Andrés Ehecatl Aguilar

Southern Border San Diego County Latino/a/x Native American Dance Multi-genre Visual/Craft/Material Arts Azteca Chicano/a/x Indigenous Mexican, Central and South American

Andrés Ehecatl Aguilar is a teacher, leader, scholar, and “heredero,” or caretaker, of the Danza Tolteca-Chichimeca tradition, popularly known as “Aztec Dance.” He grew up in this ceremonial dance tradition and way of life as a member of one of the oldest dance groups in the United States: Danza Mexi’cayotl in San Diego, California. As a lifelong practitioner, he has mastered traditional regalia-making techniques, which he teaches to members of the Danza community. Aguilar participates in this tradition with communities across the United States and Mexico and has learned techniques from many talented elder regalia makers in both countries.

As a scholar and educator, he recently curated a photo exhibition on the development of the Danza Tolteca-Chichimeca tradition in the United States, as well as a regalia installation at CSU Channel Islands entitled “From Aztecas del Norte to Chichimecas de Aztlán,” which ran from February through March 2026. He has also begun a project to collect the oral histories of founding dance elders from Danza groups across the United States.

As an arts practitioner, he teaches traditional dance and music in the community and serves on the board of the Mexi’cayotl Indio Cultural Center, a 501(c)(3) organization based in San Diego, CA.

Mexi’cayotl Indio Cultural Center Website

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Apprenticeship Program

2026

Danza Chichimeca-Azteca tradtional regalia/traje making with apprentice Enrique Gonzalez

Enrique Gonzalez will learn from Andrés Ehecatl Aguilar how to create traditional regalia for Danza Chichimeca-Azteca, an ancient Mexican dance tradition. Andrés will teach Enrique the steps involved in designing and constructing a new dance uniform using techniques such as recortaje, painting, beading, and sequined motifs. Enrique, a sergeant in the tradition who has danced for 17 years, will deepen his regalia-making skills and prepare to pass this knowledge on to others.