LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — For more than 16 years, Danza Azteca Quetzaltzin has carried the ancient spirit of Mexico into the heart of Las Vegas.
“We were the first group doing this, this kind of dance dancers here in the in Vegas,” said founder of the group, Leonardo Hernandez.
Aztec dancing dates back hundreds of years, once performed as a way to honor the Gods and forces of nature – a tradition that dancers in Las Vegas said it carries the same meaning today.
“It was like offering it like to our Lady of Guadalupe to give her thanks for everything that she’s done for us,” Leonardo said.
Leonardo’s daughter, Melissa, is now the group’s lead dancer, for her, this dance is about tradition and thanks.
“I started dancing when I got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and it was kind of like this like, thank you to the Virgin Mary for, like me being alive, us being able to get through all of that,” Melissa said.
From toddlers to parents, every age is welcome at Danza Azteca Quetzaltzin.
“I’m here until I physically can’t dance more. Have my kids here, you know, nieces, nephews, just everybody having, you know, we have families here that their kids start when they’re very little, and now they’re like teenagers with us now,” Melissa said.
For this group, dancing is about preservation of culture and making sure the tradition isn’t lost for future generations.
“For us that that we left our countries is like we want to bring our traditions with us and we want to teach our kids and so they can teach their kids and keep our traditions alive for generations because that’s what we are,” Leonardo said.
The group hopes to keep this tradition alive in Las Vegas that will outlast them and pass to the next generations.
“I would love the people that are from our culture, from our religion or from our ancestry to see how beautiful it is, no matter how far away it is kind of like our roots, where we started,” Melissa said.
For more information on Danza Azteca Quetzaltzin, visit their official social media page.
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