The Danza de los Voladores (English: Dance of the Flyers) also known as Palo Volador (pole flying), is an ancient Mesoamerican ceremony performed near the entrance to the Anthropology Museum. According to the myth, the dance was created during a severe drought to ask the gods to send down rain for the crops. In the Danza de los Voladores participate five “dancers.” First, they dance around the pole to ask permission from the gods to climb it. Once permission is obtained, they climb to the top of a 30-meter pole. From there four dancers (representing each of the four seasons) spin around and descend gently to the ground tied with ropes. The fifth one remains on top of the pole, dancing and playing a flute and drum.
La Danza de los Voladores is performed approximately every 30 minutes during the opening hours of the Anthropology Museum. Dancers are not paid by the museum and survive solely from money given by appreciative spectators.