The guelaguetza in nearby Reyes Etla is one of my favorites. It is always such a happy and intimate affair. Sure, the main guelaguetza in the city is the big time, but more and more, villages are presenting their own versions of this wonderful pageant of traditional Oaxaca. I go to Reyes pretty regularly because the setting is so beautiful. There is a circular dance floor and the views are spectacular. And the church is famous for being in "Nacho Libre," which was a point of distinction raised by a very able and entertaining emcee.
I arrived right on time, meaning I was a minute late and got caught behind the procession of dignitaries and the diosa de maiz, the corn goddess and her princesses. I did a quick bypass and caught their arrival.
La diosa.
As I said, these are intimate affairs with no more than 500 to 750 people in the audience. Everyone has a decent view of the dancers and a really good chance of catching the regional favors the dancers toss into the audience after each dance.
The dancers are from a grupo folklorico, a troupe that dances most of the dances with a couple of other groups that dance specific dances, like the danza de las plumas. I am pretty sure these danzantes came from Zaachila.
They all work mighty hard and just keep on dancin'.
Costume changes are done very quickly and smoothly. Trajes de Tehuantepec.
It doesn't get any better than this. Valle centrals in action.
Lots of great audience participation and interaction.
Trajes, traditional outfits, from la Cañada region.
The look of concentration just before going on stage.
Always ready for a photo
And in action...
Chris,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great photo's and comments, they help put the photo's in perspective. LIving the Guelaguetza through your site helps when we are not actually there. Next year.
Steve y Bev
That is one colorful, uplifting, even I'd say kinda therapeutic post.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU, GRACIAS, SPASIBO, MERCI BEAUCOUP!!!
Those little, cute, so serious and so very beautiful girls getting ready for their big moment on the stage.... so endearing.
The ladies and gentlemen dancing in white costumes look to me like a Mexican version of "Swan Lake": same precision in movements, and very hard working yet making it look very airy and flowy, and effortless.
And then the flowing skirts, the shape, the color, the textile...doesn't get better than this.