Nearly 900 peopletwirled and stamped their feet to mariachi music in the Mexican city ofGuadalajara to set a Guinness record for the world's biggest folk dance.Searing heat failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the 882 men and women, whoturned up Saturday in traditional costumes featuring vivid embroidery andbright colors to break the previous record, also set in Guadalajara in 2011with 457 participants. "This new record shows that our traditions arecontinuing to spread among young people," Xavier Orendain, president ofthe Chamber of Commerce of Guadalajara and the event's organizer, toldreporters.
Dancers wererequired to perform a choreographed routine for at least five minutes withoutinterruption in order to qualify for the record, said Guinness judge CarlosTapia. Their outfits were also rated, he added, with male dancers wearingtraditional "charro" suits featuring hats and neckties, while thewomen wore vibrant dresses, bold jewelry and ribbons in their hair.
The dancers, whomostly belonged to folk ballet schools, moved to a mix of mariachi standards,dazzling audiences. "It is impressive to see so much coordination and sucha full expression of Mexican culture, it is the best," spectator KarlaGallardo, 24, told AFP. "Yes, we can!" participants screamed with joywhen the Guinness record was announced.-AFP