A group of students from the Michoacán State College of Baccalaureate (Cobaem) sparked controversy by presenting a choreographed dance in which they simulated being hitmen, using prop weapons and wearing masks during a school event in the municipality of Contepec.
The performance was part of the traditional “Sectoral Dance” competition, held on Tuesday, March 24, and images of it quickly went viral on social media, dividing opinions.
During the performance, the students carried what appeared to be toy rifles and performed movements that imitated armed confrontations.
Students from Cobaem in Contepec, Michoacán, went viral after presenting a choreographed dance in which they simulated being hitmen, using prop weapons and recreating the assassinations of mayors.
The routine included posters with photographs of Michoacán mayors who have been assassinated in recent years, such as Carlos Manzo, former mayor of Uruapan; Yolanda Sánchez Figueroa, former mayor of Cotija; Enrique Velázquez Orozco, of Contepec; César Arturo Valencia Caballero, of Aguililla; among others.
In the choreography, when each of these photographs appeared with the caption “assassinated,” the dancers pointed their weapons at the images and simulated shooting them. The narration also included their names, positions, and the dates on which they were assassinated.
The choreography culminated with the appearance of a student dressed as an angel, while in the background a fragment of an official message about the Michoacán Plan for Peace and Justice played: “I would like to present to you the Michoacán Plan for Peace and Justice, which stems from a deep conviction that security is not sustained through wars, but through justice, development, and respect for life,” it said.
The audience’s reaction, captured on video, included applause and cheers.
According to local media reports, the choreography won first place in the local competition, but was excluded from the state competition following controversy over the risk of glorifying crime.
What did Cobaem say?
The video’s release provoked mixed reactions among the educational community and social media users. Some interpreted the presentation as an artistic commentary on the insecurity plaguing Michoacán, while others deemed it inappropriate for an academic setting due to the use of weapons, even if they were props.
The General Directorate of Cobaem expressed its disapproval of the inclusion of simulated weapons in the school event. In a statement issued on March 25, the institution affirmed: “The Michoacán State College of Baccalaureate (Cobaem) states that, as an educational institution, it disapproves of any manifestation that refers to violence or that could be interpreted as an apology for crime.”
The statement also acknowledges the creativity and enthusiasm of its students, but urges that artistic expressions not be taken out of context or misinterpreted.
“It is important to ensure that artistic expressions are not taken out of context or misinterpreted, avoiding the generation of messages contrary to the principles we promote as an institution,” the statement notes.
The institution reiterated its commitment to the holistic development of its students, based on respect, peace, and harmonious coexistence.
As of press time, Michoacán education authorities have not issued any further statements regarding the incident.
Source: infobae
