The Mexican Hat Dance (Jarabe Tapatío)

The Mexican Hat Dance ( Jarabe Tapatío ). Crystal Perez.

Why I chose it…. I am intrigued by its origin story. I am interested in learning more about why it's still being danced today and why it was created. As a Mexican American woman, I am very proud of my roots and heritage. Our high school graduation ceremony included dance performances from every culture in our grade. It occurred to me that I had no idea what the dance was or what it meant..

Introduction. The Jarabe Tapatío dance is a Mexican folk dance that recalls the sense of national identity The dance showcase the tradition and dance culture of Mexico The Spanish name given to the dance means dance of the Mexican origin The uniqueness of the dance is derived from the use of nine figures and melodies..

Jarabe Tapatío dance. The word Jarabe means herb mixture while Tapatío is one of the cities in Guadalajara Jarabe Tapatío is the national dance of Mexico often referred to as the Mexican hat dance internationally The dance was considered challenging to the Spanish rule There are other varieties of the Jarabe Tapatío dance that exist including jarabe de Jalisco, jarabe de atole, jarebe Moreliano, and the Tapatío version the Tapatío version is the most popular variety compared to the other variety.

Origin of the Dance. The dance has been in existence since the 18 th centaury The dance was originally performed by female couples to avoid church disapproval The dance was performed in theaters from 1790 The dance was burned by the colonials shortly after the public performance in the Coliseo Theater. The popularity of the dance spread more in 1821, during the independence.

Cont.. The dance was associate with Guadalajara which made the dace gin national status thus becoming popular all over Mexico Professor Jesus Gonzalez Rubio composed a melody which accompany the dance. The music made Jarabe Tapatío dance earn the symbol of national unity The popularity of the dance grew more when the Russian dancer Anna Palova added it to her repertoire in 1919.

Geographical Location. The dance originated from Guadalajara and became popular in Mexico and outside Mexico The dance was originally performed as a courtship dance in Jalisco Most of its elements can be traced back to Spanish Zambra and Jabber Gitano. The dance was therefore performed in Mexico, Guadalajara, and Jalisco state The charm and lightness of the dance, have captured the hearts of the most beloved craft in Mexico and around the world..

Who Created the Dance. Jarabe Tapatío dance, was first organized by Mexico's Felipa Lopez in the mid-20th century to celebrate a government-supported feast that celebrated the effective end of the Mexican Revolution. The music that accompanies the dance was originally created by Jesus Gonzalez Rubio in 1924. The melody builds its rhythm as the dance tools and grooves intensify The Jarabe Tapatío dance is a masterpiece of Mexican society that reconsiders the sense of.

Cont.. Jarabe Tapatío dance was further popularized by Anna Pavlova Anna Pavlova featured the arrangement in pointe shoes and being showered with hats by a loving Mexican audience. In 1924 Secretary of Education Jose Vasconcelos declared the Jarabe Tapatío a Mexican public dance Also, it was announced that it would be taught throughout the Mexican-funded education system as an image of Mexico. The dance was met to replace other dances.

The Dance’s Story. The story behind the dance is of a romantic courtship The woman rejects the man’s advances, warms up to him and tease him then run from his advances again The man puts down his sombrero towards the end of the dance and the two starts dancing around it The woman will pick the sombrero and the man kicks above her head The dance continues for a short while with the woman holding the sombrero. The dance ends as the two hide their face with the sombrero.

Significance of the Dance. The dance recalls the sense of national identity Also, the dance post the revolutionary efforts in Mexico Tradition and culture is celebrated through the dance. The performers of the dance use it to express themselves through the beauty of the art of dance. The beauty of the costumes and props used in the dance is a source entertainment to Mexicans and the world..

Place of Performance. The dance does not require much space during the performance. It can be performed inside or outside depending on the number of performers Also, Jarabe Tapatío can be performed at home as a means of passing time or entertainment f Jarabe Tapatío is a romantic dance that is performed by couples It is mostly used to tease the other partner, therefore it cannot be performed in church or temple.

Participants of the Dance. Jarabe Tapatío can be performed by anybody either man, and a woman The performance states with the woman rejecting man’s advances and later accept them The dance represents both men and women in Mexico.

Costumes. The costumes of the Jarabe Tapatío dance has become national and international recognition symbols of Mexican heritage the man and the women were in different costumes Costumes used in the dance were used 100 years apart China poblana was a female servant’s outfit in the 1800s The suit decorated with silver lining became known using the emergence of the Mariachi in the 1900s.

Male costumes. Men’s costume includes black suit with metallic embroidery called charro The pant legs are lined with silver buttons The bottoms highlight the kicks and moves made by the nab while dancing A white shirt which is accented with a bright-colored neckerchief is worn under the jacket The boots and the hat must coordinate with the color of the suit. A belt with an intricately woven design makes the outfit complete.

Female costumes. The women’s costumes include a wide colorfully decorated skirt and blouse outfit The design of the costume is called china poblana. The origin of the name and style of the skirt inspired legends like the beautiful princes from India called Mirra Mirra was kidnapped and sold in Mexico as a slave Her dressing impressed the women in Mexico who began to copy and adapt Mirra style of dressing.

Cont. female costumes. The dress was made by aristocratic ladies who purchased castor from a ship from china The castor was used to make dresses for female servants and called the dress Chinita The decoration of the fabric was as a results of the effort women used to ensure that the dressed reached the floor..

Significance of the costumes. The dress worn signifies Mexican men and women The costume worn by men signifies the cultural way of Mexican men dressing as horsemen All the costumes combined signifies the cultural heritage of Mexico.

Props. String instruments (violin, harp, viola, guitar) Vocals in the original dance Clapping with the rhythm Mexican dancing in artist hats and clothing has become a widespread and world-famous image of Mexican heritage..

Music that can accompany the dance. The music accompanied with the dance was composed by Jesus Gozalez Rubio The instrumental arrangement dates back to 1920 The music is performed by mariachi groups of string ensembles. The music that accompanies the dance can be performed by mariachi groups or various types of string players. Originally created by Jesus Gonzalez Rubio in 1924, the melody builds its rhythm as the dance tools and grooves intensify..

Evolution of the Dance. The movement known as the Jarabe began in the Mexican city of Guadalajara and dates back to the 18th century. Originally performed by two female artists so as not to disturb the Catholic Church, it has become a dance for mixed-race couples. Jarabe was later restricted by Spanish authorities in Mexico, believing it to be unethical. the boycott had the opposite effect, making the dance more famous and part of the disobedience of the Spanish government that controlled Mexico..

Cont.. Jarabe Tapatio’s illegal movement was played out in open spaces and neighborhoods as a form of dissent. After Mexico's fight for Independence, Jarabe would perform at large parties to celebrate Mexico's autonomy. Jarabe Tapatío and its various movements characterize Mexican culture, which continues to be practiced and, surprisingly, taught in schools across Mexico..

Work cited. Wolff, Lesley A. "A Revolution in Movement: Dancers, Painters, and the Image of Modern Mexico, by K. Mitchell Snow." (2022): 152-154. Fuentes, Pamela J. "" White Slavery" and Cabarets: Mexican Artists in Panama in the 1940s." Journal of Women's History 33.4 (2021): 142-167. Montoya, Marisa. "Dancing a Shared History: The Lasting Implications of Spanish Colonization for Contemporary Mexican and Filipino Dance." (2018)..