A male dancer preforming Jarabe Tapatío, a traditional Mexican folk dance, on stage in Mérida, Mexico.
The Jarabe Tapatío, also known internationally as "The Mexican Hat Dance", is a popular Mexican dance that has come to symbolize Mexico both domestically and internationally. The dance represents the courtship of a man and a woman, with the woman first rejecting the man’s advances, then eventually accepting them. It has a definite sexual component in metaphor, which was the original reason for disapproval by authorities. As the dance has lost its controversial status and gained status as a representative of Mexico, the dancers have come to wear garb that is also highly representative of Mexican women and men. For women, the most traditional outfit is called the "China Poblana." The blouse and skirt combination is named after a woman from India who came to Mexico on the Manila Galleon to work as a servant in the early 19th century. Her Asian dress was copied and then adapted in the State of Puebla, with the skirt now heavily embroidered and otherwise decorated with patriotic images. The traditional outfit for men is that of the charro, generally heavily decorated in silver trim. The music played to accompany the dance was written to be danced to and its played either by mariachi bands or by bands playing only string instruments such as various types of guitars, harps and violin.
Size: 3400px × 5100px
Location: Merida, Mexico
Photo credit: © Matthiola / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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