The Story of the "El Torito Dance"

An especially fierce bull was selected one year for the festivities on a hacienda near Silao, Guanajuato. He escaped from the pen where he was being kept until it was time for the bullfight to begin.

The Horseman tried to use his skill with animals to capture the bull and force him back into his pen, but the bull resisted and charged at the Horseman with his horns.

Next, the Foreman tried to subdue the bull, but the animal did not respect his authority and charged at him with his horns.

The Mariquita was the most beautiful woman on the hacienda and the landlord's daughter. She attempted to seduce the bull with her enchantments, but the bull did not fall under her spell and he charged at her with his horns.

The Drunkard in her tattered dress, was the next person to confront the bull. In her drunken state she believed she was invincible and that the bull would subject itself to her commands, but the bull did not follow her instructions and he charged at her with his horns.

Every party has a prankster who sticks his nose into other people's business. At that moment, the Moco appeared to try and reduce the anger of the bull by distracting him with his pranks, but the bull remained as enraged as ever and charged toward the Moco with his horns.

The residents of the town became alarmed when they saw that no one could control the bull. They called for the pious Viejito to come to the hacienda and calm the bull with his devotions. The bull began to slow down his movements and move closer to the old man. It looked like the bull would be tamed with prayer.

But the Devil was envious that the old man could calm the wild bull. He interrupted the scene, rushing at the bull, cracking his whip at the animal to force him to obey. But the Bull was not afraid of the Devil, and he charged at him with his horns.

Finally Death itself appeared to subdue the rampaging animal. He expected that the Bull would follow his commands. Everyone on earth must respond to his call, but the Bull did not fear even Death itself. He charged toward Death with his horns.

At that point, the people of the hacienda recognized that the bull would never be tamed. They finally allowed him to run free in the open pasture, while everyone stayed awake drinking, feasting and exploding fireworks until dawn.