Tenochtitlan. Today this is known as Mexico City. The city was to be built in the site were an eagle was seen eating a serpent. This event is relived through the ballet.
From the region of Jalisco we see in the Ballet Folklorico the great traditions of Mariachi music and the Mexican hat dance called the "jarabe tapatio" In the provocative hat dance we see the tradition and the passion of the Mexican Culture. The mariachi music allows the female partner to move on stage sensually as the male follows in conquest. When the man tosses down his hat, the tapping of the heals signals his victory.
The African influence in the music and dance of Chiapas fills the Ballet Folklorico with mystery and sensuality. The percussion instrument, the marimba sets the pace for the dancers and resonates the joy of the region as its wooden keys are struck by rubber mallets and the dancers move to the melody.
The tropically colored costumes of the dancers add to the cheerful celebration of life in Southern Mexico.
In the region of Veracruz and the city of Tlacopan the Ballet Folklorico presents the satire around the celebration of the Candle mass. On the second day of February there is a special celebration and mass commemorating when Jesus was brought to the temple. During the Ballet the Christ child is taken to the church and is surrounded by large figures with gigantic heads and very tall bodies. The instruments used are mainly acoustical, harps, and violins as memories of the Arabic, German, Dutch, African and many other cultures that influenced the region.
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When you witness the Ballet Folklorico, be it the the Fine Arts Palace in Mexico City, on television, or around the world you will see a traditional summary of Mexico's history. The traditions are conserved and passed on to the next generation capturing the beauty of each region and the attitude of joy and celebration of a real Mexican fiesta.