The joyous, decorated Aztec dancers of San Jose

One of the great comeback stories in dance – with one of the longest histories – can be found right here in the Bay Area, in San Jose.

On culturally significant days of the year, performers from what’s known as the Danza Azteca communities gather to reenact the dances of their ancestors. They often dress in elaborate regalia, with feathered headdresses and beaded pendants, and wear seedpod rattles on their ankles that sound like falling rain. There are hand-carved wooden drums strapped with animal hide...