Rhythms of Oaxaca: Guelaguetza’s Flor de Piña Dance

Oaxaca is a land rich in traditions and cultural wealth. Each season fills it with its own beauty, from the blooming jacarandas in March to the winter months inviting you to enjoy mezcal. However, July is the best time to visit, as it is when the Guelaguetza is celebrated. During this festival, people from the eight regions of the state come together to share their culture, music, folklore, and gastronomy.

One of the most emblematic dances that dazzles with its elegance and symbolism is the Danza de la Flor de Piña. This iconic dance is a folkloric expression of women who dance joyfully, carrying or dancing around a pineapple, honoring its symbolism and adding charm to the Lunes del Cerro festivity in the Guelaguetza. 

In this blog post, we highlight the origins and history of this beautiful artistic expression, exploring its cultural significance and relevance to Oaxacan identity. Join us on this journey through the rhythms and movements of the Danza de la Flor de Piña as we celebrate the Guelaguetza.

Oaxaca is home to more than sixteen ethnic groups, including the Mixtecs, Zapotecs, and Afro-Mexicans. This multicultural composition makes music and dance integral to the state's folkloric heritage. This dance, originally from Tuxtepec, Oaxaca, was created to recover the indigenous roots of the region. Since 1958, it has been one of the main attractions of Lunes del Cerro in the Guelaguetza. 

The dance represents each of the seven municipalities in the Papaloapan region: San Miguel Soyaltepec, San Juan Bautista Tuxtepec, San Felipe Usila, Valle Nacional, San Felipe Jalapa de Díaz, San Lucas Ojitlán, and San Pedro Ixcatlán. All these municipalities share Mazatec and Chinantec cultures, which enhance the enthusiasm of Tuxtepec around different parts of the world.

Origin of the Flor de Piña Dance

The traditional Flor de Piña dance was born in 1958 when the governor of Oaxaca, Alfonso Pérez Gasga, commissioned teacher Paulina Solís Ocampo, a native of Tuxtepec, to create a dance that exalted the indigenous roots of the Papaloapan Basin. The creation was not based on the Jarocha (which means from Veracruz) traditions, as the culture of the municipality was mistakenly believed to be from Veracruz due to its geographical location.

Paulina Solís Ocampo, an Artistic Education teacher at the Francisco I. Madero School, created the Flor de Piña dance using the homonymous melody by Oaxacan composer Samuel Mondragón. The dance was first presented at Lunes del Cerro de la Guelaguetza in the same year.

Later, Dance and Piano teacher Socorro Rangel y del Castillo from the School of Fine Arts added lilting choreography and the waltz "La Tonalteca" by Chiapas author Alberto Peña Ríos to give the dance a more appropriate duration. Interestingly, "La Tonalteca" opens and closes the traditional dance.

Huipiles: Essential Elements of the Dance

The main distinctive element of this dance is the traditional costume decorated with pineapples, symbolizing fertility and prosperity. It is said that the costume design was conceptualized even before its choreography. Maestra Paulina Solís intended to showcase not only a dance but also the beauty of the typical dresses of the region's communities. Thus, the representative huipiles of each municipality are used, characterized by their fine embroidery and distinctive, cheerful colors, each according to its municipality.

Every year, dancers wear beautiful multicolored hand-embroidered huipils complemented by braided hairstyles adorned with ribbons and colorful necklaces. They also wear long tailored skirts, evoking the colors of ripe pineapple. Additionally, they wear crowns of flowers and feathers, completing the majestic appearance of the dance. The hairstyle varies by the municipality the woman represents, often distinguished by their braids.

Finally, in the Flor de Piña dance, the dancers do not wear shoes. However, it is not uncommon to see huaraches as women in the region traditionally wear leather huaraches to complement their attire.

Choreography and Smooth Dancing

The Danza de la Flor de Piña is a courtship dance where dancers represent men and women seeking their ideal partner. It is distinguished by its soft and coordinated movements, imitating the growth and opening of a pineapple. The elaborate choreography requires dancers to hold pineapples in their arms and bow with them at certain moments. The dancers perform elegant and graceful steps to the rhythm of traditional music from the region. With undulating movements and precise turns, they capture the essence of the ripe pineapple and its natural beauty. This dance is a display of skill and ability, transmitting the delicacy and elegance of Oaxacan culture. 

Some say the pineapple symbolizes fertility and courtship between communities; others the gratitude of the people of the Cuenca for good harvests; others believe it is merely ornamental. No matter what you believe it symbolizes, at the end of the dance it is customary to give pineapples to those attending the event.

The Danza de la Flor de Piña is an integral part of Oaxaca's cultural identity, representing the connection with nature and the importance of fertility in the region. Through its practice and transmission from generation to generation, traditions are preserved, and the cultural legacy of the community is exalted. Furthermore, the Danza de la Flor de Piña has transcended the borders of Oaxaca, becoming a recognized symbol of Mexican folk dance.

The Danza de la Flor de Piña in Oaxaca is an artistic and cultural manifestation that transports us through time and ancestral traditions. Its elegant movements and deep symbolism invite us to appreciate the beauty and richness of Oaxacan culture. Let us continue to enjoy and spread the legacy of Flor de Piña, an artistic treasure that connects us with our roots and invites us to celebrate the greatness of our Mexican culture.

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What do you think? Were you familiar with this dance before? What about the Guelaguetza? What is your favorite Mexican dance? Let us know your opinions in the comments below. And don't forget to subscribe if you'd like to stay on the loop for these and many more interesting content and special discounts!

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