How to do mexican hat dance

Mexican Hat Dance Activity Page

The Mexican Hat Dance Activity Page

As you listen to the melody, try to feel the beat of the music. Repeat "1,2, 3, and 4" over and over in your head. This will help you to put the arm motions, foot steps and claps together. Sometimes, the beat gets faster. When the music speeds up, your dance movements must be quick. The Mexican Hat Dance can be performed with one partner or a group.

The starting position is standing with feet together and hands at sides. Begin the dance on the count of "1" by folding your left arm across your stomach. Your left hand can have a soft fist. Place your right elbow on your left hand. Your right hand is open like you are waving. Fling your right hand back. At the same time, put your right heel out.

On the count of "2", fold your right arm across your stomach. Your right hand can have a soft fist. Place your left elbow on your right hand. Your left hand is open like you are waving. Fling your left hand back. At the same time, put your left heel out.

On the count of "3", fold your left arm across your stomach. Your left hand can have a soft fist. Place your right elbow on your left hand. Your right hand is open like you are waving. Fling your right hand back. At the same time, put your right heel out.

On the counts of "and 4" , clap two times very fast.

Start over and repeat the motions of counts "1", "2", "3", "and 4", seven times.

You can hear the music change. On the count of "1", clap. On the count of "2", clap. On the count of "3", clap. On the count "and 4", raise your arms high and shout " olé " (oh - lay) which means hooray in Spanish. Repeat these motions three times.

The music changes again to the beginning melody. Repeat the beginning motions four times.

Then, the music becomes fast and swirling. You are to hold hands with your partner or group and move quickly around in a circle.

The song starts over. So repeat all of the hand motions, steps, claps and shouts from the beginning. The dance ends with everyone moving quickly in a circle.

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Simple Mexican Dance Steps for Children

By: Amelia Allonsy Updated September 15, 2017

Creatas/Creatas/Getty Images

By: Amelia Allonsy Updated September 15, 2017

Music and dance are a big part of cultural identity in Mexican tradition. Among the most well known Mexican dances are the Jarabe Tapatio, or Mexican Hat Dance, and the Danza del Venado, Dance of the Deer, a ritual dance that is more difficult to master. Latin dances like the chacha and samba are also popular throughout Latin America and Mexico.

Mexican Hat Dance

The Mexican Hat Dance, or Jarabe Tapatio, is the official dance of Mexico. The dance is a symbol of pride in Mexican heritage and is even taught as part of the curriculum in Mexican public schools. Traditionally, the dance tells the story of love and courtship between a couple, but this dance can be performed alone or with a partner.

To perform the Mexican Hat Dance, stand with feet together and arms down by your sides. Kick your heel out three times, alternating feel each time; clap twice. Repeat this eight times until chorus. At chorus, link elbows with a partner and skip around in a circle. Circle once, and then circle the opposite direction. Repeat with a different partner throughout chorus.

The song that accompanies the Mexican Hat Dance, also called the "Jarabe Tapatio," begins slowly but speeds up greatly during the chorus.

Skirts

In a traditional Mariachi dance, women wear long, layered skirts. Ladies often use the extra fabric of their skirts in dances. Young children should be able to pick up this dance step easily.

Stand with feet shoulder width apart, grasping the skirt in either hand at knee length. March in place to the beat of the music. While marching, cross one arm in front of body, as if to throw the skirt. Do not actually release the skirt with your throw, however; repeat with the other arm. Students could also turn with each throw of the arm using a turning and spotting technique in which a student focuses on one spot while turning.

The main point of this dance is to play up the flowing nature of the skirt. Instead of marching, children could alternate kicking one leg out to the side while swishing their skirts. Movements should be quick and sharp.

ChaCha

Although the ChaCha originated in Cuba, it is a popular dance in Mexican culture. Children can easily master the basics of this classic Latin dance; it is also a great way to teach students to count beat.

