Dance Of The Old Men

We spent a beautiful sunny afternoon wandering around Pátzcuaro enjoying the sights and sounds of the weekend crowds. The "Dance of the Old Men" group was performing across the street from where we were enjoying our cappuccino & mocha, so I made a beeline for them as soon as I paid. The dance is said to have originated in Michoacán as a parody of the tottering steps of the viejitos (little old men) representing the Spanish conquistadors. It starts slow, with the dancers hunched over barely moving, but by the end, shown here, the participants are dancing enthusiastically to very rapid music. They always gather a crowd by the time they are finished, most everyone with their camera out (like me).