Certain Kinds of Dances Used among Them: An Initial Inquiry into Colonial Spanish Encounters with the Areytos of the Taíno in Puerto Rico

Research challenges the claim that the earliest known European play performance in the Americas occurred in Puerto Rico in 1510, finding it historically implausible. The study instead explores Spanish colonial encounters with the Taíno 'areyto,' a traditional performance practice, revealing attempts by Spanish friars to Christianize this cultural element during evangelistic efforts. Through archival research in Seville's Archivo General de Indias and analysis of chroniclers' accounts—including those by Ramón Pane, Bartolomé de las Casas, Oviedo y Valdes, and Pedro Mártir de Angelería—the study reconstructs the Taíno's cultural landscape under colonial rule. It highlights the 'areyto' as a significant yet understudied aspect of Taíno society, offering insights into the complexities of cultural exchange during early Spanish colonization in Puerto Rico.

Wallace, E. B. (2017). Certain Kinds of Dances Used among Them: An Initial Inquiry into Colonial Spanish Encounters with the Areytos of the Taíno in Puerto Rico. Theatre Symposium, 25(1), 29–36. https://doi.org/10.1353/tsy.2017.0002