La Junta tribune., 1899-06-14
the nArAcm,nes DANCE.
An interesting Description Of the
Mexican National Dance.


The Matachines dance given by
the members OF the local Mexican
society is to be one Of the principal
attractions of the Fourth Of July
celebration. Although very old
dance, there are probably but very
few people in this vicinity who
ever witnessed it. We are indebt-
ed to Mr.. Vidal Shoblo, of this
city, for the following description
OF its features:
The Matachines is a Mexican
dance of grotesque evolutions in
which sixteen persons take part,
fifteen men and one young lady.
Twelve Of the men are the original
Matachines and dance six on each
side in columns of twos. or the
remaining four, one takes the part
OF the monarca (Which in English
means Monarchy, and it is he who
! does the most graceful and artistic
dancing-in and out and between
the columns. Then comes the
"Matinche. This part is taken
by the young lady, who dances ex-
clusively with the monarca to the
time of a sort OF slow music in
which the monarca does his pret-
tiest and most graceful evolutions.
Then comes Gel Toro" (the
bulb dressed in covering made
out of a buffalo robe or some sort
of hide, which reaches to the
top of his head, on which are
placed two small horns to give the
appearance of a bull. In each
hand he carries two sticks or
canes, on which he leans and uses
as front legs, as he dances on four
legs. Then comes the last char
acter in the dance, who takes the
part of Gel Abuelo," sort of
bogey man. His evolutions are
grotesque and rather on the order
of the American clown. He is the
individual upon whom falls the
task of making the crowd roar
with laughter.
The dance itself is quite unique
and no doubt will be enjoyed by
everybody, especially by those
who have never seen it before. 1t
is on the pantomime order, as ev-
erything is done quietly and with
clock work precision. The cos
tunes are somewhat different from
anything seen by an American
audience upon ony stage or in any
street performance. They resem-
bic the attire of Turk in regard
to cut, but not in colors. The
costume OF each of the Matachines
consists of a pair OF very wide
white pantaloons with ruffles at
the bottom, very wide silk sash
with fringe at both ends worn
about the body and then sort of
half mask which conceals the
features from half way up the nose
to below the chin, similar to that
worn by the women of Turkey.
On the head is worn a sort OF a
toqne or high head gear, coming
to point about six inches above
the head, the front of which is
sometimes literally covered with
gold and silver jewelry OF every
description. In the right hand
each matachin carries "palma."
1t is made OF three pieces OF thin
board about three inches wide and
ljoined together at the bottom,
where it is held by the hand and
spread out like fan. These are
painted in variety of colors. In
the left hand they carry small
tin can partly filled with small
stones or shot. The can is placed
inside Of a handkerchief, being
gathered at the top, which forms a
handle for the hand. With these
the Matachines are supposed to
keep time to the music while they
dance, in the same manner as with
the castanets, at the same time
waving the palma" in their right
hand in graceful and timely ac-
compartment to the different
changes of the music.
The music itself is unique and
adapted especially for this per-
Torrance. There are several