I thank the Virgin of Zapopan for being a part of the folk dance group of my state. In this way, I’ve been able to travel around the world and to show a little bit the colors of my beloved Mexico. I dedicate this humble retablo for that.

Guadalupe Soriano
Guadalajara, Jalisco

We thank Saint Jonas because we created a mixture of yoga and latin dance and we are going to open a couple of locations in Eastern New Jersey.

My fiancé came to visit me. He brought his musicians, and we danced till the dawn. Thanks for he didn’t take me with him.

The couple of Juanita Perez and Pascual Merino thank Saint James for winning the regnal dancing contest despite the competition was very hard and other couples were really good.

I took Dorita for a boat ride down the river. I planed to read her some poetry and declare my love to her. But when we passed the old cemetery down the river we saw dead men. They had come out their grave and were dancing, gathering flowers and waving to us. Dorita was so frightened that I though she’d never accept my proposal after this ride. However, thank to the Virgin of Guadalupe she agreed to marry me despite everything.

Juaquina Mendosa brings this retablo joyfully thanking the Virgin of Guadalupe for curing her husband’s rheumatism. He couldn’t walk, and now he dances.

Cholula, 1912

I went to put some flowers on the grave of my grandmother Lupita. I stayed at the cemetery till late night contemplating about my troubles. Suddenly some skeletons appeared and invited me to dance with them. I almost fainted of fear. But the skeletons were real gentlemen and hold me. They almost dragged me to their macabre party. I prayed to Saint Michael the Archangel, and he came with his bright sword. The skeletons saw him and ran ashamed and hid themselves in their tombs. I thank for I haven’t gone cuckoo after that.

I was about to divorce my husband because our marriage had become boring and tedious. But then I found these “sexy dance” videos on the internet and began to study them to dance for my husband. I give thanks to Saint Anthony of Padua because it saved our relationship. It has revived the flame of our love and we are very happy now.

Magdalena Velasco
Queretaro, Mexico

The gravedigger of the town cemetery Pafilo Molina worked till late hours cleaning the graves for the Night of All Saints. Suddenly he heard some noise. Frightened he came closer and saw some dead men celebrating their day. One dead lady even invited him to dance. He thanks Saint Michael for he managed to escape from death and now can tell the story.

Teziutlan, Puebla

I was feeling sick and went to the bed early. I was dreaming. Suddenly I saw big colorful demons dancing around and singing like a chorus. I prayed to the Virgin of Guadalupe because I knew I wasn’t a big sinner after all and my bad deeds weren’t so bad that the devils should come after me. It seemed the Virgin protected me, because the demons began to dance away and escape through the window. I felt relieved. I thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for saving me from eternal fire.

The Dominguez brothers— Adelaido, Benito and Castulo—thanks the Virgin of the San Juan for winning the first place on the regional dance contest with their dance of quetzals which they had been studying with so much pride since they were kids.

San Miguel Tzinacapan, Puebla

A friendly martian loved to dance with me. Thanks for he didn’t hurt me.

Irma Dorantes
1971

Maria del Rosario Solana dedicates this humble retablo to the Virgin of Juquila thanking her for she participated in the celebrations of the Guelaguetza. Since she was a little girl, it was her dream to dance representing her community.

Oaxaca de Juarez, Oaxaca