Carrying the Word: The Concheros Dance in Mexico City

In Carrying the Word: The Concheros Dance in Mexico City, the only full length study of the Concheros dancers, Susanna Rostas delves into the experience of this unique group, whose use of dance links rural religious practices with urban post-modern innovation in distinctive ways even within Mexican culture, which is rife with ritual dances.

The Concheros blend Catholic and indigenous traditions in their performances, but are not governed by a predetermined set of beliefs; rather, they are bound together by long standing interpersonal connections framed by the discipline of their tradition. Tracing the history of the Concheros dance in Mexico City, Rostas explores the construction of identity and belief, both individual and communal, through dance. The book offers new insights into the experience of dancing as a Conchero, and of how the Concheros manifest their spirituality by means of the dance while also exploring their organization and practices.

Carrying the Word: The Concheros Dance in Mexico City provides a bridge for new audiences to experience the Conchero dance tradition, and will be of interest to students and scholars of contemporary Mesoamerica. Those studying identity, religion, and tradition will find this social-anthropological work particularly enlightening.