Conchero dancers in Colonia Doctores, Mexico CityChildren performing Concheros in Mexico
The Concheros dance, also known as the dance of the Chichimecas, Aztecas and Mexicas, is an important traditional dance and ceremony which has been performed in Mexico since early in the colonial period. It presents syncretic features both pre-Hispanic and Christian. The dance has strong visual markers of its pre-Hispanic roots with feathered regalia, indigenous dance steps and indigenous instruments such as drums. However, the name Concheros comes from a type of lute made with an armadillo shell, showing Spanish influence. The dance in its current form was the adaptation of the old "mitote" dance to Catholicism as a means of preserving some aspects of indigenous rite. It remained a purely religious ceremony until the mid 20th century when political and social changes in Mexico also gave it cultural significance as a folk dance. Since the later 20th century, a sub group of the dance called Mexicas has emerged with the aim of eliminating the European influence, often with political aims. This form of the dance migrated to the United States in the mid-1970s and can be seen in states such as California in Mexican American communities.
Although the dance tradition has been known (especially in the U.S.) as "Aztec" or "Mexica," it is not indigenous to them in any way. The roots of the conchero dances (and thus the roots of the modern "Mexica" dances tradition is deeply rooted in the Chichimeca cultures of the north. The Otomi, Jonaz, Chichimeca, Caxcan, and other tribes never conquered by the Mexica, are the true roots of the Danza Conchera. Whereas the Mexi'ca rituals were based on solar concepts and values, the Chichimeca were rooted in selenic and stellar cosmology. Worship and honoring of family and cultural ancestors was a large part of the Chichimeca tradition. That is why today's conchero rituals always start at midnight, and include rituals to call "down" the spirits of the ancestors to bring purity for the following day's battle (dance ritual).
However, factionalism has always existed among Concheros both in the north and in Mexico City. Not all Concheros accept the González lineage as authentic....
mandolinos de concheros or mandolina conchera: with 4 double courses (8 strings), tuned as mandolin (g-d-a-e). vihuelas de concheros or vihuela conchera:...
Mexican–American War in the US Southwest, but other dances, such as the Aztecas or Concheros, dance have migrated north since the 1970s. Mexican folk dance is an uneven...
much discussed. Two concheros begin at 9280±440 BP, whereas Azilian dates come to an end after about 9500 BP. End dates for concheros include 7000 and 6500...
instruments Concheras mandolinos de concheros or mandolina conchera vihuelas de concheros or vihuela conchera guitarras de concheros or guitarra conchera chordophones...
estimated 30,000 foreign residents live along the shores of Lake Chapala. Concheros Coca people "Lago de Chapala". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved...
wood. Traditional dances performed in the state include the Danza de los Concheros, Danza de Moros y Cristianos, Doce Pares de Francia, Morisma and Santiagos...
food and salt. Sample of the presence of these first settlers are the concheros of botutos that abound in the beaches of Los Roques. These sporadic waves...
include the headdresses for dances such as the Quetzales in Puebla and the Concheros performed in various parts of central Mexico. In Oaxaca, there is the...
Perez Venancio. In this day, there are Aztec and "conchero" dances. In an interview to one of the "concheros", he was asked to whom he addressed his worship...
an area known today as Cocula, Jalisco. The ancestral group were the Concheros, who first settled in coves on the Pacific coast of Nayarit, and made...
various festivals throughout the year. Dances: Jarabe tapatío Deer Dance Concheros Voladores Ballet Folkorico Media related to Nahua people at Wikimedia...
livestock. Pre-Hispanic dance in costume, such as “santigueros” and “concheros” are also performed. On major holidays, charreadas are performed. Another...
occasions include Danza de Pastoras, Danza de Santiagueros and Danza de Concheros. The Day of the Dead is the welcoming back of the souls of the ancestors...
malinches, El coconito, Bailes istmeños, Ballet tarahumara, and Danza de los concheros. With the Mexico City Ballet, she choreographed Fuensanta, Obertura republicana...
Some of the more accessible caves have been damaged by people, including Concheros dancers using them for ceremonies. The Passion Play attracts thousands...
Americans, some of whom adopted the mandolin as a tribal instrument for the Concheros dances. After the arrival of the Spanish invaders in 1519, the indigenous...
mid-January. This festival includes dances such as "Moros y cristianos" and "Concheros." In addition, the spring equinox is celebrated here in the main plaza...
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