Michoacan is home to the comical Dance of the Little Old Men, or Danza de los Viejitos. This nativity represents this wonderful dance, with Mary, Joseph and Jesus being of P'urhepecha origin. Rooted in Pre-Hispanic origins, this dance was dedicated to the god of fire, time, old age and the sun. It was performed during the changing seasons by four medicine men to pray for good harvests, longevity and good health. Four Directions are a universal feature of indigenous cultures of the Americas, and this dance is no different, with four dancers representing the four colours of corn and the four cardinal directions. The hand-crafted masks depict old men with rosy complexions, who wear traditional white cotton tunics and pants that are intricately embroidered with punta-cruz (cross-stitch) flowers. Their hats are adorned with specific colours, and each dancer carried a hand-craved cane to lean on during the performance. Today, this humorous and energetic dance is performed by a number of dancers, rather than being limited to four. It is a famous and beloved dance in the Lake Patzcuaro region of Michoacan.
PLEASE NOTE: WE HAVE TWO SETS IN STOCK, BUT THE COLOURS VARY. PLEASE CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION AND PHOTOS
Viejito Dancers - A P'urepecha Nativity by AdelaidePascual
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
ADELIDA PASCUAL
Born in Ocumicho, Michoacan on December 3, 1986, Adelida grew up playing with clay, but began producing serious pieces for art markets and competitions when she was 15 years old. As the daughter of well-known Ocumicho sculptor, Tomasa Gonzales, Adelida comes from a long line of artisans, has mastered techniques, and enjoys the patience necessary for completing high quality work. She has won several competitions, and creates small and large scale pieces and dioramas.
I first met Adelida Pascual through her mother, Tomasa Gonzales. I was desperately seeking Christmas Ornaments for my online gallery, and Tomasa had none in stock. She signalled me to follow her down the hill and around the corner, where she introduced me to her daughter. Adelida welcomed me to her home, and we spent about an hour looking through her fantastic collection, which included nativity scenes, angel sculptures and plenty of large-scale, whimsical pieces. We have since commissioned several pieces from Adelida, including the devil, mermaid and viejito dancer nativity scenes.
We look forward to seeing more creations from Tomasa Gonzales and her daughter Adelida, as well as other family members, all of whom are highly creative artists.
