Tribute to Mexican Ranching Culture Event Wednesday Feb 23
Tara A. Spears 
Exciting news! The thrilling Great Mexican Fiesta fundraiser is slated to happen at the end of February. The huge open air arena makes it easy to maintain safe social distancing to enjoy the show under the stars. Although the event’s purpose is to support the Friends of La Penita Charro
Association, which sponsors an annual invitational Mexican rodeo/charrera, this show features a variety of traditional Mexican style entertainment. Some of the scheduled acts are: the precision women team riders, escaramuza; the dancing horses; roping exhibitions; folkloric ballet, prehistoric Aztec show and pyrotechnics. Advance tickets are available in downtown Guayabitos at the Aurora Hotel and the Nayarita Carniceria (butcher shop) on the main avenida besides being sold in La Penita on the main avenida at the Carniceria Miramar. You can purchase tickets at the door the night of the event. The La Penita bullring/Lienzo Charro Las Isabeles is 5 blocks south of the avenida and 2 streets east of the ocean. The seating is cement bleachers so you might want to bring a cushion to sit on.
The arenas where charreada are performed are called lienzos. At first glance you might think it is a bull ring because it’s built in a rounded shape with seating bleachers going from ringside up. Typically there are two distinct areas that comprise the lienzos: The first part is sixty-six yards long (60 meters) and thirteen yards (12m) wide, and it feeds into the main area. (This attached straightaway is used to race the horses into the bigger area.) The main round-shaped area measures forty-four yards (40m) in diameter, and this is where the action takes place.
The very popular charrera is the Mexican national sport that is male dominated. Within the rodeo only the excaramuzas event allows women to participate. This female event has costumed women in teams of eight perform by riding in precise and daring maneuvers to music while sitting sidesaddle. The escaramuza performs high-speed precision pattern riding that demonstrate bravery, equestrian skills, teamwork, and femininity. The interweaving of multiple riders goes beyond athletic ability and rider’s skill to become a beautiful spectacle.
One of the characteristics of Mexican folkdances that is unique is that each state has its own specific costume and traditional dance. Another aspect is that women from many regions of Mexico traditionally wear very long, (often colorful) skirts that may contain as many as thirty meters of fabric. While dancing, women manipulate the skirts in such a way that it makes the watcher become almost hypnotized. The dance sets are stories and tradition put in motion. You will find that the various dances of the regions of Mexico have different styles of stomping the shoes on the floor according to the region of origin. These seemingly simple dances are actually steeped in symbolism and tradition reflecting a complex culture.
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Don’t miss out on the only live cultural program of the season! Enjoy a cold beer as you witness the charm, tradition and pride of Mexican charreria events. Which will be your favorite? The dancing horses or team riders? Don’t forget your camera!
