Introduction and Background
On June 10, 2025, the official presentation of the fifth edition of the National Mask Dance Festival took place at the Auditorio Jaime Torres Bodet in Mexico City’s National Anthropology Museum. The festival aims to honor the significance of dances from each state in Mexico and the artisanal value in crafting masks.
About the Festival
The National Mask Dance Festival is an event that celebrates the life, memory, and identity of the people who have shaped Mexico through dance, music, and masks. It will be held on November 14-16, 2025, in Coscomatepec de Bravo, Veracruz. The festival will feature over 1,500 dancers, 300 traditional musicians, and 100 master mask-makers from across Mexico.
Festival Highlights
- More than 1,500 dancers
- 300 traditional musicians
- 100 master mask-makers (Mexican and international)
- Over 120 artisans and artisans involved in the cultural event
Manuel Álvarez Sánchez, the founder and director of the National Mask Dance Festival, stated that this edition will continue its mission to gather the essence of Mexico through dance, music, and masks. The festival will offer three days of celebration, encounters, and visibility with thousands of visitors who come to learn about and appreciate Mexico’s diverse traditions.
Key Figures and Their Roles
Alejandro Vera Guzmán, Master Mask-Maker from Oaxaca
Alejandro Vera Guzmán, a master mask-maker from Oaxaca, expressed his passion for creating masks as a way to contribute to Mexico’s national traditions. He emphasized the importance of events like the National Mask Dance Festival in showcasing and sharing these traditions with visitors.
Ninfa Salinas Sada, Vice President of the Executive Committee of Grupo Salinas
Ninfa Salinas Sada, Vice President of the Executive Committee of Grupo Salinas and a key figure in supporting the festival, highlighted that Mexico’s cultural roots are not just part of the past but also an integral part of its present and future. She emphasized that these traditions are essential to Mexico’s identity, despite divisive rhetoric from some individuals.
Supporting Institutions
Banco Azteca, the principal sponsor of this year’s festival, has shown interest in preserving Mexico’s ancestral traditions that make the nation uniquely multicultural. The Foundation Azteca, led by Ninfa Salinas Sada, supports the festival as a demonstration of celebrating differences and embracing diversity.
Additional Voices
Rubicel Gómez, the patron of Parachicos from Chiapa de Corzo in Chiapas, shared a message on behalf of Mexico’s traditional dances. He emphasized that these dances are the essence of each town, providing identity, social cohesion, and political and economic unity.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the National Mask Dance Festival? It’s an event celebrating Mexican traditions through dance, music, and masks.
- Who are the key figures involved in this year’s festival? Alejandro Vera Guzmán, a master mask-maker from Oaxaca; Ninfa Salinas Sada, Vice President of the Executive Committee of Grupo Salinas; and Rubicel Gómez, patron of Parachicos from Chiapa de Corzo in Chiapas.
- What is the role of Banco Azteca in this festival? Banco Azteca is the principal sponsor, demonstrating their commitment to preserving Mexico’s ancestral traditions.
- What message do the festival’s participants convey about Mexico’s cultural traditions? They emphasize the importance of these traditions as part of Mexico’s identity, present, and future, and celebrate the country’s diverse cultural heritage.
