TRADITIONAL DANCES OF EL SALVADOR MAGAZINE:
An illustrated review of the most famous dances in El Salvador.
Ellaborated and Designed by: Michell Ramirez Reading and Conversation in English I Universidad Tecnolรณgica de El Salvador San Salvador, El Salvador 2017
This illustrated magazine contains information regarding to a part of El Salvador’s culture: Traditional Dances. The importance of the dances in Salvadoran culture and how those have changed throughout the time. Also, it includes general information to locate readers in the context of the country. There is a visual representation of each important dance, as well as, the region where those belong to and the customs dancers have to wear when performing the traditional dances. The purpose of this work is merely educational. The main target is the class of Reading and Conversation in English I from Universidad Tecnologica de El Salvador. This example includes a brief information of the dances in the country in order to preserve this valuable information for new generations.
Competency to develop with this magazine: To understand the importance of knowing about the traditions and costumes of a country.
Element of the competency To read about the different kinds of dances in each region of the country.
GENERAL DATA
El Salvador is a small country in the Central America region. The country is wellknown for being called “El Pulgarcito de America�, the reason of the nickname is because of the small size of the country. Despite of its size, El Salvador is a rich country in terms of culture. There are 14 departments in which citizens are preserving the traditions and costumes.
El Salvador is located to the South-West of Central America and on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, is the only country in the region that has no coast in the Atlantic Ocean. Also, it is divided in 14 departments and San Salvador is the capital city. The weather in the country is nice and warm, it seems that the whole year is summer, but there are two seasons only; Summer and Winter. Do Not consider Winter as cold, it is only about rains sometimes. The country counts with its national symbols.
National bird: Torogoz
National Flower: Flor de Izote
National Tree: Maquilishuat
To continue, there is a small presentation of the most popular dances in El Salvador and where they come from.
The Dance of the Chapetones Place of origin: Panchimalco, E.S. In honor to: The Virgin del Rosario This dance is executed in the town of Panchimalco. Twelve gentlemen dressed in tuxedos and in shoes appear. A lady dressed in white that represents the Queen and is wearing a headband on her head accompanies them. The dance imitates Spaniard manners and ridicules them with ceremonious and languid movements to the music of a delicate waltz. The dancers repeat the following sentences: " Y que les parece señores caballeros,
y dice que cosa impresiona si pudiera yo casarme con niña Lucrecia de Castilla, ofreciéndole mis candelas aunque no las tenga aquí pero mandaré un correo a la ciudad de Uropa que me traiga mis monedas para poderme casar con ella”.
The Dance of the little Mare This dance is from "Lenca" origin and is executed by Indian towns in the eastern region of El Salvador. The center dancer imitates a mare, dancing barefoot or with sandals wearing a very well imitated horse head, a pack tied to his waist and a hind tail. Four Indians dance around the mare with wide sticks in their hands. This dance ends simulating a fight. The mare intervenes during the fight, separates them ending the fight by kicking and thumping all around, which is her principal role in the dance.
The Dance of the little Bull This dance is executed at the principal feasts of the towns called "Nonualcos", especially in San Pedro. A man disguised as a "little bull", with horns on his head and a long hind tail comes out. There also appear bullfighters disguised and masked dancing to the tone of drums and whistles attacking the little bull. Also, the little bull follows the people. In some places, the little bull has fireworks and these ones are displayed in order for people to run away from it. This dance is very popular and one of the most symbolic ones from the country. After a while there is silence and rhymed verses are improvised, as follows: "Este torito lo traigo a comer zacate del balde sĂłlo por venir a bailar delante del seĂąor Alcalde". "Este torito lo traigo desde Santa Cruz Michapa y hoy yo no me voy de aquĂ sin llevarme aquella chata".
The Dance of Moors and Christians This dance is executed in almost every Indian town. The dancers simulate a battle that occurred centuries ago in Spain between Moors and Christians. They dress up with clothing of the time of the Spanish conquest. They carry swords, black boots and big masks decorated with antique coins that are placed around the head.
The Cumpas It is a traditional dance from the western region of El Salvador. Sonsonate, Ahuachapan have their festivities for their Saints and people from those towns get together. They greet each other and walk for long distances. They share time to
honor thir saints. The Cumpas is a dance for those festivities. The music was written by Mr. Jose Cabrera Valencia.
The Dance of the Wild Pig It is a very ancient dance of Indian origin. It is executed in almost all Indian towns in the country. The main dancer is disguised with wild pig skins and in the dance imitating the animal running. Also, there appears a man on the scene elegantly dressed and an old lady with a traditional outfit of the region and a big hat decorated with paper flowers. Another man disguised as a dog conducts de chorus. The members of the chorus are dressed with small shorts and small "pacaya" leaves skirts with colorful feathers on the head armed with bows and arrows or with wooden lances or long twigs from the "huizcoyol" tree.
The Dance of the Tiger Is one of the most ancient dances of the town of Izalco. It represents a mimic of a tiger hunt. A group of eight to ten Indians disguised as hunters, are able to hunt down a tiger after many twists, jumps and dances. They are dressed with a roughcotton pant folded up to the knee; bear torso and face covered with wooden masks that represent ancient gods. The one that represents the tiger is covered with tiger skins and wears a mask tiger on the head.
To conclude this magazine, the brief information provided shows a small part of the customs and traditions of a country. The traditions are to preserve and spread culture and origins of a country. The new generations are product of globalization and as a result, traditions practice are decreasing among population. Young people do not pay attention to information from their country, and tend to minimize their importance in order to adapt other cultures. The idea is to keep the traditions and to enrich the culture. Hopefully, this magazine will help to it.