Jonathan Martinez (Beaverton) is a traditional Aztec dancer. He began dancing traditional Mexican Ballet Folklórico as a child then later switched to Danza Azteca. Through dance, he introduces audiences to Mexico’s pre-Hispanic roots.
Bio
As children, Jonathan Martinez and his sister began dancing traditional Mexican Ballet Folklórico in Los Angeles. After moving to Oregon in 2007, Martinez learned Danza Azteca from Woodburn-based teacher, Willan Cervantes, who also has ties to Portland. The group embraces the pre-Hispanic roots of Mexican culture through ritual, dance, and drumming. He danced with Cervantes’ group as well as another, (a Nahuatl word referring to an Aztec deity) until 2012, when he founded his own group, (roughly – “dancing with consciousness”), which frequently performs at events that promote cultural and social awareness. The four cardinal directions are important during the ritual invocation stage of traditional Azteca dance. East represents fire and is associated with red, while west represents water and is associated with blue, north the wind and the color black, south the earth and yellow. Martinez blows a conch shell in all four directions to begin and end the ceremony. In addition to this invocation, ceremonies can include the preparation of an altar in front of colorful drums. Participants cover the altar with a hand-woven blanket illustrated with fruit, flowers, a large conch shell, herbs, antlers, a ceramic pitcher and cup. Many participants regard Azteca dance and ritual as a way to reconnect with Mexico’s pre-Hispanic heritage. Martinez, who is second-generation Mexican-American, feels that the accessibility of Aztec dance is representative of his values as a Mexican-American. His group is an alternative to others in the Portland area that have more rigid ritual structures.
