The Deer Dance – Santa Cruz, Toledo, Belize – January 2016

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The Deer Dance – Santa Cruz, Toledo, Belize – January 2016
Dancers spend many hours a day, many days in a row dancing in the elaborate costumes and masks. Ezekiel Canti, dressed as the young jaguar, takes a rest before joining the dance again.

On Wednesday, January 6th, 2016, in the community of Santa Cruz in the Toledo District, Belize, community members, school children, visitors and passers-by had the chance to witness the beginning of the Deer Dance. Beginning a traditional Maya celebration continuing over 4 days, 26 dancers, led by Basilio Teul, Florencio Canti and Pedro Pop, dressed in elaborate costumes that had been carried across the muddy border path from Guatemala. Dancing into the night, the men reminded themselves, and those who watched, of the importance of the connection between the Maya communities and the animals in the forests surrounding them. Filled with beauty and humor, the traditional dance, along with the signature music of the marimba, captured the attention of young and old alike. Sharing food and stories, many people, women and men, spoke of the importance of the tradition: the dance, the music, the ritual practices such as feeding the masks before the first full day of dancing. Capturing the celebration and importance of the dance, Daniel Velasquez and Aurelio Sho, along with student trainees from the community, began work on a documentary film project to be shared near and far. While you are waiting for the release of the film, enjoy these few moments illustrating the convergence of the traditions of the past, the celebrations of the present and the education of the future. Many thanks to the Positive Legacy Foundation for supporting traditional music and art through this special event.

The documentary film crew captures an interview with Pedro Pop, who was instrumental in bringing the knowledge of the Deer Dance to Santa Cruz, as he walks his horse the morning before the dance. Teaching students to document their own cultural heritage was a critical aspect of the project.
The costumes or “suits” worn by the deer dancers were collected from across the Belize-Guatemala border. Heavy bundles are hauled along the muddy path using a strap across the forehead in the same way as firewood might be carried.
On the opening night of the dance, the wives of the dancers play a critical role, paying tribute to the masks and offering rooster meat and tortillas along with incense, candles and other ceremonial offerings.
On the arrival of the costumes and guests from Guatemala, ladies came to share food. Sharing food to nourish the dancers and musicians is a critical part of the dance, and every celebration.
Dancers spend many hours a day, many days in a row dancing in the elaborate costumes and masks. Ezekiel Canti, dressed as the young jaguar, takes a rest before joining the dance again.
There are seven different dances that are danced in cycles throughout the several days and nights of the dance. Each dance tells a different aspect of the extended story of the dance.
The Deer Dance provides enjoyment for young and old. Even though it is a traditional practice, community members of all ages come together to celebrate, learn and share.
The role of the ladies in the community is critical to a successful celebration even though the dancers and musicians are traditionally male. Preparing food to share is one of their important roles and the documentary film crew caught up with Vernancia Pop to explain this.
There are many characters that dance alongside the eight deer in the dance. Here you can see the old man, the lady, the monkey and the dog.

Kristina Baines is our resident cool anthropologist. She’s been formally trained in applied, sociocultural, ecological and medical anthropology at Florida Atlantic University (BA, MA), the University of Oxford (MSc) and the University of South Florida (PhD) and is Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Guttman CC, CUNY in Manhattan. She has a strong interest in corn, how what we do in our environment makes us well, and using innovative methods to make anthropology relevant and accessible to a wide audience. You can find out more about how these interests translate into projects and pursuits by perusing the rest of our site, or you can contact her directly at kristina@coolanthropology.com

2 Comments on “The Deer Dance – Santa Cruz, Toledo, Belize – January 2016”

  1. Beautiful story and pictures. I would have loved to of experienced this. I believe it is very important to respect and nurture our communities as well as wildlife in our surrounding areas that ultimately we are taking from them.

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