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

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Guelaguetza 2012 in Los Reyes Etla

The guelaguetzas in the outlying villages surrounding the city are much more intimate and well, fun, because one can see everything up close and personal.  So we were off to nearby Los Reyes Etla for a morning fiesta.  I have written about the church in Los Reyes many times.  It is in such a beautiful setting with the church overlooking a wide and lush valley.
Oh, an supposedly it was the church in Nacho Libre, the Jack Black film.  No Jack today.  I think we were the only gringos there.
All the guelaguetzas follow pretty much the same format with dancers from the various regions marching in, performing and then throwing gifts typical of their area, out to the crowd as a finish.
The souvenirs include handcrafts and fruit.
Yes, they throw pineapples and mangos out in to the crowd so one has to be aware and on one's toes with arms outstretched.
Los Reyes has a wonderful round dance floor set amongst the stone outcropping.  If one takes a 360 view, you can see mountains surrounding the entire scene.  It has a cosmic feel.  Unfortunately, prudence says to cover the whole thing with a huge tent canopy making it tough to get good shots.  Plus, the hardest thing about shooting dancers in action is they just keep moving, darn it.  What's with that?
Gotta dance.
We arrived with the ladies from Pinotepa and followed the band in.
 Banda Oro Blanco from Los Reyes Etla
 Three princesas.
 Try dancing with a heavy canasta on your head.... in heels, no less. Ay!
One of the nicest things about the smaller guelaguetzas is that some of the dancers are quite young.  This girl looks about ten or twelve at the most.
No, she is not dancing with a piña for a partner.  This is her guy.
Chris, you silly boy.  You can't get it all in one post.  You haven't even mentioned the feria de queso which was right next to the dancing.   Stop... at least for now.  You are cracking me up. 

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