Tradition and meaning of the dance of Tlahualiles in Saint Santiago festivity in Sahuayo, Michoacán

Abstract

The following article provides an approach to the dance of Tlahualiles in the context of the cult and festivities in honor of Saint Santiago Apostle, the Patron of Sahuayo, Michoacán. Based on an ethnographic study as well as on oral and photographic sources, the changes and continuities occurred in the tradition were analyzed. This aimed to know the expressive contents of the tradition and the social meaning of dancing. In accordance to what some researchers have pointed out and the feeling of dancers interviewed for this research, dancing has lost its original meaning, and now it is more of a carnival; nevertheless, those who dance Tlahualiles state that their faith and traditions are their main motive to take part. Therefore, it is considered that traditions are in dialog with their current circumstances, but their original reason, religious in this case, is still valid and present