ORIGINS OF THE DANCE OF Tecuanes

By Oscar Cortes Palma

(Excerpt from the book DANCE Tecuanes)
Based on these nine points, I conclude that:
1.-The dance of the Coatetelco type Tecuanes, with most of the elements as we know it today emerged between the years of 1840-1880.
2.-The dance of the Tecuanes massively distributed in the region of 1850-1950.

3.-The Dance Cowboys states of Morelos and Guerrero, are adapted Tecuan dance, and dance jeans arose between the years of 1840 to 1880. And danced in many villages where also dancing the dance of Tecuanes.
4.-The dance of the Tecuanes Coatetelco type, was probably spread by tents theaters and circuses, those who came forward in many places between 1850 and 1910. Many residents of these communities liked and began to copy and use in their employer fairs. Subsequently shared the dance Tecuanes in employer fairs other villages dispersing.
5.-A late nineteenth century with the arrival of the railroad, the dance of the Tecuanes experienced a great dispersion.


6.- Both Tecuanes Coatetelco dance dance guy like jeans were promoted or at least were not prohibited by ranchers. Since this dance dramatized make them "look good" since in both a character that represents the rich Squire, who paid very well to hunt Tecuan or Jaguar in the dance of the Tecuanes or to goad the bull in the dance of the participating jeans.

7. Dance Tecuan-type Coatetelco is obviously a reinvention or adaptation otherwise oldest indigenous dance that could be Tlacololeros dance, the dance of the Tlaminques, or dance Chilolos Juxtlahuaca or other dance primitive extinct. In other words, the dance of the Tecuanes Coatetelco type, has prehispanic elements and also has elements of the landowner era.

So I think that this dance is a "reinvention" of some dance Mesoamerican origin, as well seem to prove the involvement of costumed native animals such as Tecuani (jaguar), deer and turkey buzzard. This is interesting because there are other native dances that use the same characters, eg dance Venado that the Yaqui and Mayo Indians danced; buzzards and dance, danced in Axochiapan and in the state of Guerrero.

Another feature are the names of some of the sounds of dance Tecuan that are related to native animals such as the "Son of the Iguana" is danced imitating the steps of a iguana.Además in dance there is another type Tecuan Coatetelco character, I think is of Mesoamerican origin, "The Laughing" (also called Gervasio, Gervaise or Varañado), and is characterized by issuing guttural cries and mocking and act as a wild crazy. The "Laughing" is a character who carries in one hand holding a long stick, and is much like the characters in a state of Guerrero dance, dance called "Huesquixtles" meaning in Spanish dance "laughing" . Also in dance Tecuan hunters archers, spearmen, herbalists and trappers, weapons not unaware of the Mesoamerican people involved.


Another feature of Tecuanes Coatetelco type is that they are a funny, very funny and cheerful dramatized dance. Although not mention any god or saint, or mention Christian values. The relationship with the Christian religion is given in the dance Tecuan is instrumental in the festivities of the patron saint of the community by showing reverence.

In conclusion dance Tecuan type Coatetelco with the characteristics with which we know it today emerged in the second half of the nineteenth century. This information shows that the traditions of the peoples are not static, are in constant motion and change over the years, for example, within the dance Tecuan can find four types or variants. One of these variants is danced in fourteen villages in the south west of the state of Mexico and even longer is better known as "Dance of wolves", although older people still remember you used to dance called Tecuanis. Something similar happened about 150 years ago when the dance Tecuanes currently dancing emerged.

With this information but I find about the origin of the dance Coatetelco type Tecuan me more questions arise due to the existence of at least eight dances similar in the same region which are: 1.Danza of tlacololeros, 2.Danza the tlaminques, 3.Danza of Tejorones, 4.Danza of Chilolos Juxtlahuaca, 5.Danza Tiger Cuitzeo, 6.Danza of maizos, 7.Danza of wolves, 8.Danza Tecuan type of Acatlán de Osorio, 9. Multiple local variants Dance Tecuan and 10. Dances hunt Jaguar unclassified. All these dances are further evidence of the creativity of the indigenous people and the traditionalists Mexicans.

© Text: Oscar Cortes Palma
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