Jakartans get a taste of Mexican soul and spirit

By Mehru Jaffer

JAKARTA (JP): Mexicans have always celebrated their independence anniversary with much enthusiasm. But this September, they decided to share their joy with the whole world. A feisty fiesta held in Jakarta recently had most people tapping away to Mexican tunes for days and helping themselves to meals topped with little else but garbonzo salad, and guisos a la Mexicana.

Two evenings of swirling and stomping on stage at the on-going Gedung Kesenian International Festival did not seem to be enough, so a third performance was organized at the last minute to accommodate large crowds also wanting a taste of all the energy, song and dance styles, some of which date back to 15th century Mayan and Aztec Indian tribal cultures.

More than 30 musicians and dancers from the Dance Company of the State of Aguascalientes gave glimpses into the diverse soul and spirit of Mexico at performances held throughout the city, including shopping malls and hotels during a 10-day visit. The colors of the costumes seemed like they were inspired by a rainbow and the vibrant music by drums rolled out by the gods. The show also touched upon dance and music held at sacred ceremonies, and the frolicking that goes on at folk parties.

Particularly beautiful was the solo Deer Dance of the Yaqui Indians evoking the boundless beauties of nature and man's role in its slow destruction. The traditional rope twirler was very much there, spinning his lasso-like lariat and skipping in and out of the circles he made with his rope to the beat of thunderous applause from the audience.

Beauty queens added that bit of glamour to all the song and dance as they modeled different costumes worn in different parts of the country.

Mariana Rios Franco, Miss Mexico 2000, thought the extravaganza was much more than just a performance. What the 22 year old really enjoyed was sharing with people here a little from her own culture in the hope that Mexico would stand out as a place rich and diverse, and its people seeped in traditions just like Indonesians.

Aleyandra Lopez Rabago, 21, and reigning queen of San Marcos Fair, Aguascalientes, does not look upon herself as a dumb blonde. Studying to be an accountant, Aleyandra feels that beauty pageants allow young women like herself to act as a cultural ambassador which is a very responsible job in helping people of different cultures and countries to appreciate each other better. Due to her status as a beauty queen, she has also been able to collect funds to help 12 children in her country with heart problems.

Also part of the same troupe is Monica Raquel Gutierrez Casillas, 24, a former beauty queen who is specializing in working with children with learning difficulties. She is proud to represent Mexican women during this tour of Indonesia. She loves being part of the performances when they are held at the shopping malls as she gets a better feel for the people who live here. When she is lucky, she even gets to glimpse local artistes practicing their own colorful art in the corridors of the mall.

In the end, most felt that 10 days were just too short for a visit to faraway Indonesia. Mesmerized by the mariachi music of the Mexicans, most people in Jakarta wished for more. The standing ovation to each performance was a testimony to how much the mariachis are appreciated here.

Dressed in silver-studded charro outfits with wide brimmed hats and playing a variety of instruments like the violin, guitar, trumpets and of course the five-string guitar, the mariachi sang mostly about machismo, love, betrayal, death, politics, revolutionary heroes and even animals, like the evergreen La Cucaracha, reminding some in the audience of their own dangdut music. It is true that the mariachi is of the masses, however, he is said to be much more than just music. He is described as a total revolution that is also spiritual in nature.

As music, mariachi has thrived only because the people have always supported it. It was the criollos of the 19th century who fought to wipe out every last trace of the Spanish presence in Mexico and millions of mariachis were seen wearing traditional workmen's clothes of white pants and a straw hat, wandering at that time from town to town singing songs of revolutionary heroes and enemies and carrying news from one place to another.

Jalisco is the state from where the best mariachis are said to be born and whose music represents the people of Mexico at every independence day celebration, even today. Due to its immense popularity, the music and dances from Jalisco are among the most recognizable of all Mexican dances and have come to stay in the collective mind of the world as the traditional dance of the country.

They excite the onlooker with their fast pace and with costumes that come in the most brilliant of colors. Many of the dances are playful duets between girls and boys and focus on traditional Mexican courtship.

What these dances did in the past was to repeatedly bring people and communities together within the country. And this time, it is hoped that the mariachis have also helped the people of Indonesia to appreciate Mexicans anew.