Baile de la Conquista
Encyclopedia
The Baile de la Conquista or Dance of the Conquest is a traditional folkloric dance from Guatemala
. The dance reenacts the invasion led by Spanish
Conquistador
Don Pedro de Alvarado y Contreras and his confrontation with the K'iche' Maya
ruler Tecún Umán
. Although the dance is more closely associated with Guatemalan traditions, it has been performed in early colonial regions of Latin America at the urging of Catholic friars and priests, as a method of converting various native populations and Africa
n slaves to Christianity.
Baile de los Moros ("Dance of the Moors
") which recounts and commemorates the expulsion of the Moorish rule from Spain. The Baile de la Conquista borrows its structure directly from the Baile de los Moros.
in Tenochtitlan. The king then sends his sons and daughters to Xelajuj Noj (Modern-day Quetzaltenango
) to recruit Tecún Umán to lead the army against the approaching foes. Following scenes depict the K'iche' chieftains and then the Spanish officers swearing allegiance to their respective leaders. Soon after, ubattle ensues between the Spanish and native troops, culminating with the battle between Alvarado and Tecún Umán. The K'iche' army is soon defeated, and echoing the Baile de los Moros, the dance concludes as the K'iche' warriors submit peaceably to Spanish rule and embrace Christianity.
The confrontation between Tecún Umán and Pedro de Alvarado is the central theme of the Guatemalan version of the Baile de la Conquista. Since there is little documentation to prove the existence of a historical K'iche king or prince known as Tecún Umán, it has been suggested that he was simply created in order to replace the role of the Moorish prince, the central antagonist of the Baile de los Moros. This theory has yet to be proven, and is given little attention in light of pre-existing documents speaking of a historical Tecún Umán long before the first performances of Baile de la Conquista.
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. The dance reenacts the invasion led by Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Conquistador
Conquistador
Conquistadors were Spanish soldiers, explorers, and adventurers who brought much of the Americas under the control of Spain in the 15th to 16th centuries, following Europe's discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in 1492...
Don Pedro de Alvarado y Contreras and his confrontation with the K'iche' Maya
K'iche' Kingdom of Q'umarkaj
The K'iche' Kingdom of Q'umarkaj was a state in the highlands of modern day Guatemala which was founded by the K'iche' Maya in the thirteenth century, and which expanded through the fifteenth century until it was conquered by Spanish and Nahua forces led by Pedro de Alvarado in 1524.The K'iche'...
ruler Tecún Umán
Tecún Umán
Tecún Umán was the last ruler and king of the K'iche' Maya people, in the highlands of what is now Guatemala...
. Although the dance is more closely associated with Guatemalan traditions, it has been performed in early colonial regions of Latin America at the urging of Catholic friars and priests, as a method of converting various native populations and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n slaves to Christianity.
Origins
The dance is based upon the SpanishSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Baile de los Moros ("Dance of the Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
") which recounts and commemorates the expulsion of the Moorish rule from Spain. The Baile de la Conquista borrows its structure directly from the Baile de los Moros.
Baile de la Conquista in Guatemala
The dance begins in Utatlán, the capital of the K'iche' kingdom, where the Rey K'iche' (the king) receives word of the Spaniards' approach from Aztec ruler Moctezuma IIMoctezuma II
Moctezuma , also known by a number of variant spellings including Montezuma, Moteuczoma, Motecuhzoma and referred to in full by early Nahuatl texts as Motecuhzoma Xocoyotzin, was the ninth tlatoani or ruler of Tenochtitlan, reigning from 1502 to 1520...
in Tenochtitlan. The king then sends his sons and daughters to Xelajuj Noj (Modern-day Quetzaltenango
Quetzaltenango
Quetzaltenango, also commonly known by its indigenous name, Xelajú , or more commonly, Xela , is the second largest city of Guatemala. It is both the capital of Quetzaltenango Department and the municipal seat of Quetzaltenango municipality....
) to recruit Tecún Umán to lead the army against the approaching foes. Following scenes depict the K'iche' chieftains and then the Spanish officers swearing allegiance to their respective leaders. Soon after, ubattle ensues between the Spanish and native troops, culminating with the battle between Alvarado and Tecún Umán. The K'iche' army is soon defeated, and echoing the Baile de los Moros, the dance concludes as the K'iche' warriors submit peaceably to Spanish rule and embrace Christianity.
The confrontation between Tecún Umán and Pedro de Alvarado is the central theme of the Guatemalan version of the Baile de la Conquista. Since there is little documentation to prove the existence of a historical K'iche king or prince known as Tecún Umán, it has been suggested that he was simply created in order to replace the role of the Moorish prince, the central antagonist of the Baile de los Moros. This theory has yet to be proven, and is given little attention in light of pre-existing documents speaking of a historical Tecún Umán long before the first performances of Baile de la Conquista.