Dance of the Malinches from Dances of Mexico
Maker and role
Artist: Carlos Mérida, Guatemalan, 1891-1984
Year
1939
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Object detail
Media/Materials
Lithograph
Measurements
14 1/2 x 11 3/4in (36.8 x 29.8cm)
Credit line
Gift of Susan Toomey Frost
Accession number
2014.31.3
Object type
Department
Location
Further information
The Dance of the Malinches is performed by the Huave Indians of the southern part of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and especially in San Dionisio del Mar, an enchanting tropical village near the port of Salina Cruz. Its movements, though highly formalized, require a perfect combination of agility and training, for each dancer carries a double rhythm. While he marks one pattern with a rattle with one arm, the other arm follows a separate rhythm with a feather-trimmed bamboo. The costume is sober but sharply color-contrasted, which gives greater precision to the variation of development in the movements of the performers. The accompanying music is produced with flutes and drums.
Subject period
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