El Es Dios!

This article outlines a brief historical sketch of the Danza Azteca-Chichimeca, or danza for short, which is becoming ubiquitous in areas of the United States with a significant Mexican American population. It looks at its origins during the early colonial period of Mexico, especially its mythologic...

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Main Author: Ruben A. Arellano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: H-Net: Humanities & Social Sciences Online 2021-12-01
Series:Journal of Festive Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.h-net.org/jfs/article/view/61
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author Ruben A. Arellano
author_facet Ruben A. Arellano
author_sort Ruben A. Arellano
collection DOAJ
description This article outlines a brief historical sketch of the Danza Azteca-Chichimeca, or danza for short, which is becoming ubiquitous in areas of the United States with a significant Mexican American population. It looks at its origins during the early colonial period of Mexico, especially its mythological beginnings, to help elucidate the deep foundation of the dance tradition. This sketch also addresses the evolution of danza after it spread from its place of origin in the Bajío into major urban areas like Mexico City, where, once there, it changed due to ideological and political trends that circulated in the post-revolution period. The article also looks at danza’s pseudo-militaristic undertones to suggest that it might have contributed to the growing discontent among peasants and indigenous people, leading to Mexican independence. Some scholars have suggested that it, as a revitalizationist tradition, belongs in the “crisis cult” category. This analysis became evident when danza encountered neo-Aztec philosophies that promoted nationalistic and restorationist ideologies. In sum, the article touches on the popularity of danza in the United States despite the current climate of xenophobia and anti-migration, and nods at its growing international and global appeal.
format Article
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publisher H-Net: Humanities & Social Sciences Online
record_format Article
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spelling doaj-art-0beaf4e38ac14cad9d52cdab246577422025-08-20T02:32:18ZengH-Net: Humanities & Social Sciences OnlineJournal of Festive Studies2641-99392021-12-013112114710.33823/jfs.2021.3.1.6114El Es Dios!Ruben A. Arellano0Dallas College - Mountain View CampusThis article outlines a brief historical sketch of the Danza Azteca-Chichimeca, or danza for short, which is becoming ubiquitous in areas of the United States with a significant Mexican American population. It looks at its origins during the early colonial period of Mexico, especially its mythological beginnings, to help elucidate the deep foundation of the dance tradition. This sketch also addresses the evolution of danza after it spread from its place of origin in the Bajío into major urban areas like Mexico City, where, once there, it changed due to ideological and political trends that circulated in the post-revolution period. The article also looks at danza’s pseudo-militaristic undertones to suggest that it might have contributed to the growing discontent among peasants and indigenous people, leading to Mexican independence. Some scholars have suggested that it, as a revitalizationist tradition, belongs in the “crisis cult” category. This analysis became evident when danza encountered neo-Aztec philosophies that promoted nationalistic and restorationist ideologies. In sum, the article touches on the popularity of danza in the United States despite the current climate of xenophobia and anti-migration, and nods at its growing international and global appeal.https://journals.h-net.org/jfs/article/view/61dancedanza aztecaindigeneityconcheroschichimecamexicamexikaaztecaztekamexikayotlchicana/o history
spellingShingle Ruben A. Arellano
El Es Dios!
Journal of Festive Studies
dance
danza azteca
indigeneity
concheros
chichimeca
mexica
mexika
aztec
azteka
mexikayotl
chicana/o history
title El Es Dios!
title_full El Es Dios!
title_fullStr El Es Dios!
title_full_unstemmed El Es Dios!
title_short El Es Dios!
title_sort el es dios
topic dance
danza azteca
indigeneity
concheros
chichimeca
mexica
mexika
aztec
azteka
mexikayotl
chicana/o history
url https://journals.h-net.org/jfs/article/view/61
work_keys_str_mv AT rubenaarellano elesdios