Music and Dance are Part of My Identity



Music and dance has always been an inherit part of a culture, reflecting the passion and sentiment of a nation. Music and dance is associated with religion, suffering, joy, and often depicts traditions and events in a country’s history. The older the country, the longer the tale, the more likelihood that culture will be impacted by difficult eras of history. For example, the natives of the Americas have had an ancient religion that including ceremonial and spiritual dances to various gods. They had dances that portrayed important events of life such as weddings, harvest, and war. When the Europeans conquered and enslaved the natives, their occupancy brought their culture which mingled with the native culture. Some tribes and cultures were more affected than others, but it is most evident that as the cultures mixed, new dances and music emerged. Even though not every person in a nation is a dancer or musician, when the majority sees or hears their folklore culture, somehow they hear the voice of their ancestors. They feel gratitude and pride because it is part of their identity. This is what sparks my interest in international music and dance. Not only does it give me pride in my ethnicity, but it also makes me appreciate the diversity of each unique culture.

My family performs Mexican folkloric dances. My grandmother is from Veracruz, Mexico, which is where she learned the dances of her ancestors. As she raised her children, including my mother, she taught each and every one of them Mexican folk dancing. My mother followed in these glorious footsteps and taught my siblings and me these dances. I love learning about Mexico’s music and dance. It is fascinating to see how some indigenous dances and music have been untouched by the Europeans while others were greatly affected by the European influence. For example, the dances from the state of Oaxaca are completely original. The people of have made great effort to maintain their originality – in music, costume and dance. On the other hand, Mexico has fantastic polkas. Most of them are influenced by various European countries, particularly the French. Mariachi music is probably the most globally recognized Mexican music. It is also a product of a mixture of cultures.

My mother started a dance group called Ballet Folklorico Sarita

 

Whenever I hear Mariachi music, I am overwhelmed with emotions. All at once I feel proud of my heritage, grateful to my ancestors, and ebullient. This music not only makes me think of my ancestors and my pride in my heritage, but it also makes me think of my family. Something my family and I have always done together is dance and enjoy the liveliness of music. For example, just a couple years ago it was my grandparents’ 50^th anniversary. My grandpa wanted all of his posterity to come together and put on a dance show. That summer, my cousins, siblings and I practiced dances for hours. The night of our performance was a night to remember. This memory came from music and dance. In fact, many of my family memories come from festivals and dance performances. I have a genuine passion for music and dance; it is part of who I am.