For children who are just learning to count beats, it may be helpful to repeat this phrase while dancing, "One, two, cha-cha-cha." The basic dance move is two slow steps, followed by three quick steps. Start with feet shoulder width apart. Step forward with one foot, then rock back onto back foot on the "1-2" count. Then take three quick steps in place to the beat of the "cha-cha-cha" part of the phrase. Repeat these steps, but alternate and start with a different foot each time.

Writer Bio

A former cake decorator and competitive horticulturist, Amelia Allonsy is most at home in the kitchen or with her hands in the dirt. She received her Bachelor's degree from West Virginia University. Her work has been published in the San Francisco Chronicle and on other websites.

Mexican Jarabe Dance - Culture of Mexico

Jarabe is a colorful folk dance common in the west, center and southeast of Mexico. May be accompanied by a perky song. Usually its size is beaten off by heels and is 6/8, 3/4 or 2/4.

The Mexican Jarabe has its predecessor, the Gypsy Jarabe, originally from Andalusia. He had verses, decomposed into voices by thirds. According to researchers, jarabe originated on the territory of the modern states of Guanajuato, Aguascalientes, Queretaro and the elevated part of Jalisco, i.e. northern part of the central region of Mexico at the end of the 18th century.

Kharabe is a pair dance depicting the courtship of a man for a woman who first rejects him, and then accepts his signs of attention.

There is a hypothesis that the word "harabe" is of Arabic origin, from a word that meant happiness or holiday. Another version says that "harabe" in Arabic meant "a mixture of herbs", thus emphasizing the syncretism of various musical styles in one work.

Of all the varieties of jarabe, jarabe tapatio in the state of Jalisco has become the most common. Tapatío is an adjective that refers to the geographical location of this state or its capital, Guadalajara. Currently, the jarabe tapatio is one of the most famous folklore dances in Mexico at the international level. The unifying symbolism of Jalisco's jarabe arose from its mixture of Mexican dance styles from different states and regions. Its melody is played by an ensemble of mariachi musicians. But practically every state in the west, center and southeast of Mexico has its own jarabe, which, although they have some differences, are united by common points: the size, the mixing of various melodies and the absence of song verses in most of the dances. In particular, we can name specific jarabe dances that exist in the states of Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Puebla and Tlaxcala. In the state of Coahuila, there is a variation of this dance called jarabe patenho.

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The instrumentation of the harabe depends on the region where it is performed. Modern mariachis are played in Jalisco, however, in the neighboring state of Nayarit, the main feature is still the absence of wind instruments and the presence of a harp, which has not been used by mariachi groups from Jalisco and Colima for a long time. The jarabe variants from Michoacán and Guerrero are performed exclusively on stringed instruments. In Michoacan, the harp is the main instrument, while in Guerrero this role is disputed between the drum and the violin. In Oaxaca, on the contrary, harabes are performed by ensembles consisting of traditional wind instruments.

A man in a jaraba wears the traditional costume of a charro, a Mexican wealthy landowner who devotes his free time to the art of riding horses and competitions, with a row of silver buttons on the outside of the trousers, a short jacket similar to a torero jacket with a row of buttons in front, a wide-brimmed sombrero hat , a white shirt with a bow tie in contrasting colors (red, blue, black), black shoes, a leather belt or belt with ties on both sides on the sides. As a male jarabe dance costume from Jalisco, the corporal (in Mexico, this word refers to the person in charge of the draft cattle) is used, which differs from the charro costume. On the sides of the trousers are trimmed in the form of stripes, not buttons, and the jacket is decorated in the same way. The stripes feature curlicue-shaped figures typical of Mexican rural culture. A male harabe suit must be a unique piece of clothing.

