Mexican folklore has evolved three different dance forms that date back as early as the time of the Spanish Conquistadors and before. These traditional dance forms are called Danza, Mestizo, and Bailes Regionales or Regional Dances. Danza is the purest of traditional dance forms with very little outside influence. Mestizo maintains a great deal of the original tradition but oftentimes this religiously inspired dance has some outside influence.
La Picota is performed in a manner that is intended to raise and invoke spirits for joyous celebrations. This tradition is often performed at weddings and celebrates the arrival of a bride and groom. The Mestizo category defines the Tamaulipas dance as an historically significant regional dance that is indigenous to the region but has some European influences. These are found in both the performance and instrumental accompaniment of the dance.
Tamaulipas dance is accompanied by traditional drums and clarinet. The traditional drum is called the tambora. The clarinet suggests European influence, which is why La Picota is categorized as a Mestizo dance tradition. The movements of the dance, which are rhythmic and involve swirling, jumping, and leaps, are reminiscent of Scottish folk dancing.
With 19th century European influences, the traditional performance of La Picota takes place at weddings. As the bride and groom arrive for the wedding ceremony, dancers will entertain the audience that has gathered to greet them. Prior to the Spanish influences, the dance was performed by the Mayas for all joyous celebrations.
The Tamaulipas dance dates back to the Mayans, who settled the Yucatan Peninsula in 2000 B.C. While this dance can be traced back to as early as 1519 when Spanish Conquistadors entered their first city, the style reaches back to the earliest settlements of the Mayans.