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FESTIVAL DANCERS

BOLIVIA CORAZON DE AMERICA

NATIONAL/ETHNIC IDENTITY: Andean, Bolivian
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: Susana Salinas
First Appearance in SF EDF: 2002
Email: asalinas@pacbell.net

The ancient land of Tiwanaku, located 12,500 feet above sea level was the center of Bolivia's most important pre-Colombian civilization. The Andes mountains, known by the Spanish as cordilleras, or knotted ropes, which describes their wild and rugged nature, is still home to the indigenous people, the Aymara and Quechua. Fifty percent of Bolivia's population is descended from these powerful civilizations.

Considered some of the oldest known complex societies in the Americas, these cultures carry music and dance traditions that reach back 5,000 years. Bolivian dance repertoire, like other Andean cultures, consists of pre-Colombian dances performed in rural areas during religious and secular community celebrations, as well as the European influenced mestizo dances performed at popular festivals and celebrations of patron saints. During community celebrations, group solidarity is strengthened, while shared values and cultural identities are reaffirmed.

Artistic director, Susana Salinas grew up in Bolivia learning these dances. In December 2000, Bolivia Corazon de America was formed in San Francisco to teach the growing numbers of Bolivian children and youth the dance and music of their heritage.

2005 PERFORMANCE

TITLE OF PIECES: Tinku, Suri Sikuris
CHOREOGRAPHY: Susana Salinas
DANCERS: Maria Luisa Bachinello, Juan Alberto Bandera, Andrea Bermudez, Daniela Camacho, Elizabeth Camcho, Fabiola Camacho, Ryan Flores, Elvin Gutierrez, Alfonso Guzman, Oliver Guzman, Andrea Lino, Lillian Lino, Christian Morando, Osmar Morando, Melisa Palacios, Jhamil Reynolds, Alvaro Salinas, Jr.

Bolivia Corazon de America performs two traditional pieces. Tinku is a pre-Columbian ritual from Potosi, Bolivia in which two communities come together in a "fierce celebration." Originally performed on sacred grounds, people fought for their ayllu, or community. Each community would compete and compare strength in an attempt to gain favor for abundance and fertility from Pachamama, the mother land. Winning the battle meant gaining prestige, land rights and favors from the losing party. Tinku is also a musical rhythm done to a marching movement.

From the Andean communities in northern La Paz, Suri Sikuri is a dance dating back to 800 BC. The name refers to the ostrich, the suri, as the magnificent headdress is made of its feathers. The dance is performed in harvest ceremonies and depicts the hunting of the suri. Sikuri is a musical form, performed by a large number of marching musicians playing the panpipes, know as sikus. Two performers are needed to complete the musical scale, which reflect the Andean ethos of the balance of opposites.