Cuando era chico, mi abuelo me decia que el orgullo de la gente Mexicana lo llevabamos cada uno dentro de nosotros mismos, que cada uno de nosotros teniamos la capacidad de ser lo que quisieramos, pero que siempre el mas culto de todos era el que tenia mas respeto a los pensamientos de los demas. Esto venia de un viejito que nunca tuvo escuela y fue cabrero casi toda su vida, que por pisos tenia tierra...dentro de su casa, y que siempre fue pobre...mas sin enbargo el se sentia rico por ser el jefe de la familia. Ahora que yo soy el que tengo mas años de los que quiero contar (me pase de los 40 a los 42...para que no haya dudas) reflecciono en las clases de vida que me dio mi abuelo, mi abuela tambien...nada mas que ella con el cinto, y me pongo nostalgico, pues en ese entonces teniamos la mente clara en lo que significaba ser Mexicano.

El orguollo de ser Mexicano nada más lo puede tener el que esta consiente del lo que realmente signigica "Mexicano". Hay unos que estamos fuera del país y casi no nos acordamos de la buena educación que nuestros padres nos enseñaron (o nuestros abuelos) y que hoy cuando tenemos que reflejar la imagen del "Mexicano" la usamos menos. Hoy en dia en los Estados Unidos, donde vivimos muchos Mexicanos y disque Mexicanos, ponemos mas atención en lo peor de nuestras personalidades, olvidandonos que la cultura comienza con la buena educación, pues el ser Mexicano no por si solo nos hace buenos elementos, sino que el ser buenos seres humanos si nos permite ser buenos Mexicanos.

Hoy toco este tema porque el otro día tuve un disgusto con una persona sobre el uso de la palabra "Chicano", la cual no quiero asociar con mis paginas web. Estas paginas estan dedicadas "SOLAMENTE" a la cultura Mexicana, no porque no respeto a la cultura Chicana, sino que quiero que todo el enfoque se ponga en la educación de lo nuestro, y si puedo opinar, lo chicano, en mi ver, no hace otra cosa que dividir a los latinos y educar a la juventud de hoy con ignorancia.

Hasta ahora no e visto lo positivo en la palabra chicano, todo lo que veo es gente que opina sin saber, que actua sin pensar y que trata de asociarse a una cultura que no conoce. El otro día me llego una ponencia que la palabra chicano venia de los Aztecas y que se escribia "Xicano", pues si, me lo conto, pero no tenia en que apoyar su teoria.

Si realmente quieren nombrarse México-Americanos por favor tengan mucho cuidado, pues se pueden hechar una responsabilidad que no conocen. Vayanse a México a pasar un buen tiempo y convivan con la gente de alla, conozcan sus constumbres, sus pensamientos y opiniones. Cuando vuelvan quisas tengan un enfoque que realmente identifique al Mexicano...somos obreros,trabajadores de oficina, vendedores ambulantes, y si, tambien somos doctores, abogados, ingenieros y architectos.

Cuando pienso en lo que realmente significa la Mexicanidad, me acuerdo lo que me paso en Guerrero en un viaje de investigación. Queriendo conocer la "Chilena" mas a fondo fuimos siete investigadores de la danza Mexicana a Juchitan, Guerrero, (si, si hay un Juchitan en Guerrero) a una boda. Para ver como vailaban, nos hicimos parte de el pueblo, y en la fiesta, comimos, bailamos y tomamos (quisas un poco de mas) con todos. Al terminar la fiesta, nos llevaron a un hotel cercas de la playa, y nos hospedamos la noche (hasta por cierto el cuarto del hotel no tenia puertas). La siguiente mañana nos levantamos con un gran conocimiento de la "Chilena" y una cruda que no se imaginan. al lado del hotel habia un restaurante al aire libre donde una señora estaba cocinando. El restaurante era humilde pero parecia limpio y al llegar nos saludo la señora y nos sentamos ordenando café. No habia, haci que mandamos a los chamacos hijos de ella a la tienda a comprar café, que la señora lo confecciono de la mejor manera que he visto. Luego nos dio hambre y le preguntamos que si tenia huevos para desayunar, nos dijo que no, que no se acostumbraba a comer huevos en esta región. Le pregunte que mas nos podria preparar, que ya teniamos hambre. Dijo que podia mandar a los niños (ya quisiera que los mios me hicieran caso igual que estos...se los quise cambiar pero no pude) a pescar, siendo yo de Mazatlán, me agrado la idea de comer pescado, pues alli comiamos pescado todo el día. Al rato llegaron los chiquillos (a esta altura ya le estaba diciendo "Mijo" al mayor por si acaso me lo cambiaba la seño) con unas mojarras de tamaño gigante (haci como las que pescaba en mazatlán) y las cocinó que quedaron para chuparse los dedos. Y haci pasamos la mañana, por cierto una de las mas agradables de mi vida, y como se estaba haciendo tarde, le pedimos la cuenta. No se imaginan la sorpresa que nos dió cundo nos dije que nos fueramos en paz...que no era nada. Siendo el hombre de negocios que soy me puse a sermonear a la mamá de mi hijo (ya casi la tenia convencida) y que si queria tener exito en su restaurante que tenia que cobrar a todos por igual, incluyendo a nosotros, la amistand es una cosa, pero el negocio es el negocio. No se imaginan la cara que puso...y la que puse yo, cuando nos dijo que no era nada... que no era restaurant...que estabamos en su casa.

