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| Keywords: Colima - Dancing Figure Whistle - Walters 20092029 - Back.jpg Dance among the most ephemeral of the arts was central to Mesoamerican civilization Dance performances as attested by their depiction on vases and other utilitarian objects such as this whistle typically encompassed rhythmic structured movement often by a group of people Music was a vital element frequently supplied by the dancers themselves Performances served to bring together the community by reifying shared beliefs of social behavior recounting seminal histories-both historical and mythic-and incarnating religious ideologies As communal theater performers were bedecked in ostentatious costumes that served to remove them from their social identities and the everyday reality of the community The elaborate costuming and staging also elevated the event from a simple entertainment to an impressive even iconic spectacle This festooned dancer bends his knees and stretches out his arms as if frozen in mid-motion Small holes in his hands likely accommodated dance fans or other performance accouterments Necklaces composed of round beads perhaps of precious jadeite and a variety of bands adorn his wrists and legs A wide neckpiece draped over the figure's shoulders and chest may have been made from pieces of cut shell His sleeveless shirt might represent a tufted textile or animal hide although it also recalls portrayals of the flayed skin of a sacrificial victim worn by celebrants as part of the rites of the deity Xipe Totec The dancer's loincloth and overskirt are tied at the back with a large bow that resembles a bustle A decorated textile band is wrapped adroitly around his head and secured by a strap below his chin This object is a whistle likely played by a performer similar to the dancer depicted by the instrument; its mouthpiece is found at the back of the figure's head 300 BC-AD 200 earthenware cm 23 34 16 76 10 16 accession number 2009 20 29 80184 David Stuart Galleries date and mode of acquisition unknown John G Bourne 1980s by purchase Walters Art Museum Gift of John Bourne 2009 place of origin Colima Mexico Walters Art Museum license Objects from Colima in the Walters Art Museum Media contributed by the Walters Art Museum needs category review Colima - Dancing Figure Whistle - Walters 20092029 Loincloths in art | ||||
