The here and now... and what and why

Complacency is a trap. At least that’s what I was thinking when I up and left the comfort of a Yankee prep school gig, where I taught music, amongst other things, for 28 years. There was also that life long career as a composer, musician and artist.

First, it was a year in St. Thomas, USVI, working as a reporter and shooting photography and then, a year in San Agustin Etla, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Time passed.
More time passed and a year back in the Athens of America followed by a hasty return to Oaxaca where it is all happening.
A couple of years in San Sebastian Etla and now, just down the road in San Pablo Etla. Life is good.

Click on an image to see it larger.
For additional photography please visit my flickr page.
You can find my music on Jango (World & latin - Worldbeat) and at iTunes and most online stores.
¡Soy consciente de todas las tradiciones del Internet!
If you are coming to Oaxaca, please contact me for tours or advice.

Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo
The view from Corazon del Pueblo

The hereafter re me

My photo
Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico
Musician, photographer, videographer, reporter, ex-officio teacher, now attempting to be a world traveler

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Keep on dancin' - Teotitlan del Valle

Yesterday was the second day of the week long celebration and even though the sun was nowhere to be seen, it was still a glorious day filled with traditions and vibrancy.  Just look at those colors.
 
We arrived for the beginning of the Danza de las Plumas, which is a long presentation, some eight hours with over forty separate parts.
Moctezuma, Jose Isaac Vasquez de Los Angeles, fighting the wind.
 
Of course, as always, the stars of the show are Doña Marina and Malinche,  Ailani Ruiz Ruiz and Juana Lizabeth Contreras Vincente, respectively.
The highlight for me, while we were there, was their dancing of La Zandunga.  Beautiful.
Actually, the light was very nice for video so I will try to post something later.  But for now, yet again, out the door for more!

2 comments:

Nightreading said...

I wonder at what age do they start teaching kids those dances...

Such glorious colors in all dancers, but those little girls stole the show (at least for me...)

Christopher Stowens said...

They start very early. I have seen three and four year olds dance the steps. The same with developing the strength to carry the canastas (baskets) or wear the pinachos (headdresses).