The original women's costume for jarabe was once the outfit of a rural fashionista called "ranchera" (owner or resident of the rancher) from the 19th century Jalisco region. A frill and small decorations in the form of flowers were sewn onto the skirt. This outfit was complemented by floral patterns and flounces, being in fact a mixture of European and Mexican traditions. White dresses, or gala dresses, on which colored ribbons or frills are sewn only from the bottom, are more often used in cities. Dresses embroidered with colored ribbons give more dynamism to the movements of the dancers, turning them into multi-colored whirlwinds. A variation of the women's costume that is performed on international dance floors and represents Mexico is the costume of the "Chinese woman from Puebla" ("poblana china"), without a doubt the most spectacular.

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An interesting historical detail is worth noting. Jarabe tapatio at the beginning of the 20th century was very popular. Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, during her trip to Mexico in 1919, fell in love with the dance and its magnificent costumes, which became one of the manifestations of Mexican national culture. She included harabe in her permanent repertoire and performed it on pointe shoes and in a “chiny” costume.

Kharabe in the form in which it is known now, consisted of different melodies. The oldest of these was the gypsy jarabe of Andalusian origin, which was sung and danced by the first Spaniards who arrived in America. A large number of other melodies enriched the harabe and became so popular that they were performed at holidays, dance evenings, accompanied by texts of spicy, lyrical or satirical content.

Based on ¡It's all Mexico!

Mexican Dance - Choreographic Ensemble Inspiration

Local folklore dances originating in different regions of the country saturate Mexican dance with bright and unpredictable colors. Combining the different traditions of the peoples living in Mexico, the choreographic performance acquires the unpredictability of plots. The brightness of theatrical performances intrigues and fascinates the audience.

Diversity of plot roles

National dances are of a traditional character and reveal the identity of nationalities. By studying and attending speeches, a person receives a brief excursion into significant historical events, learns the previously hidden side of other national values.

No exceptions Mexican folk dance , inspired by the spirit of adventure and the heat of the desert, it is able to surprise and fill even the most persistent spectators with strong emotions. Dances filled:

Stomping your feet or moving on your heels.
They also imitate the behavior of animals living in the area. As a rule, this is a horse, iguana, deer, eagle, jaguar, snake, vulture.
Colorful costumes complete the overall picture.

Experiments with religious dance styles, gave the world Mexican ballroom dance where legends and ballet motifs intertwine. There are pointed fingers in the movements, exaggeration of movements and first-class work of the choreographer. Ballet folklore attracts a keen interest of the public around the world.

Accompanied by the melody of drums and flutes Mexican dance avalulka , the costumes contain elements symbolizing the skin, ornaments with interwoven arrows and feathers. Posispansky and African style are intertwined in it. Since in the historical development, the country went through periods of intersection with these ethnic groups.

The mesmerizing sound of the saxophone reveals particella Mexican dance from an incredible angle. Colorful, passionate movements. Bright carnival costumes and harmoniously moving couples will tell a delightful love story. The variety of plot roles allows the audience to present the full disclosure of the culture of the Mexican peoples.

Charros are heroes in their country, their difficult and dangerous field of activity is revealed by Mexican hat dance with small wooden bulls symbolizing the battle scene.

Another dance with the inclusion of hats in the performance has the harabe dance . It translates as “Dance of Hats”, reveals a plot where a woman takes care of a man. Initially, he was rejected, and then the lady tries to get his attention again.

Features of agriculture, presented in dance of Mexican shepherds , is filled with the desire to save the herd from potential danger. The dancers perform in national costumes typical for shepherds from different regions.

A great contribution to the spread of Mexican choreographic creativity was made by the Moiseev ensemble Mexican dance , fully revealing the value of ethnic uniqueness and historical development.

Preparing the performance

Preparing the Mexican Kindergarten Dance must be thought out, choosing movements according to age groups. It will be quite difficult for young performers to perform a passionate, unpredictable dance. In this regard, it is required to think over:

simple but symbolic movements;
folk costumes, girls wearing long skirts and boys wearing traditional hats and trousers;
discreet musical motive.

Get the performers on the right track with Mexican Dance Video , which shows each movement in detail. During the period of rehearsal, preparation of the performance, every detail is of great importance.