The trend coincided with the rise of tribal (pronounced tree-BAL) music, which is a mix of pre-Hispanic sounds, cumbia rhythms and techno. Residents of Matehuala started wearing the boots in tribal dancing competitions at clubs, rodeos and quinceañeras.
The boots eventually made their way to Hispanic neighborhoods in Texas. Even though the boots originated in Matehuala, Erick Rincon, a DJ who skyrocketed the boots’ popularity when he featured them in a music video that’s been viewed more than 50 million times on YouTube, told Vice they’re actually more popular in Texas.
The boots are still beloved by tribal fans, and tribal dance crews take a “haters gonna hate” attitude. “It’s all about how you feel inside,” says one man at the end of the documentary, wearing boots that curl into a little ball like an elf boot.
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