Photographing the women of the Danza de los Voladores

It’s a spectacular sight: Nikté, a 14-year-old performer, flying headfirst off a 30-metre pole with just a single rope tied to her waist. Photographer and anthropologist Valeria Luongo captured this image [above] during an annual town festival in Cuetzalan, Mexico in October 2024. Both of Nikté’s parents were voladores (flyers) too – performers in an ancient Mesoamerican ritual passed down through generations.

Before the image in question was taken, Nikté was only allowed to fly from shorter poles, around half the size. But that morning, she woke up and announced she was ready for the real deal. “Her mother Irene teased her, she didn’t believe she would actually go through with it,” Valeria remembers. “A few hours later, as the celebration was in full swing, Irene and I were chatting on the side of the main square. Without warning, we turned around to find Nikté already climbing the pole… The mix of fear, emotion, and pride in Irene’s eyes at that moment is something I’ll never forget. I quickly grabbed my camera, making sure that I didn’t miss it.”

The Italian photographer first visited Cuetzalan in 2013 as an anthropology student. She quickly became aware of the Danza de los Voladores (Dance of the Flyers), and was captivated by this extraordinary tradition. Teams of voladors in embroidered costumes first dance on the ground, before climbing a pole and flying off into a choreographed spin. Valeria has visited the town many times since, and learned that the tradition was historically male-dominated. However, in recent years Cuetzalan has seen a rise in female performers: “I found it so inspiring, as these flying women represent such a powerful symbol in their social context,” says Valeria.

Her project, When Women Fly captures the grace and wonder of these gifted performers, but also the smaller moments of their daily lives as mothers, grandmothers, children and sisters. “Participating in the dance is a commitment that requires time and energy,” she says, explaining how many of these women work full-time, on top of managing the bulk of housework and childcare. “Among all these duties, they do their best to find the time.” Intimate and delicate, Valeria’s photos shows the strength and balance that all these women carry – both on the ground, and up in the air.