Juxtlahuaca—Nine-Year-Old Josselyne Ithzayana Espinoza Joins the Dance of the Rubios, Preserving Indigenous Tradition
Young dancers in Mexico revive a 19th-century tradition through movement and joy
Josselyne Ithzayana Espinoza is just nine years old, yet she has already joined the Juquilita dance group to learn the Danza de los Rubios—the Dance of the Blonds. Like her, nearly a dozen other girls and boys in Santiago Juxtlahuaca, particularly in the Santo Domingo neighborhood, participate in traditional dances that define the identity of this ñuu savi (Mixtec) community.
The 2026 Carnival marked Josselyne's second consecutive year performing as a marialencha—a female dancer in traditional attire—in the Danza de los Rubios. "Dancing makes me so happy. I always want to dance," she said, her wide pink skirt swaying as she spoke, her hand-embroidered blouse adorned with flowers.
It all began two years ago when Josselyne's mother, Marisol, took her to get a haircut. That day, the dancers were rehearsing nearby. "She stood there watching, and then she told me she wanted to dance. She stayed right then and there," Marisol recalled.
Josselyne (left) performs with the Juquilita group, where children learn the Danza de los Rubios. Photo: Juana García
"It's important for children like my daughter to take part so these dances don't disappear," Marisol said. "In many places, they're already being lost. Our dances give us our identity."
According to Asunción Gutiérrez—a historian, master artisan, and dancer from the Santo Domingo neighborhood—around 1885, Spanish settlers arrived in Juxtlahuaca and began hiring locals to transport livestock destined for ships bound for Europe. To ease the sorrow of the arrieros (muleteers) during their long absences—trekking through the mountains to the coast and back—they began expressing themselves through music, playing violins and jaranas (traditional guitars). Amidst sips of liquor and dances among the cattle, the Danza de los Rubios was born.
Seven-year-old Daliver is another child in the Juquilita group. He took to dancing early, inspired by his siblings, who participate in nearly all of Juxtlahuaca's traditional dances. His favorite steps come from El Palomo ("The Dove"), a dance where the ribbons adorning the sleeves, back, and front of his capulina (traditional jacket) swirl as he spins.
Among the dancers is also Cristofer Agustín Reyes, who has spent three years perfecting his moves in the Danza de los Rubios. Unlike many of the other children, Cris—as he's known—is driven by faith in every performance.
"I love feeling like part of the community," he said. "Being in this group lets me spend time with my friends, and it's also for the Virgin of Juquila." His favorite dances include the rhythms of El Palomo, La Cordillera ("The Mountain Range"), and El Gusto ("The Pleasure").
"El Gusto is where the rubios dance with the marialenchas, and La Cordillera is just for men," explained Cris, a fourth-grader.
Few Spaces, Many Aspirations
In Santiago Juxtlahuaca, community spaces where children can learn traditional dances are scarce—yet each year, more join, drawn by the growing popularity of these cultural expressions.
According to the Regiduría de Usos y Costumbres (Council of Customs and Traditions) of the Santo Domingo neighborhood—which works to preserve local dances, cultural practices, and community traditions—there are only three children's dance groups in the area.
These include Juquilita, which teaches the Danza de los Rubios; Agua Azul, which instructs children in the dances of Los Chilolos, Los Rubios, and Los Machos; and the group led by don Erasto Chávez, the longest-running of the three.
"More children join every year, and the best part is they come because they want to—you can't force them," said Omar Flores Rodríguez, a dance instructor with Juquilita. "They all come for the dance. The Council of Customs and Traditions in Santo Domingo began integrating us into Carnival celebrations four years ago, since they're the ones who organize it."
Parents emphasize that these spaces are vital for keeping the dances alive—before they vanish, as they already have in nearby Santa Rosa Caxtlahuaca. María Esther López, mother of one of the young dancers, said that beyond preservation, dancing gives her son a fulfilling childhood. "Let our children do what they love. Dancing helps them release frustration or sadness—it distracts them and makes them happy."
Dance as Identity
In the Ñuu Savi Community of Santiago Juxtlahuaca, Traditional Dances Preserve Mixtec History
In the Ñuu Savi (Mixtec) town of Santiago Juxtlahuaca, located in Mexico's southern Mixteca region, traditional dances have long chronicled the community's history through movements and music. Among the most emblematic are Los Chilolos, Los Santiago, Los Machos, and Los Rubios—each reflecting a distinct chapter of local heritage.
Take the Danza de los Rubios (Dance of the Fair-Haired), which reenacts the arduous journeys of muleteers traveling from Oaxaca's coast to Veracruz, crossing the rugged Mixteca highlands to deliver livestock bound for ships to Spain. Today, this dance is most commonly performed during Carnival but also appears at patron saint festivals, cultural celebrations, and even private events.
Master dancer Omar explains that the tradition was once reserved for older men, with women excluded—men would even dress as marialenchas (women in wide petticoats) to fill their roles. Over time, however, girls and boys began to join in.
Teaching the Next Generation
For nearly eight years, Omar has guided children, teens, and young adults in the Danza de los Rubios. Currently, around eight girls and boys and roughly 20 adolescents gather to learn the dance's distinctive rhythms and steps.
For Omar, teaching the younger generation is key to keeping the tradition alive. "When they learn, they can pass it on to others—to future generations—so this dance doesn't vanish," he says. "We're glad the children enjoy it because we can't force them."
He adds, "The most beautiful part is leaving this legacy for those who come after us, teaching them so we never run out of dancers. Some dances disappear simply because no one performs them anymore. It's heartbreaking. The real beauty lies in strengthening and reviving these traditions, because children are the future."
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