Featured Regions
Ballet Folklorico Mitotiani currently has 5 different regions which we showcase, and hope to expand more!
JaliscoThis region is one of the most liked regions. It is known for it's large dresses with a lot of fabric and colorful ribbons. The Spanish colonized this area for an extended period of time that wore big sombreros and the traditional Spanish charro studs on the pants. The women folklorico wear is a ranchero design dress with unmistakable Indian influenced bright colored ribbons. This is the national representation for Mexican dance as in the Mexican dance hat which comes from this state. This would also be the birthplace of Mariachi music that brings us orchestras with trumpets, acoustics, and violins.
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Nuevo LeónNuevo León is a northern state that borders Texas. When the Germans came, they settled mostly in the Texas hill country and Nuevo León. Their influence in Texas country-western music and Tejano music is unmistakable but is often overlooked. The style of dance is mostly polkas and waltzes For those who recognize the region, it is known for their flowing red skirts as well as their upbeat songs.
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Michoacán: Los ViejitosLa danza de los viejitos, also known as the little old men, has choreography that is pretty improvisational and also represents man’s eternal fight against death as the old men dance vigorously to scare off the spirits of death, demonstrating that they are still strong and capable of executing intricate foot stomping. The region is from the state of Michoacán where the danza is meant to be humorous.
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Baja CaliforniaCalabaceados is the vaquero, or cowboy, dance of Baja California Norte-Mexico's northernmost state. These are spirited and challenging dances of the rancheria, where dancers mimic the kicking an bucking of horses and bulls. The music is norteño, music from the north; it is influenced by the European polka, brought to Mexico in the 1800s by Bohemian and Czech immigrants. When calabaceados became popular in the twentieth century, the vaqueros and ranch-hands - all the rancheria dancers - were men. Today both young men and women join in the competition, and this energetic style has become the newest dance craze of Baja California. Dancers stand in a circle, surrounding a solo performer. Competitors vie with each other for excellence, showing off their highest jump, hard stomp, or kick that raises the most dust.
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VeracruzHistorically, Veracruz is the oldest and most important port in Mexico, essential for markets and goods. Folklorico from Veracruz is characterized by Spanish music with African and Caribbean rhythms. The sound of the harp, the jarana (a small guitar), and the violin accompanies the snowy white, frilly skirt- work of the jarochas and the intense, flamenco-like zapateado of its men. "La Bamba" is one of the earliest sones jarochos, which is performed by dancers tying a red bow with their feet to symbolize everlasting love.
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