Cultural Syncretism in New Spain: The Indigenous, Spanish, and African Origins of Mexican Folk Dances

Abstract

During the viceregal period in New Spain, a cultural phenomenon known as syncretism emerged. This process of fusion arose because of interaction among diverse communities, including indigenous communities, Spanish colonizers, and enslaved individuals of African descent. Popular dances stood out as spaces of encounter and expression where these influences converged and intertwined uniquely.

This research aims to analyze how these three currents contributed to the ethnic diversity of the population, the creation and evolution of some of the popular dances, such as the Dance of the Devils, and to the mestizo cultural identity in Mexico.