We could hear the merry ringing of the marimba as we drew near the house of Q’awa (Sir) Manu. We were to inaugurate ceremoniously the commencement rehearsal of the “Danza de los Venados” (Dance of the Dear) in his house. When you are versed with this dance, you can already imagine men in dear vibrant costumes joyously dancing through the said tunes of the marimba. Q’awa Manu will lead the team of 23 persons to dance the sacred Danza de los Venados.
Chicken and beef broth, burning candles, bottles of alcoholic drinks and pack of cigarettes were placed on the altar of the house. A lone wooden statue of an unknown saint was inspecting it. These gifts were being offered to the antepasados (ancestors) and without doubt to God, the giver of life, creador y formador (creator and molder); requesting their consent for their plan and calling upon them to be present on the inauguration day of their dance rehearsal. After prayers were said, the dance participants left for the parish church to do their first dance rehearsal.
The Danza de Venado portrays the characters of a hunter with his dog pursuing deer in the forest. They swirl merrily. Mythical monkey characters tease the audience. People laugh at the clumsy dog; and are moved by the death of the deer. But most striking to the dance is that it is a sacred movement. Ancestors, spirit and God visit the community by way of this dance, making themselves visible through the bailadores (dancers). The bailadores will commonly be elevated to a mystical experience. It is a kind of “exchanging” place: God descends toward humanity, human persons ascends to God’s transcendent realm. It is believed that when God dance in the community, transformation takes place. God heals their wounds caused by quarrels and disputes, hatred and as well as physical illness. God comes to reconcile them, mend what has been broken … ease their hurts. God will come to bring blessings of health, bountiful harvest and well-being.
My soul was moved as I observed the bailadores rehearsing their dance. I felt a feeling of lightness and joy as I followed the beat and rhythm of the dance – I could feel the elegance of the deer characters, swaying, swirling and flowing all over. Many people watched intently. A three-year old girl suddenly steps out the crowd toward the dancers and sways too, following the joyous marimba beat. Her mother later grabs her so that he may not be trampled by the dancers. Then an eight-year old boy is drawn towards the dancers and he hops and runs following the bailadores. Almost at the conclusion of the play, the crowd is drawn toward the center, curious on how, in the play, would the bailadores resuscitate the clumsy dog who was “killed.” They laugh as magical tricks were applied to him – and later a chorus of “ahhh” was acclaimed when, finally, the dog character leaped to dance again. Yet this occasion was only rehearsal. But for the dancers and the onlookers, it was already a sacred moment to be a community. The bailadores danced in their best, from 7pm to 1am on December 13.
For many years, the Maya people danced to see God dance and spiritually transform their communities. God embodies culture to visit humanity. His visits are always transformative. The drama of the incarnation of God into our human world is inculturation and is fully transformative. Through Jesus, he came to dance humanity through its joys and pain, celebration, suffering, brokenness, hate, marginalization, rejection, dreams and hope. He came to transform death to life.
The Maya people believe that God continue to dance until now. He visits humanity and renew the world. His wisdom is incarnated in every child that is born, which turns to be his/her vocation at the service of the community (nawual), and the magnificence of each day embodies his omnipresence (a part of God’s wisdom is manifested each day). The elders read these signs from the Maya calendar and reveal and teach its meaning to the people.
Let us dance with God this Christmas. Let us sing and celebrate. God comes to be truly present among us, in our loneliness, emptiness and desperation; and in our world where apparently God has left us to suffer abandonment, misery, injustice, violence and exclusion. When God comes visibly to us, things are transformed along with his wisdom. May God be present in your heart this Christmas. May you be filled with many blessing and surprises this New Year 2009!
Joseph Guerrero, MJ
December 21, 2008
see also the facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Los-Angeles-CA/Friends-and-Disciples/277241163033?v=app_2347471856#!/notes.php?id=277241163033&start=0&hash=7b95cdec8655c8510217d9c09fd13fd7
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