The Mexican Hat Dance Basics

Everyone has seen the Mexican Hat Dance on the old Bugs Bunny cartoons. But few people really know anything about the Mexican Hat Dance. In actuality, the Mexican Hat Dance isn't danced on a sombrero. That misconception is based on a dance performed by Anne Pavlova.

The Mexican Hat Dance has earned its place in the history books. The Mexican Hat Dance was first choreographed for a government sponsored fiesta that commemorated the end of the Mexican Revolution. The music itself was composed in the nineteenth century by music professor Jesus Gonzalez Rubio. In 1924 the dance was declared Mexico's national dance and was chosen to be taught in schools as a way to bind together the Mexican identity.

The Mexican Hat Dance has a rythm that that is as lively as the music, increasing in speed with the quicker beat. The dance is a visual story of courtship and love that can be performed by a single couple or several couples. The basic dance begins with the man trying to impress his chosen mate with his machismo and his foot stomping and tapping.

The first stage is flirtateous and soon gives way to the second stage where the man is thought to be drunk with his actions. He is then rejected because of his drunkenness. Eventually the man succeeds with his courtship. At this point the hat he has is thrown down will be picked up by the woman, and while she is bent down he kicks his leg over top of her head. This action is meant to show that he has conquered her. The Mexican Hat Dance finishes with a small military march and a kiss hidden behind the sombrero.

When the Mexican Hat Dance is performed by a group, the dancers are split into couples. The couples hold hands during the dance and move around in a circle by doing a side step. This dance could possibly be related more to just courtship, but also freindship between the participants.

The Mexican Hat Dance can also be performed by one person. It is quite different when one person dances instead of a couple or group. A single dancer, male, throws the sombrero into the air and then dances around it with a skipping motion on one foot and with his fist on his waist. The dancer revolves in opposite directions while the dance is performed.

The traditional clothing wore by the dancers is the charro and China Poblana outfit. The charro is a suit of pants, vest and a jacket with silver buttons going down the side. The China Poblana is a colorful dress with a plump skirt and capped sleeves on the white embroidered shirt.

Today the dance is popular in Mexico and the Southwestern United States.

Historical facts are according to Jarabe tapatio at Wikipedia and Poushali Ganguly, Mexican Hat Dance at Buzzle.com.