Proces aztekizace synkretického rituálu Danza Conchera ve středním Mexiku

In today’s Mexico, Aztec dance (Danza Azteca) has become an inseparable feature of zócalos and other parts of Mexican cities. There are two main branches of Danza Azteca – the syncretic Danza Azteca Conchera (or simply Danza Conchera) and its new version called Danza Azteca-Mexica, which evolved from Danza Conchera “purified of catholic elements”. The article focuses on the syncretic ritual Danza Conchera in Central Mexico and the process of “Aztequization”, which consisted of introducing new Aztec elements to the ritual in order to approximate the supposed original version of the Aztecs. As Aztequization played a crucial role in the subsequent formation of Danza Azteca-Mexica groups and laid the foundations for its ritual, the article examines the key elements and figures as remembered and recounted by contemporary Concheros and Mexicas. The article is based on the author’s field research in Central Mexico in the period 2009−2017, participant observation, in-person and telephone ethnographic interviews conducted in the years 2010−2021, and specialist literature.