The Guacamayo (Macaw) Dance is one of the oldest of Maya traditional dances, confides Vilma Leticia Chile. This pocomchi dance tells the story of a Maya prince who got lost in the forest and the Lord of Mountains sent him some nahuales or spirits to guide him. They appeared as macaws who protected him from the evil witches who wanted to harm him. The opossum represents the forest animals, and is the first one to make an appearance when the dance is being performed. Chile carves and paints the cedar wood masks by hand with expressive detail. They hang from cotton twine cords
