Mexico cheer-dance Nazi routine criticised

A cheer-dance team of about two dozen girls aged 10 to 16 and one boy in Mexico has drawn criticism for a routine involving flags with swastikas.

Nazi propaganda tour.          Date: 1927

Nazi propaganda tour,1927. Source: Mary Evans Picture Library

A cheer-dance team in Mexico has drawn criticism for a routine in which they displayed flags with swastikas, dressed in pseudo-military outfits and one girl appeared to toss a Nazi salute to the crowd.

The performance by about two dozen girls aged 10 to 16 and one boy came at a cheer-dance competition in the western city of Guadalajara at the end of May.

The girls wore red armbands, camouflage dance outfits and carried red flags as they strutted in marching-style formations.

A video of the performance drew condemnation when it began to circulate on Friday on social media sites.

On local news sites, many readers said the girls probably did not know much about the Nazis, and blamed the event organisers and the team's choreographer for the questionable routine.

Event organiser Enrique Casas said he would not identify the team for security reasons, because the comments on social media sites "have been a little aggressive".

"The comments have gone beyond freedom of expression ... and have included direct insults against the girls."

Casas said the routines were the individual choice of the 192 teams that participated.

But he said organisers might put safeguards on the next competition to avoid hurting people's feelings.

Cheer-dance competitions combine cheerleading and dance routines.


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Source: AAP



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