por Main dances and typical dances of San Luis Potosí They are the dance of the huehuadas at the Xantolo festival, the Aztec dance at Easter, the dance of the xochitines, the folkloric dance, and the dance of the xexos.
San Luis Potosí has a varied dance tradition and many of the dances are tied to its frequent festivals. Most state holidays are accompanied by parades and dance performances. Whenever the typical dances are presented in this region, special costumes or distinctive masks are used.
Main typical dances of San Luis Potosí
1- The huehuadas
The Xantolo is another name for the festival of all saints and is celebrated on November 1. This is the most important festival in the region.
The dances of these festivities are made with masks, generally black and white, which represent the «huehues», the local name for a type of goblin.
According to the legend, the huehuadas were started by the king of the gods Xantolo himself, who sent the huehues to teach the people that the day of the dead should be celebrated without sadness or crying.
These dances are usually represented by groups of masked men and often have a comical and energetic aspect.
2- The Aztec dance
The current territory of San Luis Potosí was historically part of the Aztec Empire. For this reason there are many dance groups that pay homage to the old Nahua customs.
Groups with names like “Xaman-Ek” and “Amayab” are nationally recognized for the athletic dances they perform dressed in traditional Aztec warrior uniforms.
Although these dances can be seen in various settings throughout the year, Holy Week is the best time to see them in San Luis Potosí.
3- The dance of the xochitines
«Xochitl» means «flower» in the Nahuatl language, which was the language of the Aztecs. The dance of the xochitines is also called «the dance of the flowers».
This dance honors Aztec gods and has been danced in the lands of San Luis Potosí for hundreds of years.
Today you can see this dance in the state with traditional costumes, which consist of shorts and a blanket shirt on the body, and a headdress of various colors that refers to flowers.
Like the dance of the huehuadas, it is danced in a group and the dancers are formed in lines.
4- Folk dance
Folk dance is the name given to Mexican dances distinguished by ballet-like movements and the use of regional costume.
Like all regions of Mexico, San Luis Potosí has its own style of this type of Mexican dance. Although the choreography is similar to that of other regions, the clothing worn during these dances is distinctive.
The women wear white skirts, a flowered blouse and a blanket bag. The men dress entirely in white.
Folk dancing is very popular in the region. There are dancers’ marathons that include hundreds of participants.
5- The dance of the xexos
The dance of the xexos is another type of dance seen on All Saints’ Day. It is similar to the huehuadas because a mythological story is represented through the dance.
In this case, the xexos are spirits from the afterlife that symbolize sins and virtues. As in the huehuadas, the dancers also wear masks and do a theatrical and energetic dance.
6- The dance of the little horses
Possibly originating from the south, this dance is made up of a quadrille divided in two by a row. Each row of dancers has a leader or captain who marks the rhythm, the footsteps and the turns that must be given.
The dance simulates galloping on a horse. For this, elements that recreate the figure of the horse are used. Some representations include a little bull that intersects with the little horses.
The music is made up of various sounds to the rhythm of a violin and a tambora.