Oaxaca comes to Seaside
SEASIDE, Calif. (KION) Central coast residents enjoyed the taste of Oaxaca, Mexico at the "Oaxaca by the Sea" event today, which featured food, dancing, music and crafts.
The event kicked off at 10 o'clock Sunday morning at Laguna Grande Park.
Sixty professional dancers came from Oaxaca for the celebration, many of which have never been to the United States. Seaside multicultural organization, Palenke arts also had their Folclorico dancer perform Sunday morning. Among them was 11-year-old Samara Guzman who danced to La Llorona and La Zandunga with her friends.
"Many people can't fly to Mexico right now, so this way we can celebrate from over here," Guzman said.
More that 43% of residents in Seaside are Hispanic and according to Councilmember Alexis Arzola, more than half of them came from Oaxaca, Mexico.
"Oaxaca is a beautiful place, with amazing culture, a lot of food, color," said Trinidad Torres, from San Pablo de Huixtepec in Oaxaca, Mexico. She came dressed in her pueblo's traditional attire to celebrate her hometown.
Among the many Mexicans who now live in the United States, they also commented on how much they enjoyed this small trip back to their home country.
“Honestly, it was really beautiful to see our people and see them dance like we used to see them back home, but now from here," said Sixto Rodriguez who's currently a Seaside Resident.
Oaxaca has over 16 official indigenous languages with over 800 varieties among them is the most commonly spoken Zapotec. The state’s rich indigenous history, mixed with the Spanish colonizers, created many of the traditional dances and foods you can see in the video above.
There are 8 regions to Oaxaca, each, with their own unique folkloric dances.
La Danza de la pluma, the feather dance is considered one of the greatest gems of the Oaxacan traditions and it’s one of the most important dances in Mexico.
Among the other dances performed were the Sierra Juarez dance from the northern region to Istmo de Tehuantepec in the south.
Danza de Sierra de Juarez
