Freshman student Ricardo García Rodríguez is a member of the Danza Guadalupana WL. This matlachines dance group has been in our community for 34 years, founded by José Lopez.
Most of the members are from Ignacio Allende, Durango, México. Ricardo sat down with me and shared personal anecdotes of being in this dance group.
He grew up watching family members and friends dance with devotion each year for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Garcia Rodriguez felt the calling to join and when he did, he realized how meaningful his cultural traditions are. These celebrations bring people together.
Dancing to the beat of the drum and shaking the gourd rattle out in the cold and seeing a mass community gathered in faith was a deep spiritual connection.
Ricardo is immensely grateful to his family for instilling in him these traditions. This experience led him to feel gratitude for the life we have been given and understand that the pilgrimage comforts the soul, giving the community strength to walk through life’s struggles, knowing that the Creator is with them always.
This young man says his favorite memories were going to different towns, cities, and states to dance.
People would host reliquias in their home as a form of gratitude to their patron saint and the danza would be invited to dance.
Reliquias originated in Zacatecas, Mexico and are celebrated in northern states like Durango, Coahuila, Zacatecas, Chihuahua, and more.
It is an honor to be invited to a reliquia. Basically, a reliquia es a promise or “manda” as it is known is Spanish.
A person or a family makes this promise to a saint. The family then hosts an annual celebration of his feast in their home. There are prayers, dances, and food made for the occasion.It is a philanthropic event because they extend their celebration by distributing food among the attendees and community members. The typical dish served is the seven sopas (different style of pastas) and asado de puerco, a stew that has pork meat cooked in a sauce made from different red chilis.
Ricardo recognizes the commitment that the Danza Guadalupana WL has. Members began practicing in October, some earlier.
Although there was the temptation to just skip practice and go to the mall and hang out with friends, he committed along with all the members.
They all became like a family, and it was all worth it. They danced in various places, but the most fulfilling moment was coming full circle and dancing in his hometown, West Liberty, Iowa.
Showing up each day to practice was a commitment and testament to their faith and devotion to the Mother Virgen Mary.
The young dancer says that being in la danza taught him more than just cultural and religious practices. He says that it taught him discipline, commitment, time management, and the importance of having a circle, a community.
“Being part of the Danza Guadalupana WL was so much fun. I made and met so much new friends while being in it”.
Ricardo goes on to talk about how supportive the group was. Everyone has good and bad days, but when he showed up to practice, he would put all his worries and stress behind him and would dance away his problems.
There was an energy, a vibe that kept the group together and they would check in on each other to make sure everyone was okay. Even in those rough days when all Ricardo wanted to do was give up, he did not. He showed up for the Virgin Mary.
The Danza Guadalupana WL is known in the state for having precise dance moves. Members are formed in a perfect symmetrical line.
Dance members dance to the same beat and make perfect dance moves. They take pride in not making mistakes and having order because if there is no order, there is chaos.
They know that this experience is of utmost honor and respect.
Ricardo reflects on that. To have a pristine dance group, it requires hard work and commitment. He is extremely proud of himself and grateful that he had the opportunity to do this and that he did not give up. It was hard, but totally worth it. He invites you all see the Danza Guadalupana WL and to reflect on your own cultural traditions and what they mean to you.