CultureChiapas Regional DancesTuxtla Gutiérrez

One of Mexico’s richest states in ancestral traditions is Chiapas. Many indigenous peoples still preserve the way of life in the old style: dress, food, dance, music, customs and, of course, language. Traditional clothing is colorful, bright and elegant. As the state capital, in Tuxtla you can witness all the variety of costumes that are used throughout the territory. One example is the dress, a wide skirt that is full of flowers of different colors embroidered with silk threads.

The traditional dances that can be seen during local festivals are: El Rescapetate, El Torito, The Chapanecas, The Dance of Carnival, Tongoetzé, The Sleeping Child, El Piri, La Tuxtlequita, El Cachito, El Nicté, El Aclaraban, Yomoetzé, La Marucha, the Dance of the Parachicos, and many others in the popular celebrations.

It is said that the dances of Chiapas can be divided into three groups: those of pre-Hispanic origin, those of the Meztizas, and those that are of the colonial era.

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