Danza Azteca

La Danza Azteca, "The Aztec Dance", is a visual representation of the culture and art of the native people of Mexico. It does not refer solely to the Aztec people, but is rather a mixture of the various tribes and cultures that comprise Mexico. It is one of the few indiginous dances which allows women to participate. Danza Azteca is a blend of pre-Columbiana and Christian traditions and, in a real sense, is both a means of prayer and a search for integration and harmony in the world.

The Azteca dancers come to Santuario twice a year. The first is during Holy Saturday. The second is during Pentacost weekend. During that time Azteca groups throughout Mexico and the United States travel to either the shrine of Our Lord of Chalma, about 15 miles west of Cuernavaca, Mexico or to El Santuario. The two shrines share a similar history which is particularly compelling to the Azteca dancers. Both were built on sites sacred to the indigenous people, both were blessed with the miraculous discovery of a cross named, by some at both shrines, as a depiction of the "Black Christ", and both have become important religious pilgrimage locations. It is the ability of these shrines to bridge modern Christian and ancient indigenous cultures which is honored by the dancers and is the true purpose of La Danza Azteca.