Unraveling State-Sanctioned Gender Roles and Reclaiming Histories: Alura Flores de Angeles’ Jarabe Tapatío
Abstract
Alura Flores de Angeles, “Godmother of Mexican Dance” (1905—2000), narrated a romantic love story whenever she taught the national dance of Mexico called the Jarabe Tapatío. I delve into oral, written, and bodily renderings of this love story to reveal the ways in which this dance encourages traditional gender role adherence as sanctioned by the nation. I also assert that performances of Jarabe Tapatío tell how some women in 1920s and 1930s Mexico navigated conflicting gender norm messages that pressured women to promote traditional gender roles to benefit the workings of a patriarchal government intent on promoting national unity.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Arts and Performance Studies
Gender and Feminist Studies
Latin American and Latino Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Dance Chronicle
- Volume
- 49
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 250–272
- Publication date
- 2 January 2026
- Language
- EN