Huh?
First of all, let’s see what the word “Mangoneada” means. For starters, it is a hip-hop contest, and the word is Mexican slang derived from “Mango” and “Shaking”. Still not making sense?
Ok. The idea was to come up with a name that refers both to the beginning of the mango season in May, although it’s not yet at its peak, and to a “zangoloteada” which is an energetic, intense, and disorderly movement similar to urban dancing.
According to Diego Juárez, director of Baja Groove and one of the organizers, the name was chosen because all the collective’s projects strive to use native or regionally specific names “that the local people can identify with and feel represented by.”
With an artistic approach that combines training, exhibitions, and community outreach, the third edition of the “Mangoneada” event will take place on May 17 and 18 in San José del Cabo.
This event brings together prominent figures in the country’s urban dance scene, offering training workshops and an afternoon of dance battles with free admission for the public.
Mangoneada is more than a festival; it’s a three-year-old initiative aimed at introducing children and young people to urban dance instruction, particularly hip-hop, taught by internationally renowned instructors.
The event is promoted by the Baja Groove collective and organized in conjunction with the Academia Danza Mina, with support from the Institute of Culture and the Los Cabos City Council.
“What we seek is for the youth of Los Cabos to have a safe, educational space where they can express themselves and learn from top-level artists without having to leave the state,” explained Diego Juárez.
In its early editions, Mangoneada took place in closed venues such as the Academia Danza Mina and the Cultural Pavilion of the Republic. This year, the event will be held at the Casa de la Cultura and will conclude at Plaza Mijares, with the goal of linking educational work with an open environment for the entire community. The expected attendance is over 100 participants, primarily children and adolescents from Los Cabos.
On Saturday the 17th, technique workshops and movement labs will be conducted, divided into two levels: a basic one aimed at those new to dance—children, youth, and the general public—and a second for advanced levels, including teachers and professional dancers from the hotel show business.
On Sunday the 18th, the workshops will continue with a choreographic focus and culminate with the main event: “The Cypher”, a series of freestyle battles and exhibitions with a live DJ, hosted by a presenter and styled according to the style and dress code of 90s hip hop. This closing event will be completely free and open to the public in Plaza Mijares.
Among the featured artists are Homa and Soul, two dancers from Mexico City who have represented Mexico in international competitions such as Fusion Concept in Paris, one of the most important freestyle tournaments in the world.
“They are very talented young people, known for their freestyle battles and for belonging to important dance companies,” Juárez noted.
In addition to the training program and the battles, the event will include surprise prizes with items and accessories sponsored by Maestro París Torres, who will provide t-shirts, pins, towels, and other exclusively designed items.
The Cypher is the perfect closing because we open it to everyone. We want it to be a celebration for children and adolescents who love dance and urban music. “Come, join, share,” concluded the Baja Groove director.
The suggested dress code for The Cypher is 90s hip hop style. For more information, here are the event’s official social media accounts (on Instagram as @baja_groove_streetdance).