Danza del Venado | Michelle Felix

The Deer Dance

The deer is considered by the native people of Northwest Mexico as a holy creature. It masters and balances wildlife in the Mexican desert, one of the most biodiverse desert regions in the world. The dance ritual practiced by Yaquis and Yoreme-Mayos integrates this worldview into Catholic celebrations such as Christmas or Easter. The religious syncretism is indivisible and shapes the contemporary indigenous identity, which arises through dance and music at the Ceremonial Centers of Sonora and Sinaloa.

Research

With a background in Contemporary Dance, Michelle Felix' exploration is guided by the narrative function of traditional instruments and the perception of the body as an archive and medium for transmitting indigenous memory. This work has been carried out since 2015 through documentation and practice within the Mayo-Yoreme Ceremonial Centers located along the Fuerte River in Sinaloa.

Eastern in Tehueco 2023

Deer Dancer and Musicians (Photo: Luis Ángel Noriega)

On Holy Saturday, after burning all Fariseo-masks, the activity concentrates under the Ramada: A log structure decorated with fresh leaves that represents the Juya Ania, the world of the primeval forest.

Under the Ramada they venerate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, singing and dancing until dawn on Easter Sunday. The Deer Musicians (Maaso buikleerom) play the water drum (Ba' bueja) and two scrapers (Jirukia) while they sing along melodies about wildlife in the indigenous language (Yoremnoki).

Michelle Félix as Deer Dancer (Photo: Luis Ángel Noriega)

There are preset melodies for certain times of the day and night. Each of them must be performed by the Deer Dancer (Maaso) with the help of his instrumentation: Butterfly cocoons wrapped around the ankles (Ténabarim), a belt of deer hooves (Rujutiriam), rattles (Ayales), the red cloth (Paayum) and the deer head (Maaso Koba).

The musicians choose the passage to sing. The Dancer determines with his rattles the beginning and the end of this.

Pascola and Toropochi (Photo: Luis Ángel Noriega)

The Deer does not dance alone. Four Pascola Dancers also make the commitment to dance all night long until dawn. The group is led by the Pascola Mayor, in charge of opening and closing the party with a speech in the indigenous language.

The Pascolas dance alternately in two configurations: when they do so accompanied by violin and harp, they use their mask (Capepujba) on the side, representing a human. When the Toropochi plays simultaneously the reed flute (Baaca Cusia) and the drum (Tampora), the Pascolas place their masks over their faces to transform into wild animals.

Michelle Félix dancing for 'alms' (Photo: Luis Ángel Noriega)

In Tehueco, those in charge of hiring the dancers and musicians of the Ramada are the so-called Mandones, who must engage each one of them in advance personally through the 'greeting' (Sewa). It is make out of a red cloth, a pack of cigarettes, matches, some coins and a red flower for the Pascolas and a white one for the Deer.

The Deer and Pascolas that have not made such a commitment and want to contribute to the celebration may ask permission to dance for 'alms'.

Related Projects

Supports

Dachverband Tanz Deutschland, Distanz Solo