Chinelos
"[1] The dance is one of many to develop after the Spanish conquest as native traditions and rites blended into Christian festivals.
This dance developed as a mockery of the Europeans with their fine clothing, beards, fair skin and mannerisms.
The elaborate dress, gloved hands, uptilted beard and arrogant stance also makes fun of the salon dancing of the upper classes during the period of the French intervention as well as Porfirio Díaz’s attempts to “Europeanize” Mexico at the end of the 19th century.
[1] The dance became most developed in the state of Morelos, which in the 19th century was home to a number of sugar cane haciendas which made great fortunes for their owners, but left workers impoverished.
Four large municipalities in the state, whose histories extend back to the pre-Hispanic period, are famous for their Chinelos: Tlayacapan, Tepoztlán and Yautepec and Jiutepec.
[3] The Chinelos costume consists of four main items: a long flowing robe which usually has a rectangular shape tunic, a mask, a large plumed hat, and gloves.
[6] As the robes are extremely hot to dance in,[2] dancers wear bandannas to prevent excessive sweating and dehydration.
[2] In Tepotzlán, the tunic is made from black velvet and is completely smooth with the image on the back painted on, rather than stitched.
It and the bandana wrapped around the head are essential in keeping Chinelos’ identities secret, something reinforced with the use of gloves on the hands.
[2] Prices for making the outfit can range anywhere from 4,000 to 100,000 pesos depending on the complexity of the decoration, the materials used and the time involved.
With feet apart and knees slightly bent, the dancers take two shuffling steps, then leading with one shoulder or the other, take a small jump to the right or left.
Dancers join in and drop out for longer events but the group dances as long as the band plays.
[4] The dancers also accompany the celebrated “Niñopa” image during its many processions and festivities in its honor during the year.
