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Our Danza Azteka Program
Florentino Figueroa is the son of Pedro Espana Figueroa and has been in the danza all of his life.
Our Danza Azteka Program is taught by Irene Ramirez, Director of GRUPO XIHUACOATL. Ms. Ramirez, whose photograph appears here, has dedicated her adult life to working with young people and teaching them the traditions of the danza. She or her designee works with the children of Sacramento Montessori School on Mondays and Wednesdays and occasionally on Fridays. The children dance to the drum and wear their authentic ankle bracelets (in the Nahualt language, the name is “ayoyotes”) and carry their rattles (in Spanish, “sonajas”) as they learn the steps to the various dances.
GRUPO XIHUACOATL is a Sacramento-based Aztec Dance group with over 65 members. Grupo Xihuacoatl means “Female Serpent” in English. In the Aztec Dance tradition, the Female Serpent is associated with the teaching of children.
The Group has been in existence for over ten years, and it holds its practices, which are open to the public, every Monday and Wednesday at the Raley’s Branch of the Boys and Girls Club in Downtown Sacramento.
The Group is one of many under the direction of Pedro Espana Figueroa. Mr. Figueroa is the Capitan General of the parent group, QUINTO SOL, that is based in Axiochiapan, a small city in the State of Morelos in Mexico. Under Mr. Figueroa’s direction, over 1,500 dancers (“danzantes”) in Mexico, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Jose, Chicago, Minneapolis, and a small town in rural Utah learn of the traditions of the ancient Aztecs.
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Danza Azteka Grounds Little Feet at SMS
At Sacramento Montessori School, we truly celebrate cultural diversity. And through the soul of song and the common language of dance, our children effortlessly learn others' heritage and traditions. Our Danza Azteka Program is living proof of this.
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Irene Ramriez, Director of Grupo Xihuacoatl and the teacher of the danza at Sacramento Montessori School, is pictured here as she participates in a ceremony in Axiochiapan, Morelos, Mexico.
The danza is an important part of the lives of Latinos and Native Americans in the United States. Through danza, young people immerse themselves in the knowledge of their ancient roots. It binds them to their culture that respects life, Mother Earth, and their communities. Danza reinforces dedication and discipline, and it disallows negative behaviors that devalue the honorable beliefs and traditions of these youngsters' culture.
And roots ground us all....
The beat of the Aztec drums beckons all little feet to come together, and rich costumes remind us of life's colorful diversity. We learn far more than moves and mere dance steps: We learn to embrace life and celebrate the uniquely creative contributions of others' heritage. Yes, little ones learn that dance dresses diversity in color, tradition, and the very heartbeat of life itself....
Come; let your little one(s) dance with us at Sacramento Montessori School...!
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