Zacatecas

The company's version of Zacatecas is based on the state's incredible and peculiar musical style: Tamborazo Zacatecano (The Zacatecas Big Drum band). This Wind and percussion instruments band, is reminiscent of European ensembles left behind by the revolutionary movement of 1910. Local authorities in Central and Northern Mexico decided to use these musicians as Sunday entertainment in local town square gazebos.

The repertoire, composed initially of selected classical and semi-classical pieces, gave way to more traditional music, appealing to the taste of the locals . Thus jarabes, sones, polkas and other danceable rhythms became the selections of choice. Soon after, the bands left the gazebos and were booked to play at dances and other social affairs, or to follow a drinking party down the hillside streets of the city.

UNESCO Human Cultural Patrimony Designation

The gorgeous city of Zacatecas is one of the most treasured reliquaries of Mexico and has been declared Human Cultural Patrimony by UNESCO. We recommend this link for more details on Zacatecas.

Dress

Female costuming for the dance varies from region to region within the state. The women wear the traditional full ruffled calico skirt topped with a matching solid color blouse based on turn of the 20th century French couture. The men wear a pair of cowboy (Charro) pants, a white shirt covered with a dark jacket, tie a bandanna on their heads and a white sash on the waist. All dancing is done by couples and include lots of foot stomping.

La Marcha de Zacatecas: Mexico's Second National Anthem

In 1891, Genaro Codina composed "La Marcha Aréchiga" in honor of the govenor (who then changed the name to Marcha de Zacatecas) and won a bet he had made against his brother in law. However, after the revolution the "Zacatecas March" has become a forced identifier of any civic or commemorative heroic event. It is used in remote villages and large cities to announce the beginning of every activity from a civic assembly to the curtain raiser of a circus function, a starter for a movie theatre show or a school event; and it is recognized by every single Mexican national, as the second national anthem.