How to do the mexican hat dance for kids


Simple Mexican Dance Steps for Children

By: Amelia Allonsy Updated September 15, 2017

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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.

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What You Should Know About the Legendary Mexican Hat Dance - Mariachi Alegre De Tucson | mariachi band for hire

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What You Should Know About the Legendary Mexican Hat Dance

The Mexican Hat Dance is well known throughout the world as the national folk song of Mexico. Most of the time when people are asked to name a song related to Mexico, they mention this song. Along with other songs like “La Cucaracha”.

Here’s what you need to know about the dance

The popularity of this song and dance came from Anna Pavlova from Russia. This ballerina visited Mexico in 1919 and was so enthralled and passionate about the culture and costumes that she began performing the dance now performed throughout Mexico in the on pointe style while wearing a China Poblana outfit.

Mexican culture embraced this with honor and placed it in permanent importance in the culture. The dance was created during the revolution at the beginning of the 1900s to encourage national unity. The Jarabe style of dance in which the Mexican Hat Dance thrives is a combination of different styles of dance and song.

Costumes for the Mexican Folk dance

Costumes for men and women were not created simultaneously. The “standard” outfits worn for this style of song and dance hail from the 1800’s servant outfit (China Poblana). It was worn by the women and the charro suit worn by men during the 1930 emergence of Mariachi. Different combinations have been utilized throughout the history of the dance, but today it features a mixture of time periods, much like the style of music and dance this wonderful experience utilizes.

This style does not need to be performed by a set number of people. A solo performer is just as welcome to dance in this way as a large group at a party, however, the styles differ.

  • Pair or group: Performers stand with their feet together and their arms by the sides. The partners move in circles around one another while performing various arm movements. Upon completion of the routine “olé” is exclaimed. Even when done in a group, pairing off occurs with little variance between one couple or several people dancing at once. Young and old alike can learn and love this style.
  • Solo: A hat is thrown on the floor, hence the name, (and unlike the group or pair dancing) and the dancer jumps around the hat while only touching the rim slightly with one foot. Hands are held in fists and placed at the side of the body near the waist. Steps are performed in one direction and then the other, switching the foot which touched the hat previously. Much like the group/partner performance, the dancer will exclaim “olé” and a clap.

Contact Mariachi Alegre De Tucson

Contact Mariachi Alegre De Tucson for your next big party. And when we perform the Mexican Hat Dance, all your guests will get excited to perform and watch this traditionally wonderfully fun dance. Who knows? Maybe some of our Mariachi members will grab you by the hand and teach you the dance personally. Embracing the Mexican culture and pride is only one way to make a party one to remember!

About the Author: Dimo

Mexican hat dance


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| Folk dances

Dances of the peoples of the world

Mexican hat dances

Jarabe Tapatía or the dance with the hat is one of the symbols and official folk dances of Mexico. It tells the story of a man trying to woo a woman. Since its origins in 1734, the hat dance has become popular in the southwestern United States and throughout Mexico - the hat dance has become a real pride of Mexican culture. nine0004

Mexican hat dance

Jarabe Tapatía first appeared in the state of Jacinto, better known as Guadalajara. As all experts note, the dance with a hat mainly came from European dances, and especially from flamenco.

Mexican hat dances

Jarabe Tapatía is usually performed in national dress - women wear brightly colored pleated skirts, and men either traditional national costumes "charro" or "cowboy" Mexican costumes (short jacket and embroidered, flared trousers with slits and pieces of bright red cloth). nine0004

Mexican hat dance

What advice would you give to those who want to learn how to dance a real Mexican hat dance?
Wear appropriate costume. An authentic Mexican hat dance is performed in the traditional charro costume. This is a three-piece suit consisting of a vest, jacket and trousers, embellished with silver buttons along the seam.

Impress your dance partner with a zapateado (tapping the rhythm with your feet, which is very tap-dancing). Usually the man performs this step in the choreography to "entice the woman with his masculinity". nine0002 Be intoxicated with love and glory. In this state, the man impresses the woman with whom he dances.

Mexican hat dance

Throw your hat on the ground. Between the couple, one literally physically feels the intensity of passions, desires, lusts. The man drops his hat on the ground and puts his foot on the woman's head as she bends down to pick up her hat. This symbolizes that the man defeated his partner.
The Mexican dance with hats ends with the couple hiding their faces under a sombrero, imitating a kiss, to the applause of everyone around. nine0004

folk dance, mexico, passion

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