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Rituals
From an intimate celebration to a public scene
There are four dancers, as there are four seasons, four cardinal points, four walls build a home, four are the extremities of a body, four elements of the world, and four are the main colors that give us the rest of the colors.
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The dance is meant to honor the sun god, which is believed to be the oldest god. Originally one of the dancers had a mask resembling a younger person, to represent youngness.
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Originally the dance was only performed by the elder shamans in the community. It is believed that they carry the most knowledge because of their age and their status in the community.
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During the times that Indigenous practices became illegal, many elders taught the younger generations how to dance in private and unknowingly to the government. Their hope was that they could pass on their traditions to younger generations and that they would do the same.
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Below is a video shown to get a visual understanding.
The men will dress in white manta (a type of fabric) adorned with cross-stick embroidery, a colorful sarape, a mask resembling an old man, huaraches, and a hat covered with colored silk ribbons. The often hold a cane as they dance.
La danza de los viejitos is danced to typical tarascan music known as Pirekua. The songs can be interpreted by either sex. The singing themes can be nature, culture, history, ideas, or political situations.
The instruments used are the violin, arp and the double bass. These songs are also sung in P’urépecha language. Although they sometimes do not have any lyrics.
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Below is a video of two womxn singing Eratereni Sani.
Rituals: Services
Rituals: Video
Rituals: Video
Importance
I was born in Patzcuaro, Michoacan. I grew up seeing La Danza de los Viejitos from a young age. Often at the plaza while my family and I enjoyed the typical and well known ice cream. I always saw how tourists engaged with the dancers, taking pictures, dancing alongside them, but I never questioned the beginnings of the dance. I never understood the flow and shift of this important dance to the indigenous peoples whose land I resided in.
I hope that through this project not only will you experience P'urépecha culture, but also have a sense of the historical placement and its relation to globalization of La Danza de los Viejitos.
Rituals: Testimonials
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