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Photo, Print, Drawing Curpites dance, Zacan, Michoacán, Mexico

[ original digital file ]

Full online access to this resource is only available at the Library of Congress.

About this Item

Title

  • Curpites dance, Zacan, Michoacán, Mexico

Names

  • Ríos Szalay, Adalberto, photographer

Created / Published

  • 2010-10-19.

Headings

  • -  Mexico--Michoacán de Ocampo--Zacán
  • -  Curpites
  • -  Clothing
  • -  Dance
  • -  Footwork
  • -  Horses
  • -  Masks
  • -  Mirrors
  • -  Purepechan

Format Headings

  • Digital photographs--Color--2010.

Genre

  • Digital photographs--Color--2010

Notes

  • -  Title, date, notes, and keywords based on information provided by the photographer.
  • -  The inhabitants of Nuevo San Juan, a town founded by those who left San Juan Parangaricutiro in 1943 following the eruption of the Parícutin volcano, celebrate a dance that identifies and unites them: the Dance of the Cúrpites. The dance is distinguished by the elegance of the dresses, the choreography and its competitive nature. The dancers are young people dressed in white suits, colorful aprons, embroidered capes, bearded masks, ribbons of metallic bells tied around the ankles, a baton with a horse's head, and a small bell. "Pretty" and "ugly" cúrpites participate, led by the Tarepiti and a female figure called "maringuía" represented by a man, accompanied by string or wind music. The dance usually lasts up to two hours and is a competition, a challenge in which the public is passionate, waiting for the judges to reward their own. The dance consists of a cadenced, fine tap dance, in which the steps are very short and almost without lifting the feet. Each dancer demonstrates their mastery almost without moving and even with dangerous steps on the edge of the platform. Other members raise their arms like wings in flight. After presenting themselves, dancers go to dance in front of the house of the brides as a procession.
  • -  Note in Spanish: Los habitantes de Nuevo San Juan, pueblo fundado por quienes salieron de San Juan Parangaricutiro en 1943, a raíz de la erupción del volcán Parícutin, celebran una danza que los identifica y cohesiona: la Danza de los Cúrpites. La danza se distingue por la elegancia de los vestidos, la coreografía y por su carácter competitivo. Los danzantes son jóvenes ataviados con un traje blanco, coloridos delantales y capas bordadas, máscaras barbadas y cintas de cascabeles metálicos atadas en los tobillos, un baston de mando con cabeza de caballito, además de una pequeña campana. Participan cúrpites"bonitos" y"feos", encabezados por el Tarepiti y una figura femenina llamada"maringuía" representada por un hombre, acompañados por música de cuerdas o de viento. La danza suele durar hasta dos horas y es una competencia, un reto en el que el público se apasiona, esperando que los jueces premien a los suyos. La danza consiste en un zapateado cadencioso, fino, en el que los pasos son muy cortos y casi sin levantar los pies. Cada danzante demuestra su maestría casi sin moverse y aún con peligrosos pasos en el filo de la tarima. Otros integrantes alzan sus brazos a manera de alas en vuelo. Los danzantes después de presentarse acuden a bailar frente a la casa de las novias a manera de cortejo.
  • -  Purchase; Adalberto Rios Szalay; 2014; (DLC/PP-2014:144).

Medium

  • 1 photograph : digital, tiff file, color.

Call Number/Physical Location

  • LC-DIG-ppbd- 02295 [P&P]

Source Collection

  • Tres Rios photograph collection (Library of Congress)

Repository

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2022685498

Reproduction Number

  • LC-DIG-ppbd-02295 (original digital file)

Rights Advisory

Online Format

  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

Rights & Access

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  • Rights Advisory: Publication may be restricted. For information see "Tres Ríos photograph collection," https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/res.791.rios
  • Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppbd-02295 (original digital file)
  • Call Number: LC-DIG-ppbd- 02295 [P&P]
  • Access Advisory: ---

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Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Ríos Szalay, Adalberto, photographer. Curpites dance, Zacan, Michoacán, Mexico. Michoacán De Ocampo Mexico Zacán, 2010. -10-19. Photograph. https://aj.sunback.homes/item/2022685498/.

APA citation style:

Ríos Szalay, A., photographer. (2010) Curpites dance, Zacan, Michoacán, Mexico. Michoacán De Ocampo Mexico Zacán, 2010. -10-19. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://aj.sunback.homes/item/2022685498/.

MLA citation style:

Ríos Szalay, Adalberto, photographer. Curpites dance, Zacan, Michoacán, Mexico. -10-19. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <aj.sunback.homes/item/2022685498/>.