La Danza Del Venado: The Deer Dance

The Deer Dance, sometimes referred to as La Danza del Venado, originated in Sonora, Mexico by the Yaqui people and spread into southwestern part of Arizona. As with all the Yaqui’s dances, this is dance represents part of Yaqui’s culture and has been passed down through the generations. Unlike many dances that have been influenced by Europeans, the Deer Dance performed today is basically the same dance as it was centuries ago because the Yaqui people, during the Spanish conquest of Mexico, fought for their culture which prevented the Europeans from influencing changes within the dance. This dance is unique and is well known and respected for its spiritual aspects as wells as primitive and ritual qualities. The Yaqui people believed in the four forces of nature: wind, water, lightning, and thunder. They watched and observed nature. They examined

The dancers are graceful, elegant, and strong white tail deer that are running through the woods, searching for other animals, and being cautious of human hunters. The dancer is elegant but athletic at the same time jumping through the air simulating the gracefulness of the white tail deer. The dancer portrays the feeling of freedom that all wild things have. The dancer moves his body with proud and deliberated movements the same movements as a white tail deer running through the forest, jumping over fallen trees, listening to the sounds of nature, and stopping for a drink of water. At the end of the dance, the deer (dancer) comes across a group of hunters who stalk him as if he is pray. They pursue him with bows and arrows. In the end, the hunters win and the beating of the deer’s heart stops beating. The deer gives its life to the hunters so the hunters can exist. Through this dance, the Yaqui people gives praise to the deer’s spirit, shows the harmony and balance that exist between nature and man, and says thanks to the cycle of