You can't talk about Mexican music without mentioning the famous Mexican hat dance. Being an icon of the Mexican traditions, it is known by a lot of people outside Mexico.
The Mexican hat dance (or the “baile del sombrero”) can be performed by two people, by a group or just by a single dancer. The dances steps are pretty much the same when dancing with a partner or in a group, but they change dramatically when dancing alone.
For groups or couples, the starting position is with feet together and arms quietly resting at the sides of the dancer’s body. As the music goes on, there are several arms movements and every dancer moves in circles around each other. The dance ends with a loud “olé” (a Spanish victory exclamation).
For a single performer (often a man), the Mexican hat dance steps are greatly different. The dancer throws a “sombrero” (Mexican hat) onto the floor, and performs little jumps around it, stepping on its edge with only one foot, and keeps moving in circles while he keeps his fists on his waist. At the end of every part of the music, the dancer turns around and performs the same steps in the opposite direction, so he steps on the hat with his other foot now.
When performed by a single person, the Mexican hat dance ends with an “olé” and a big clap.