Dramatic and colorful, don’t miss the new pre-Hispanic dinner show at Gran Salón Hacienda Sisal on Mondays.

Out of the mist comes the sound of drums, flutes and the narrator, dressed as an ancient lord, addressing the audience in Maya. The fast-paced show begins with a dance invoking Chaac, the rain god and is followed by a priest who blesses a pair of long-lost lovers. The drumbeats quicken and a warrior takes to the stage, then a group of priestesses. After a sacrificial ritual and a dance evoking the new fire ceremony, the show reaches its finale with a war dance and a crescendo of drum beats and cries from the musicians.

The show is served up with a tasty buffet of Mayan and Yucatecan dishes such as cochinita pibil, chicken pibil-style, tikinxic or Maya-style marinated and grilled fish, tamales, poc chuc, panuchos, longaniza sausage from Valladolid and flavorful lime soup. After the show stay on for karaoke.

From the body paint and costumes to the authentic wooden drums, flutes and hocarinas or pipes, this is a glimpse of the ancient Maya, a people who once dominated southeast Mexico and Central America forging a civilization that excelled in architecture, mathematics, science, the measurement of time and astronomy. A chain of powerful city states fought, made alliances and traded with one another over a vast area; priests and rulers scanned the heavens for portents and worshipped the gods.

More shows during the week at Gran Salon Hacienda Sisal

Summer visitors will want to plan an evening or two in Gran Salon Hacienda Sisal for live entertainment, good food and karaoke. There is a week of fun in store:

Sunday: Caribbean show and buffet
Monday: Pre-Hispanic Show and Mayan buffet
Tuesday: Retro Show and Asian buffet
Wednesday: Mexican Night Dinner Show, Mexican buffet, mariachis
Thursday: Tango Show and pizza, empanada and pasta buffet
Friday: Michael Jackson Dinner Show with U.S.-style buffet

Program is subject to change without prior notice.

Gran Salon Hacienda Sisal opens at 5 p.m., showtime is at 7 p.m. and there is karaoke from 7:45 p.m. to 11 p.m. Reservations are required, call ext. 165.