These include the salsa, the rumba, the conga and the cha-cha. On the other hand, Mexican dance did not achieve the same early prominence. Indigenous dances from Mexico were not seen regularly in the United States until the 1960s and '70s. Thanks to the Chicano movement, a new wave of organizations that teach and perform traditional dances have emerged in the past 40 years. Folklorico is now performed at various celebrations, functions and parades throughout Arizona.
Many Mexican dances have religious undertones while others depict regions in Mexico.
Called bailes regionales , these routines are stylized versions of ancient indigenous dances. The costumes, steps and music all represent a particular region in Mexico. The Spanish presence in Mexico had an influence on dance. Some Mexican dances and costumes appear similar to flamenco , the traditional Spanish dance. In this dance, a story is told through steps and movements.