LATIN AMERICA MEXICO

Before the first Spanish landed in what we now call Mexico in the early 16th century, powerful empires such as those of the Olmecs, the Maya and the Aztecs ruled in waves. Spanish “Conquistadores” imposed their language, culture and religion, ruling "New Spain" for three hundred years. In 1821 a coalition of indigenous people, "Mestizos and conservative Mexican landowners achieved formal independence, and in the 1910s Mexicans, following leaders such as Emiliano Zapata, overthrew the still-ruling Spanish elite and declared Mexico a land for all its people.

Today Mexico is an exceptionally vibrant modern nation, that values its wealth of traditional music and culture. Even as it faces challenges social and political challenges aplenty, Mexico, independent and hopeful, is a nation that ontinues to strive for peace.

Son Jarocho is a Spanish/Creole/African musical fusion from Mexico’s southern coastal plain area of Veracruz. Son Jarocho musicians gather often in public festive musical and dance parties called Fandangos during which all members of the community are welcome to participate in making music.

In class we haul out our imaginary Tarima (rectangular wooden platform that doubles as a dance stage and percussion instrument) and all thoroughly enjoy son jarocho dancing.