Escaramuzas dazzle audiences with synchronized choreography and colorful dresses, all while riding horses. The sport, charrería, is Mexico's oldest.
Escaramuzas dazzle audiences with synchronized choreography and colorful dresses, all while riding horses side saddle."It's considered the national sport - everyone thinks it's soccer but it's charrería," said Vereniz Llamas.
RELATED: Chicago's Little Village group Xochitl-Quetzal Aztec Dance carries on more than 500-year tradition "We have a very strong leader, Itzel," said Curiel. "As an escaramuza in Illinois, she is one of everyone's idols because she's competed in Mexico so many times she's such a phenomenal rider." "Your hair has to be in a slick-back pony. And be careful not to have fly-aways" explains Curiel. "You're also not supposed to have unnatural hair colors like blue or green hair. That's part of the rule book.""So if you're doing a 360 turn what they're going to look for is if one girl's off. If she's too open. It's all about precision and coordination," said Castañeda.Castañeda said she considers herself an athlete.
"It's a color with a lot of life," explained Curiel. "We wanted to get dresses that made you smile when you looked at them." " to ward of any bad energy or danger. They also pin little holy pendants to their dresses to protect them in the arena. Many of the pins have the image of La Virgen de Guadalupe.