Guelaguetza Dance Festival is a famous dance festival held in the month of July. This festival represents the unity of the different communities in the region of Oaxaca. Oaxaca is a beautiful city, which prides itself in the diverse traditions and cultures. The tourism industry witnesses a boom during this time of the year with visitors from many parts of the world arriving in large numbers. Guelaguetza Dance Festival gives a typical Moroccan feel with the folk dances and songs.
Guelaguetza Dance Festival in Oaxaca City is a celebration of the rich cultural heritage of the Oaxaca region. This festival is also popular as the ‘Mondays on the Hill’. It begins on the second last Monday of July and completes on the last Monday of July. Everyone participates in the festival irrespective of the religion and community. Wearing traditional dresses for the festival faces covered by masks, people dance in the tunes of folk songs.
The folk dances are vibrant entertainment for the crowd. The Oaxaca state has 16 ethno- linguistic groups. Tourists can see the different groups performing dances of their region. The dancers end their dance by throwing products to the crowd. The items thrown are produce of the region.
Origin of Guelaguetza Dance Festival:
This dance festival has its origin in the pre-Hispanic time. In the local language, which is Zapotec, the meaning of the word Guelaguetza is offering. In the villages, it was customary to bring necessary food items in occasion like wedding, baptism and feast day. This tradition of offering later on took the shape of a festival.
Venue of Celebration:
Previsously the locals organize the festival on the Cerro del Fortin or the Fortin Hill. in the year 1970, an auditorium was dedicated to performances of the Guelaguetza Dance Festival. With a seating capacity of 11,000 people, this auditorium also allows a view of the city.
Traditions:
The festival has a hostess every year who preside over the list of events. The woman is selected to represent the Centeotl or the corn goddess. Selection of the women is done on the basis of the women having knowledge about the culture and tradition.
Tickets:
To see this dance festival, uniquely of Mexico, tourists will have to purchase tickets.
Travel.MapsofWorld.com provides complete information on Guelaguetza Dance Festival.
| 