Dios queira que cuando vayan ustedes a México, se encuentren a gente tan buena como doña Guadalupe, que aunque siendo pobre, nos dio a todos una lección de lo que realmente siginifica ser MEXICANO. Gracias Doña Lupe...y abajo tiene la dirección donde me puede mandar a su hijo...cualquiera de los 8 que tiene.

Have you ever wondered where the songs that we dance to come from, who the people that made them were, and just how accurate do we dance them in comparison to the way they do them. Just recently, I did, and much to my surprise I was made available a book that was written to reflect the rich folklore of the state of Nuevo León, written by Profesor Jaime Guerrero Hernández. He now is considered by many to be carrying the torch that once belonged to Profesor Jesús Daniel Andrade González, who is thought of as the pioneer of folklore in the state of Nuevo León. I Also found an article on one of the most proliferate composers of regional music in the same state of Nuevo León. Do you recognize the songs "El Cerro de la Silla", "Evangelina", "De China a Bravo". Well the man who wrote them all is Antonio Tanguma, who, after reading his story, seems to be the model of a "Mexicano" that I have in my mind. His simplicity, nobility and just plain honesty reminds me of my own grandfather, truly, this is one article that you just have to read, and I hope, you can hold back the tears.

Those of us who have been dancing or been around dance for a long time, remember that when we talked about dances from the northern part of México, we usually just called them "norte" and mixed them from all over the northern part of the republic (yes, our country, México, is a republic). We referred to just about everything as "Norte". Well there is a diference between Chihuahua and Sonora, or Coahuila or Nuevo León, even though the songs may have the same names and interpreters, they are sometimes done differently in the various states that a region may encompass. Nuevo León, in particular, is known more for it's Shotís, Redova and Huapango styles with some polkas. The Huapangos really did come from the Huasteca and were given their unique style by the locals. Nuevo león actually is more than one region, it's not only "norte", but, it has difenrent norteño styles within like, Región Linares and Región Central. Also I found, the old dances from theSpainish and French influences and also the transplanted Tlaxcaltecas, and other danzas de Nuevo León are explained. In short the State is filled with gems that are frequently ignored by the superficial knowledge that we give ourselves. All of México is rich with customs of music and dance...I will now leave you to enjoy this issue of "El Mitote" (by the way only 5 people knew what "mitote" means, more on this later) the monthly, bimonthly or quarterly (but definatly, not bi-weekly) electronic folkórico magazine. Again, any comments are to be sent to the editor in chief (me) and also, if you write an article that you would like to include, please send it for consideration...hasta la proxima, y que esten bien,

Our review covers the show on saturday night Jan. 18, 1997. After bragging to my friends in the Los Angeles area and some of the México teachers, I am glad that not one of my friends showed up, I will explain.

Azteca, performed by G.F. México-Technotitlan was not up to the standards that I have seen this group perform before. The dancers were not in time with each other and seemed at times to be lost, in particular, one of the mature male dancers was always late on the jumps and made the rest of the coreography seem uneven. The energy was there, but not the precise execution we are used to see this group perform with, also, the drum playing should be improved to be on par with the dancing (upwards).

Veracruz was performed by the children of Danzantes de Alegría directed byPatricia Salvador, of course the kids can do no wrong and almost stole the show with their genuine innocence and pretty good execution, even though the smallest got lost once in a while, they always seemed to find their way back. The lady sitting behind me kept yelling, Nathan , Nathan...and I said where?...She never did answear me, I'll bet anything that was grandma, way to go Nathan.

