The Grand Forum of the International Reading Fair Yucatan (FILEY) 2025 was recently awash with the mystique of Mayan culture. The X'tabay, a performance by contemporary dance students from the State Fine Arts Center (CEBA), was a stunning display that beautifully blended tradition, artistic talent, and training to create a high-quality dramatic expression.
As part of the State Government's program, over 600 attendees had the opportunity to delve into one of Yucatan's most captivating legends. The performance combined dance, theatre, and music, immersing the audience in a vivid Yucatecan jungle. The portrayal was enriched with elements from the Mayan worldview, including aluxes, snakes, and the Pujuy bird.
Directed by Miss María Graciella Torres Polanco, the coordinator of contemporary dance at CEBA, over 80 students guided the audience through a journey filled with myth and mystery. The legend of X'tabay, who lures night walkers to their doom, was brought to life.
The venue was transformed into a large immersive stage for this unique adaptation at FILEY. A striking double scaffold represented the sacred ceiba tree, a central symbol of life in Mayan culture.
The performance was inspired by the 1987 Snake Woman version premiered by the Contemporary Dance Company of Yucatan. It was re-introduced by CEBA in July 2024 with updated choreography, while preserving its original essence and adding contemporary elements to underscore its artistic value.
This initiative reaffirms the State Government's commitment, through Segey, to promote art, culture, and reading among students and the general public. It serves as a talent incubator where tradition and innovation converge to create powerful artistic expressions. This contributes to the Mayan Renaissance, a key focus of the current administration.
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