Our repertoire includes:

PRE-HISPANIC DANZAS, and
DANZAS de CONCHEROS (Conchero Dances)

The interest and desire to preserve the ancient people’s culture, increased after Mexico gained it’s independence from Spain, in 1810. Yet music and dance have been present, and a strong pillar of sort, within the ancient civilizations of Mexico. Both, music and dance were considered traditional disciplines, privileged to a very few, such as High Priests and (or) members of the noble, high ranking hierarchies.

Thus, music and dance have been a driving force in Mexican culture and traditions, preserved through generations even today. Ancient Codex writings, drawings, wall engravings and paintings, opened the path, to recreate the popular ‘Danzas de Concheros’ and the ‘Pre-Hispanic Danzas,’ that we know of today.

That rich history, profound essence, devotion and passion of the past is present today, in hundreds of indigenous ‘danzas’ (ritualistic dances) traditionally preserved by the people’s of each region, and (or) state. These dances, diverse and unique from state to state, are the window to a peoples’ soul, they’re a vivid expression and heart of a culture.

GUERRERO

During the California Gold Rush, adventurers from all over the world traveled great distances to take their changes at "striking it rich". They braved the currents and winds of the Pacific coastlines to arrive at their dreamed of destination, California.

Acapulco Harbor in Guerrero was one of the few shelters where travelers could find fresh water and supplies. They also found rich land, natural resources and a semi-tropical climate. Some Chileans were so impressed by the natural wealth of Guerrero that they settled and began a new life. They taught their music and dance to the natives of the region who blended these with their folklore creating a marriage of traditions of two separate cultures.

JALISCO

Jalisco represents the essence of Mexican culture and music. It is a region that has rich blend of Indian, Spanish, German and French cultures. Its people, the Tapatios, express their spirit and vitality through their energetic and colorful dances. Mariachi music and its exuberant life-style were popularized as the motion picture industry began to portray in films, the romantic world of Mexico’s ranchero life.

Jalisco has indeed become synonymous with Mexico and the Fiesta.

MICHOACÁN

The region of Michoacán is rich in dramatizations of pagan and religious beliefs. Ancient languages and ancient rituals are blended with present-day religious ceremonies. Death is worshiped because of a belief that the souls of the dead come back to the living. Yet, the forces of evil, such as the devil and death, are often represented in a comical way.

NAYARIT

The Jarabe Nayarita is a contest between the participants. The men compete with each other to see who has the greatest ability to maneuver the razor sharp machetes. They execute complicated steps using the machetes in a manner reminiscent of harvesting. The women’s graceful skirt movements complement the rapid pace of the men. This dance is a modern choreography derived from the folklore of Nayarit; a region best known for the bead and yarn crafts of the Huichol Indians.

VERACRUZ HUASTECO

VERACRUZ JAROCHO

The exuberant music and dance of the Jarochos, the people of Veracruz, can be joyous, sad or seductive. The musicians and dancers derive spirit and energy from each other. In addition, the dancers exchange intricate and rhythmic zapateados with the equally rapid beats and strums of the musicians’ arpa, requinto and jarana.

VERACRUZ DANZAS

YUCATAN

This state has one of the most interesting ethnic fusions of the 17th and 18th centuries.  The strong Spanish music of the Jostas, sarabandans and zapateados from the different regions of Spain were the main roots of this fusion.  As a result, Spain's own regional diversity was brought into the already existing indigenous mix.

Typical of this region are the vaquerias, a name derived from the branding of the cattle.  In this celebration the popular rhythms of the jaranas and sones de jaleo are performed.  These rhythms of Yucatan have their roots in the Andalucian jotas and jarabes, but the fusion of these indigenous and Spanish cultures make the Jaranas unique and this fusion is visible in the way the dancers hold their hands up making sound with their fingers imitating the sound of castanets, yet some of their movements retain the influence of their pre-hispanic roots.

CHIAPAS

This state is a land of tropical jungles and is located in the extreme southeast of the Mexican Republic.  Chiapas was founded in the early 1800s.  Its name is the plural of the word Chipa, which is a Nahuatl word meaning "water running under the hill". 

Dance is the main manifestation of life in this region and the marimba is almost always played as a musical accompaniment.  The origin of the marimba is lost in time, although one theory dates back to 1545, where historical accounts claim the discovery of some indigenous people who owned a musical instrument which they called "yolotli", a Nahuatl word meaning "corazon de cielo" (heart of heaven).

The fusion of these cultures gives birth to danzas autoctonas y mestizas (native dances of these region), bringing out the artistic sensitivity and religious fervor expressed by the rich cultural spirituality of these people.  Their costumes are inspired by tropical flowers and reflect the golden sands of the coast and the majesty of the wooded mountains.   "El Panuelo Rolo" (red handkerchief), of mestizo origin, goes back to the last century when a company of a Zarzuela (similar to an operatta) from Spain, had in its repertoire a piece with the same name.  "Panuelo Rojo"' and the mestizo began to imitate the dance, thus giving birth to this fusion of indigenous with the courtly dances of those days.

CHIHUAHUA

The word "Chihuahua" is a Nahuatl word meaning dried land.  The state borders the U.S. states of Texas and New Mexico.  Although the land has existed for hundreds of years, it has a short history of folkloric traditions that are still finding a place in history.  This folklore has a strong influence from the lands of the polkas - Poland, Bavaria, Austria, and Germany.  In fact, large communities of German settlers arrived to that northern region in the late 1800s, bringing with them a legacy of polkas and waltzes.  The Mexican people added their own flavor to these main rhythms of polkas, shotizes, and redova.  Today, the influence of these high energy dances is seen in popular border norteño music and country western dancing.