Puebla was performed by G.F. Alika del Nayar, directed by Cipriano Galindo and Batty Galindo. I have to say here, that it is a joy to see Cipriano dance, he not only seems to always stand out with his force and timming, but, he seems to actually be having fun, and somehow, he has found others of the same character, specially a young girl who came out on a solo with batty during one of the dances, I could not believe that someone could actually beat Batty in the presence department, but at the very least she's her equal, way to go whoever you are (by the way her dancing skills are of the best quality I've seen). The group was not perfect, by far, but the courage to do something different, something not commonly seen gives this cuadroa a 9+.

San Luis Potosí, Danza de Cuanegros performed by G.F. México-Tenochtitlan.This is where hector's group needed a compass. Seemed that the group was confused on where to go next, even though they found their way...eventually. Not good, too much hesitation made me nervous while watching, thinking they may actually go the wrong way, like some of the dancers I've danced with and had to litterally push in the proper direction. Costumes were nice and music was unique.

Nayarit was performed by some of the adults and children of Danzantes de Alegría. It was great to see the kids having fun, don't forget this is the future of folklórico in the USA and it is up to us to direct which way it is going. Good job P.S. Was Nathan dancing this one?...which one is he?

Guerrero, was performed by G.F. Alika del Nayar and, here again, even though the group was not perfect the performance was very pleasant to watch, specially when Cipriano and Batty did a tarima solo, everyone in the audience seemed to enjoy it.

Durango was performed by G.F. México-Technotitlan. This is the one cuadro I was wating to see, and much to my surprise, it was the worst of the night. Seems to me that even though we are to give alot of energy when dancing, it can get to the point where all that energy gets to look very fake, specially when the performance does not call for it. This is one of the regions of México that can still be seen in it's native state, performed not by artistic dancers, but, by just regular folks having a party or some other event. It trully is a treasure, and when you see it performed correctlly, like by the group directed by Federico Morales from Durango, it can really be enjoyable. I could not believe my eyes when it seemed that the ladies were just being dragged around the stage, and, worst of all, when at the end of one dance, the girls were sticking out their butts, looked pretty ugly to me. Aren't these suppossed to be very lady like movements, according to Federico Morales they are...and he invented the darn dances (for the stage, that is).

Intermission: Very enjoyable, losts of people to gossip with...best part of the night.

Tlaxcala was performed by G.F. México-Tenochtitlan. Here again the cuadro was unique and should of been one of the best of the night, but, the dancers were too energetic and seemed very fake, we have to remember that we are on stage when we perform and this is supposed to be an artistic representation of the dances, and it was not performed up to par for this group's potential. I was, to say the least, very dissappointend with this cuadro.

Nayarit, Coasta was performed by some of the adults and the children of Danzantes de Alegría. This is probably the cuadro I enjoy Patricia dance the most, she just seems to really enjoy herself... like if she was living it, not just dancing it, and, even though we've all gotten older, she seems to have the same agility that she had when I met her and I was dancing in her group...I was still looking for Nathan...no luck yet.

Vaqueria Yucateca was performed by G.F. Alika del Nayar. I don't know much about Yucatan, but, I must say that it was enjoyable. The coreography was well done and the pasos seemed well executed. It was funny to see Ciplriano loose his alpargatas and just keep on dancing, he then went off the stage put his white boots on and came back with the same smile that he went out with...like if nothing had happened...this is the perfect example of what folklórico dancing is all about, we Mexicans care alot about or shows, but when something does go wrong, it really is no big deal, and you just know what to do by instinct...good job Cipriano for showing us how to enjoy ourselves...and for giving us something to talk about.

Jalisco was performed by G.F. México Tenochtitlan and was joined by a few members of Alika del Nayar for the finale, Culebra. Here again the dances were overperformed to the point that it seemed to be a satire of the dances, not good.

p.s. These opinions belong exclusively to me and were not infuenced by anyone...I tried but could not get free tickets. I sure hope that next year we get to see the show again and Grupo Foklórico México-Tenochtitlan performs to the capabilities that we all know they are capable of. I was bragging to the people in Los Angeles that this was the best performing Dance group risiding in the US, and I hope that they prove me right in the not distant future.

p.p.s. I never did find Natan...could someone send me his picture.