The Guelaguetza starts with the welcoming and acknowledgment of the Indigenous women from all seven regions and the Guelaguetza queen. This year, the queen was Afro-Mexican.with the call to arms by the Indigenous people band that marches around the stage to remind everyone that Oaxaca is a land of Indigenous ancestry and always ready for battle to defend its land, traditions, and people. It was immediately follow by Las Chinas Oaxaqueñas, which is the main delegation from Oaxaca who welcomes the other delegations and invites them to come onto the space.
After that, an announcer says what delegations goes first, and they go up onstage, explain where they come from, who they are and why are they there. They dance their dances, which tell stories of their people and their customs. It is very emotional to see "not professional dancers" but actual people from the different communities dance with pride, telling their town's stories and traditions.
Some dances are very high-energy while others are slow and low energy but all dances are done with the outmost respect and received with much enthusiasm. One of the most anticipated dances are:
and "El Baile de la Pluma."
The most anticipated delegations is the one from Tehuantepec!
There is truly something very humbling watching not dancers but people from every region offering their art to the world. It becomes very emotional and very personal.
I mean, check out these women. They aren't young but they are there, dancing and offering their Indigenous souls to all of us watching. And all the costumes are so beautiful and so colorful.
Miguel and I had a great time and there is really so much to see that it is difficult to pick a favorite or the best moment to remember. We truly loved everything.
And so did the other 11,000 people attending LA GUELAGUETZA 2019
And we all have reason to love it... Just look at this dresses, dancers and their energy, and the reception from the audience:
NEXT: MEXICO CITY!!!
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