Mexico’s 600-Year-Old Dance of the Flying Men

For the past 600 years, dancers in Papantla, Mexico, have taken to the skies to perform the acrobatic spectacle, the Danza de los Voladores (Dance of the Flyers). Four flyers and one guide dressed in vibrant colors ascend a 20-meter pole, anchored only by a single rope tied to their legs. There, they begin the ritual, flying through the air to ask the sun deity for rain and blessings.
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[@reb8213]

I'm from México, and specially I live near Papantla...and I can tell it's amazing seeing this wonderful tradition live...The flyers and the music give me chills the first time I saw them. This is something really unique and I appreciate that GBS made a video about it...Such a great channel nwn ♥️

[@ilsunnylo3562]

Reb plz when you are drunk and wants to experience new high, flying man is for you. You can barf 360 in mid air.

[@MartinTabanag]

Reb plz you are right. Im hoping i can do this in the future as well and interview and meet them.

[@davidrgrima]

What about the chill from the human sacrifice that you guys eat as fruit from the tree?

[@umasankartirur1808]

​@@davidrgrimahorrific sacrifice done by European s in the name of LOVE is unspeakable, truly biggest genocide in history...don't bla bla

[@terracannon876]

I saw one of these in person while I was in Mexico. The dance is definitely just as beautiful in person.

[@MartinTabanag]

Finally! I've been wondering all this time what is the dance was all about. Now i know! It is very interesting. I love that people around the world have their different tradition and culture. My goal is to meet these people and share their stories through my films. I hope i can do it someday even if im just working alone.

[@MartinTabanag]

Chris News but im not from mexico :(

[@Korokorokorokoro4662]

Fly and learn spanish

[@ivykat9009]

So beautiful! People are amazing in so many different ways!

[@manuortiz8483]

Kitten Ivy i saw it live im mexican

[@ivykat9009]

Manu Ortiz must’ve been so amazing to see them in person!!

[@MartinTabanag]

Kitten Ivy i agree. Tradition is so beautiful right?

[@bushidotestu1997]

It must be terrifying but incredible to watch this live

[@parfei6332]

Tetsu Hatano It is

[@madquip]

Last year I saw a tourist girl who started crying while seeing the papantlas

[@cosas_de_cris5122]

Yep it is

[@replicativeimpact1574]

I watched it live! It is indeed.. you are really enchanted by watching them fly. I talked with one of the flyers cause its so dangerous for them..if they fall down they dye.. he told me its not only beautiful art but also their way of earning money nowadays. They depend on donations of people and have to cover the costs of costumes

[@emilyramirez6818]

I watched it live a lot of times and it’s not it’s really pretty

[@ggarzagarcia]

I lived once near Papantla and got a chance to see Los Voladores. Truly an amazing site to see, and a true culture heritage of the many ethnicities of Mexico. 😊 Proud to be Mexican 🇲🇽

[@melmoreno8306]

Super awesome! it's amazing how many things Mexico have to show their culture and traditions, and the most amazing variety of food!

[@uberdriver1737]

Mel Moreno yeah, it’s sad how everyone views Mexico as a place where no one has homes, they have dirty water with droppings in them, and that they only make money by selling drugs.

[@missescorso2974]

"hey let's strap ourselves to a big ass pole and try dancing from it" People are amazing.

[@treanoomery1106]

I can't tell if this is sarcasm or not

[@juanita_piju]

My mom has told me several times about her experience as a child witnessing this first hand to this day there is amazement in her eyes ❤️

[@oldfashiondragon]

My father did this when he was young

[@luzarredondo23]

My Mexico 🇲🇽 always makes me proud of their richness in culture and traditions like this! ❤❤❤

[@senorvillarruel8129]

Why I'd never heard of this . Guess I'm more Chicano than Mexican . Need to touch up on my roots.

[@deathboi3998]

Chicanos and mexicans have different cultures.sorry if many dont get this or get angry. Chicanos are called Pochos here in mexico, is not a pejorative. Its a distinction. Maybe you never heard too that mexico gas afromexicans and that in cuajinicuilapa guerrero each year an african mexican expo is always celebrated. Cuajinicuilapa is called the mexican africa.

[@josejonhson674]

@@deathboi3998 shut up clown, most Mexicans dont hate Mexican Americans and vice versa. Everyone has the right to rediscover their culture even if they neglected in the past.

[@akc045]

​@deathboi3998 dont worry. Mexicans in California are called wetbacks. Very different cultures.

[@andresgcoderoilpaz2806]

​@@deathboi3998who cares

[@KIMMePROMISEs]

It’s important to preserve your heritage. I’m so bless to have seen this today. How very beautiful.

[@lianbergancia]

ok. I'm impressed

[@cosas_de_cris5122]

I'm half Mexican and I've seen this multiple times, I have no idea how that do it it must take so much skill

[@sydmoore6]

I remember seeing this while I was in the market one day, it's incredible. and you can tell that all the locals really appreciate and honor it's heritage.

[@midnight.jovany6329]

QUE VIVA MEXICO!!!!!!!

[@grandpatzer]

VIVA

[@luna-ng4td]

Siiii

[@S0daPunk]

I really adore Mexico it is the place were I was born as a child

[@_curtis]

Wow.

[@davidaonekalawrence3066]

Amazing culture. Really makes me emotional. Its powerful in itself too

[@jennymk01]

Beautiful! And unique. Amazing what people can do.

[@videoaccount5676]

Love the traditional ancient metal pole and nylon rope they use.

