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Why are Pueblo corn dances sometimes called tablita dances?
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Native American dance
Aztec round dance for QuetzalcĂłatl and Xolotl (a dog-headed god who is QuetzalcĂłatl's companion), detail from a facsimile Codex Borbonicus (folio 26), c. 1520; original in the Chamber of Deputies, Paris, France.
Pueblo corn dances are frequently referred to as "tablita dances" because of the distinctive headdress worn by the women participating in the ceremonies.1
The term tablita refers to a decorative panel or plaqueâoften featuring cloud symbolsâthat is worn as a crown. These headdresses are crafted with feathers and symbolic designs, serving as a prominent visual element during the collective performances that characterize these sacred rituals. The name itself is derived from the Spanish word tabla, meaning tablet or board.21