Jalisco: Jarabe Tapatío
The Jarabe Tapatío is the most representative song from the Jalisco region. This is also the place of origin of the charros, the chinas and the mariachi that have become symbols of Mexican culture throughout the world.
Jalisco: La Negra
The Jalisco region is known for its jarabes and sones, which are popular and spontaneous melodies that people sing and dance to. Those melodies are the result of a fusion of Spanish and Indigenous music styles.
El Son de la Negra is a traditional song from south Jalisco and has become one of Mexico’s most popular melodies. What many people don’t know is that the lyrics are about a locomotive.
Jalisco: Danza de los Machetes
Another typical dance from the Jalisco region is the dance with the machetes. The men demonstrate their abilities with those big knives, which serve as weapons and as practical tools for their daily work too.
Having its origins in the Mestizo culture, this dance shows the contrast between the men’s strength and wildness and the women’s elegance and grace.
Veracruz: La Bamba
The Son Jarocho developed from a fusion of the Spanish seguidillas and fandangos and the Cuban zapateos (tap steps) and guajiros.
The melody is played by a harp that enhances the piece with harmony and a touch of son music. The most known version is La Bamba, also known as the hymn of Veracruz. It is just as representative for Mexican culture and music as the Jarabe Tapatío.
The dance represents a couple who, using their feet, tie a ribbon into a bow while they dance.
Chihuahua: Polka
The roots of this Polka from north Mexico clearly lead back to the European Polka. Nevertheless, it is obvious that this is a highly “mexicanised” interpretation of Polka.
