La Danza de la Pluma is a dance that features its own culture, customs, and beliefs. It is a variation from La Danza de la Conquista, which is practiced in Mexico and Guatemala. La Danza de la Pluma, however, its unique to the people of Oaxaca, Mexico. It is also unique, in certain aspects, to every region and every village in the state of Oaxaca. For instance, the small town of San Juan Tabaa performs this dance in the month of June during its patron saint’s celebration, 22th-26th. This performance, like any culture, has its customs and rules. For example, the dance attire must be made a certain way, the performers must be of certain age, and the role of men and women, who are not performers, are different but always remain the same. However,
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For instance, the main role of men is to be dancers. They can perform for a long period of their life, and then they can become teachers when they no longer have the stamina to perform a whole dance. However, women have more restrictions. For example, they are only allowed to perform up to the age of 15. Then, women can become seamstress or work in the kitchen. As Hernandez-Diaz states, “the wives or other women of the family would head to the kitchen, some of them already being there since 6 am, to prepare breakfast: hot chocolate and bread, atole or corn flour drink, beans and tlayudas” (Hernandez-Diaz 75). The year that I was denied the opportunity to perform in La Danza de la Pluma, I became part of the women no longer allowed to be dancers. My mom and I, even though we did not have direct family performing in the dance, decided to help around in the kitchen. Since I did not know how to cook, I decided to distribute the food when the dancers, teachers, and musicians sat down to eat after practice. Many of the dancers, who I had performed with, asked me why I was not performing that year and all I could say was “not anymore” with a faint smile. I realized that many of them did not know about the age restriction. When I mentioned to them what the teacher had told my parents, they thought I was joking. I kept a serious expression and then they realized I was not joking. They apologized and said that maybe I can become part of a folkloric dance group. However, being part of La Danza de la Pluma was more than just about dancing, it was about representing my culture, my people and my
For instance, the main role of men is to be dancers. They can perform for a long period of their life, and then they can become teachers when they no longer have the stamina to perform a whole dance. However, women have more restrictions. For example, they are only allowed to perform up to the age of 15. Then, women can become seamstress or work in the kitchen. As Hernandez-Diaz states, “the wives or other women of the family would head to the kitchen, some of them already being there since 6 am, to prepare breakfast: hot chocolate and bread, atole or corn flour drink, beans and tlayudas” (Hernandez-Diaz 75). The year that I was denied the opportunity to perform in La Danza de la Pluma, I became part of the women no longer allowed to be dancers. My mom and I, even though we did not have direct family performing in the dance, decided to help around in the kitchen. Since I did not know how to cook, I decided to distribute the food when the dancers, teachers, and musicians sat down to eat after practice. Many of the dancers, who I had performed with, asked me why I was not performing that year and all I could say was “not anymore” with a faint smile. I realized that many of them did not know about the age restriction. When I mentioned to them what the teacher had told my parents, they thought I was joking. I kept a serious expression and then they realized I was not joking. They apologized and said that maybe I can become part of a folkloric dance group. However, being part of La Danza de la Pluma was more than just about dancing, it was about representing my culture, my people and my