A Mexican Dance

This colorful dance reflects on themes of aging and hospitality and broadens our appreciation of the spirituality of other cultures.

The Mexican people have always had a deep respect for old persons. This is not a dance laughing at the elderly, but a dance laughing with them as they express their joy in a long life. They know God's promise: "Even to your old age I am the same, even when your hair is gray I will bear you" (Isa. 46:4). The dance of little old men could be used to inspire intergenerational discussions by raising key questions and ideas: What perspectives can age bring? How can these lead one to dance in the face of that which might have brought one to a paralyzing fear earlier in life? Age brings insight: the elderly Simeon and Anna had the ability to recognize a baby in the temple as the Christ while others did not (Luke 2:29–38). How can one keep doing the inner dance as the body begins to stiffen? What types of social dances have been done by different generations? How have these been parts of their lives offered to the Christ? In the end, we have no wealth, but only the dance of life to bring before God. The dancers wear white shirts and pants, with colorful bandannas around their necks. Usually they have flat brimmed sombreros of straw with colorful ribbon and fringe on them, though sometimes dancers wear no hats, but thick white wigs made of straw. Wrinkled benevolent masks and canes upon which the dancers lean give the dance its particular charm and humorous flavor. The dancers hobble and do the whole dance bent over, leaning on their canes. They mime gestures of holding their aching backs, expressing weariness, and almost tripping, yet they continue to delight in the dancing. The leader of the dance taps his cane on the floor, and the others echo the taps. They stomp in different rhythmic patterns, jump as they would in a game of hopscotch, land with feet and knees apart, and shake as they try to steady themselves. In Mexican villages, this folk dance is often continued for hours: perhaps an allusion to the endurance that old age demands! Patterns of movements may be worked out by the dance group. The dance should evoke both empathy and delight. A Zapateado (a Mexican dance with rhythmic foot work) melody could be used. While a congregation can share in these movements as spectators, the themes of hospitality and of aging can touch people even more deeply if they are invited to participate in the dance in some way. People could be invited to try some of the movements or to discuss how the themes touch their lives. These folk dances do not require professional skill. Through dances we can come into contact with the spiritualities of people of diverse cultures which can enrich the imaginations and the prayer of our communities. Mexican and Native American dances reveal a sensitivity to the earth, to the life cycle, and to all of creation. These dances can provide incarnational ways to experience Christian seasons and sacraments profoundly.