Our Stories
This part of Mexican culture was never taught in public schools. We learned about Rome, Greece, and Egypt. But we never learned a thing about Mexico’s Indigenous culture. That’s the importance of Chicano Studies in this country—to learn our history and culture. Danza Azteca is thousands of years old and is a blend of music, choreography, poetry, theatre and spiritual faith. We have learned that the mixture of Spanish Catholicism and Indigenous spirituality have double meanings, such as the cross, a mirror, and flowers.
This knowledge starts with your family’s history. Find out where your grandparents were born. Find out where their hometowns are located. Find out how they lived. Find out where you come from. My dad completed the second grade and then dropped out to help feed his family. He’s a very intelligent man and worked hard as a farmworker, janitor, and store clerk. My mom cleaned houses and became a secretary at a senior center. My parents can’t brag about having a Mercedes-Benz or vacation home, but they do brag about their son who has a PhD, a grandson who has a PhD, two daughters who have master’s degrees, and grandkids who have their master’s in education. For my parents, the promise of this country has been fulfilled by their hard work and by the hard work of their children who are firmly grounded in their roots.
And so, what I do with our dance group, Danza Mexi’cayotl, is try to teach the duality of knowledge, which grounds us and lifts us.
Helping our kids feel pride in their roots is the main reason I have continued offering the Danza Azteca classes to our youth since 1980.
Left to right Aida Flores, Beatrice Zamora Aguilar and Angelica Amiztl
Mario E. Aguilar Capitan-General de la danza
Mario E. Aguilar, Danza Mexi’cayotl class instruction Centro Cultural de la Raza, March 2022 (Photo courtesy Latino Legacy Foundation)
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San Diego Latino Legacy – Timeline • Milestones • Stories
Chapter 5 – The Chicano Cultural Renaissance
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