In the Andes great emphasis is put on DANCE
Every year the mayor’s office organises a dance festival as part of the city’s yearly celebrations. Dancing is an important part of Andean heritage. And even more so, since folklore dances “narrate” a people’s history, remind everyone of their traditions and mirror the inhabitants’ lifestyles. One could describe dance as depicting a cross-section of everyday life: sowing and harvesting, alcoholism, domestic violence, religious contents and many other subjects are woven into the dance routines.
For a Christian school it is not that easy to find appropriate contents for such a performance. Teacher Luis Poma Tacuri rehearsed the dance with the 5th grade which deals with the communal building of a mud house. Clay, straw and shingle are brought together and while the walls are growing, a priest asks for God’s blessing. Wonderful material taken from everyday life. The ten-minute choreography, performed by 20 pupils, was rewarded by the jury with the third prize.
It was the first time that the Diospi-Suyana-School entered this competition. With their dance routine our pupils, being a part of our village community, expressed their high regard for Andean culture.
At the end of the event the teacher prayed with the pupils. It was a prayer thanking God for this wonderful experience and for the privilege of being able to honour Him through dance. Parents, teachers and head of school, Christian Bigalke, were very proud of their pupils’ result!
