The most popular dancers in Morelos, Mexico are Los Chinelos. Their movements and costumes have captivated their audiences for many years. The live brass band that usually follows them during their performance, like the chinelos, is also a staple of Mexican pride and culture. The image and dance of Los Chinelos has spread to other states in Morelos and has even crossed the borders of Mexico into the United States. Los Chinelos have come to represent the national and regional identity of the Mexican people. The history of Los Chinelos is also rooted in the history of Mexico. Hernán Cortés conquested the Aztec Empire in 1521. The Spanish conquest of Yucatan did not happen until 1697; a conquest that Cortés did not get to see in his lifetime.
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They wear cartoon-like mask with rosy cheeks, long pointy beards, tall hats, feathers, bright colorful gown-like costumes, sequins, and beads, typically found in Tepoztlán, Morelos and surrounding areas. In other regions of Morelos, Los Chinelos dress differently, some wear long white dress with blue strips bordering both the skirt as well as the sleeves and neckline. This kind of costume can be found in Tlayacapan, Morelos and other villages around the area. The style of the costume does not matter because it signifies where people are from in a small state like Morelos, but when Los Chinelos make appearances at festivals and carnivals both are typically seen. The costumes can be suffocating and very hot which was why in the past men were mainly the people in these costumes. However, this is something that has changed over time. The children of the Chinelo dancers carry on the tradition. Now women and much smaller children can be seen wearing the costumes. These elaborate costume can cost up to $2,000 or 400,000 pesos and every year they have to be different, Los Chinelos are all about staying anonymous, having the same costume would give up their identity. The dance is called el brincon, jump, and is very easy to learn and has not changed much since it first appeared. The dancers start with feet apart and knees slightly bent, the dancers take two shuffling steps, and then leading with their shoulder, take a little jump to the left or the right. The dance does not need to be perfect and that is what makes it so appealing to people. The simplicity of the dance is what captives and brings people together in this dance of Los Chinelos; anyone can dance and join in whenever they want. Sometimes the movements of Los Chinelos will mimic those of a drunk person to further mock the Spanish because they would be very intoxicated during their parties; it was seen with the
They wear cartoon-like mask with rosy cheeks, long pointy beards, tall hats, feathers, bright colorful gown-like costumes, sequins, and beads, typically found in Tepoztlán, Morelos and surrounding areas. In other regions of Morelos, Los Chinelos dress differently, some wear long white dress with blue strips bordering both the skirt as well as the sleeves and neckline. This kind of costume can be found in Tlayacapan, Morelos and other villages around the area. The style of the costume does not matter because it signifies where people are from in a small state like Morelos, but when Los Chinelos make appearances at festivals and carnivals both are typically seen. The costumes can be suffocating and very hot which was why in the past men were mainly the people in these costumes. However, this is something that has changed over time. The children of the Chinelo dancers carry on the tradition. Now women and much smaller children can be seen wearing the costumes. These elaborate costume can cost up to $2,000 or 400,000 pesos and every year they have to be different, Los Chinelos are all about staying anonymous, having the same costume would give up their identity. The dance is called el brincon, jump, and is very easy to learn and has not changed much since it first appeared. The dancers start with feet apart and knees slightly bent, the dancers take two shuffling steps, and then leading with their shoulder, take a little jump to the left or the right. The dance does not need to be perfect and that is what makes it so appealing to people. The simplicity of the dance is what captives and brings people together in this dance of Los Chinelos; anyone can dance and join in whenever they want. Sometimes the movements of Los Chinelos will mimic those of a drunk person to further mock the Spanish because they would be very intoxicated during their parties; it was seen with the