[@user-ty6do8yz4l]

I first heard of this in 1981, when I was 11. It was a segment of THAT'S INCREDIBLE!

[@crestmoon8423]

i love my culture so much

[@mybabykiwi2218]

I’ve learned something really cool today!

[@ruitsal9652]

His voice 😍

[@azelheidrruth1661]

❤ Mexico & its people ❤

[@marmareido]

HOooly shit, this is hardcore, these people are incredible

[@parfei6332]

I've been to one of these. I was so worried for them. Scary af

[@1OutOf8Billion]

Pole dancing at its most extreme.

[@isag7957]

I went to Cancún over the summer. This was my favorite dance :)

[@aleatoirefrancais]

Que tradicion linda!

[@PieroZegarraPatow]

In Peru we have a similair dance called danza de tijeras

[@jonsmith5099]

Piero Zegarra Patow traditions of the original Americans

[@luisfernandocuevas8610]

Mexico, Peru, We are brothers

[@TheLeahygirl]

It's wonderful

[@stevenwan7015]

When you hit the top of the flag in Mario

[@warmac88]

Steven LoL 😂

[@grandpatzer]

Viva México

[@aimeefrorland4118]

I love the colors!

[@econoni]

I saw a group do this at this at Museo Nacional de Antropologia in Mexico City. It was amazing!

[@voidremoved]

Looks like something my buddies and I would do when we got too drunk... Hey man, you know what would be awesome???

[@b_uppy]

That is amazing to see. And if there is a problem with the weather, you know who to blame. 😉

[@liv6954]

I guess you can't be afraid of heights

[@kahlilhernandez7143]

Love it. Binge watching the GBS channel takes a lot of time.

[@mraryan8015]

saw this at xcaret. pretty amaaazing.

[@unaanguila]

Thanks for sharing!

[@loganbutler2851]

I wanted this live in Mexico and it was beautiful

[@HarunaMaurer]

This is so cool. I wonder who was the first one to have these idea lmao

[@nothinghere1621]

Wa Chin Yu some little boy.

[@Iloveotters24]

I remember my tio taking me to Chapala to see something like this.

[@denys1988]

I went and I saw them do the same thing

[@lyndaroddell]

Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

[@ossiankarki8305]

It's rai- flying men!

[@KillJoy_Since2017]

Awesome

[@pineappledragon1342]

I saw them!

[@ozarutenzei8437]

my husband is Totonaco he was born in Papantla

[@esais64]

Ay Papantla tus hijos vuelan

This is where Rolph from ed edd and Eddy is from! No doubt about it.

[@ksanurse]

Must be a ‘spin off’ from the sun dance warriors used to do. If you pardon the pun.

[@shadowstorm2.099]

Omg I remember seeing these guys when I was little 😀😃

[@dudelivestrong]

Looks fun

[@justnyce]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@jsh1ck541]

Why so less views ?

[@kf160k160]

I will shit frozen just to stand on top of the pole, let alone play the music instruments.

[@victorfajardo8104]

Nice

[@user-jn9ko7df5s]

Why to this high place?

[@rabi012]

# LOVE UR COMMUNITY

[@Happy_HIbiscus]

😊😊😊😊

[@kratos9740]

quiero que hagan esto pero en el obelisco de Argentina, mi pais :v

[@nativelatinosfucktrump3055]

proud to be 100% Native American Latino stand-up

[@weirdperson9353]

Kind of early... Yay?

[@k.stokyo6100]

これ昔イッテQで大輔さんが行った ホラドーレスじゃない？

[@luna-ng4td]

Que?

[@louisejsjs6481]

Are they scared while in the air? 😨

[@lykoe4045]

602*

[@bapakkau9192]

Awesome ! They must dance at america border wall .

[@hortik]

😮🇹🇷

[@jaziahmoloo2926]

grat vid

[@atsukana1704]

Lets just get a few things straight here. First, this reminds of The Road to El Dorado. Second, they say they are asking for permission, but how do they know if whoever they are asking says no.....

[@citrusblast4372]

600 years... Thats right around when the conquistadors came

[@_Matrx]

My ancestors were the originators of ancient pole dancing...weird.

[@nothinghere1621]

Edgar R is it a bad thing?

[@armwrestlingfan6804]

Steel pole?

[@ivykat9009]

Muhammad Ali yea...

[@sergiopadilla7765]

They should have added this in Disney coco

[@vtc5296]

It wouldn't really fit

[@anniec0re]

3rd I think?

[@koboi_tanah5874]

if a cross meaning you simbol to god...why you stand on it..haha

[@antifffusion_2536]

43rd yay lol

[@justjon3015]

Early SQUAD

[@justjon3015]

2nd

[@justjon3015]

tyran 11 młody bogu

[@jamesapayo3879]

If the Lord of heaven and Earth, Jesus Christ comes back and finds you in this human tradition,then you will understand that He is the sole Maker of the universe. Stop this and repent and receive Jesus Christ through His precious blood shade on the cross and your sins will be attorned for. This kind of dead living will cost all if you eternity if you won't embrace the Lord's mercy and Grace now in this dispensation. He loves you and wants to give you life and life in abundance. Read the Bible and see the truth for yourself. What I have told you is a matter of death and life. Repent and receive LIFE. Remain in your culture and suffer eternal perdition forever.

[@kevd.7741]

Omg. Get out of here! What's wrong with you? Show some respect to other's traditions!

[@mikemerrill4073]

Awesome