Learn The Energetic Oruro Dance: A Guide To Teaching Beginners

The Bolivian mountain town of Oruro, once a pre-Columbian ceremonial site, is famous for its annual Carnival of Oruro, a religious and cultural festival that attracts over 30,000 dancers and 150 marching bands. The Carnival, which lasts ten days, features a variety of folk dances that represent Bolivian folk stories. Each dance has its own unique costume, choreography, and history, and many of them originate from indigenous rituals that were banned by the Spanish in the 17th century but continued to be performed under the guise of Christian liturgy.

The history of the Oruro Carnival

The Carnival of Oruro is a religious and cultural festival in Oruro, Bolivia, celebrated since the 18th century. The city of Oruro, founded in 1606, was a pre-Columbian ceremonial site and an important mining area in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Uru people, who considered Oruro a sacred site, would travel long distances to perform their rituals, especially for the principal Ito festival.

When the Spanish resettled the area in 1606, they banned these indigenous ceremonies, but the Uru people continued to observe them under the guise of Christian liturgy. They concealed Andean gods behind Christian icons and Andean divinities became saints. The Ito festival was transformed into a Christian ritual, celebrated on Candlemas (2 February), and the traditional llama llama or diablada dance in worship of the Uru god Tiw became the main dance at the Carnival of Oruro.

The modern festival demonstrates the ongoing blend of pagan and Catholic religious practices in the region. The carnival starts with a ceremony dedicated to the Virgen del Socavon (Virgin of the Mineshaft). Marching bands compete simultaneously in the grotto of Pie de Gallo on Sunday, which is the greeting to the Virgin. The carnival features a three-day-and-three-night parade of 48 groups of folk dancers over a four-kilometer route to the sanctuary of the tunnel. The carnival is a representation of the struggle of good against evil and the victory of the army of angels, guided by the Archangel Michael.

The dances of the Oruro Carnival are based on the legend of the Virgin del Socavon, combined with the ancient Uru tale of Huari and the struggle of Archangel San Miguel against the Devil and the seven deadly sins. The carnival is also a reflection of Oruro's rich cultural history, with dance groups participating from various indigenous groups throughout Bolivia. The most famous dance is La Diablada or the Dance of the Devils, which represents the victory of good over evil and has remained unchanged since colonial times.

The Diablada dance

The Diablada, or the ""Dance of the Devils", is a traditional Andean folk dance performed in Bolivia, particularly in the Altiplano region of South America. The dance is characterised by performers wearing intricate masks and costumes, depicting the devil and other characters from pre-Columbian theology and mythology, combined with Spanish and Christian influences from the colonial era. The dance is believed to have originated in the ancient settlement of Oruro, a significant centre of the Uru civilisation, and dates back to their rituals dedicated to the mythological figure Tiw, who protected caves, lakes, and rivers.

The choreography of the Diablada is a representation of the eternal struggle between good and evil, with angels and demons in continuous movement, until Saint Michael appears and defeats the Devil. The dance consists of three versions, each made up of seven moves. The music that accompanies the dance has two parts: the first is known as the March, and the second is called the Devil's Mecapaqueña.

The Diablada is performed during the annual Carnival of Oruro, which lasts ten days and includes a procession of dancers and musicians. The Carnival is a UNESCO-recognised event, declared one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2001.

To teach someone the Diablada dance, it is important to first understand its historical and religious context, as well as its symbolic choreography. Begin by explaining the significance of the dance as a representation of the struggle between good and evil. Then, teach the basic steps and movements that angels and demons perform, emphasising the continuous nature of their dance. Finally, incorporate the role of Saint Michael, who emerges to defeat the Devil, bringing the dance to its climax.

Additionally, it is essential to familiarise yourself and your students with the traditional music that accompanies the dance. The first part, the March, sets the tone for the dance, while the second part, the Devil's Mecapaqueña, adds to the energetic and vibrant atmosphere. Encourage your students to embrace the spirit of the dance and express their individual interpretations of the struggle between good and evil through their movements.

The Morenada dance

The Morenada is an Andean folk dance with origins that are still debated. It is primarily practised in Bolivia, but also in Peru, Chile, Argentina, and other countries with Bolivian immigration. The dance is one of the most representative of Bolivian culture and was declared Cultural Heritage of Bolivia in 2011 through Law No. 135. It is performed during the Carnaval de Oruro in honour of the Virgen del Socavón and is also part of the Fiesta del Gran Poder in the city of La Paz.

There are several theories about the origin of the Morenada dance. The most widely accepted theory is that it was inspired by the sufferings of African slaves brought to Bolivia to work in the Silver Mines of Potosí. Another theory relates the dance to African slaves who settled in the Oruro region for wine production, imitating the treading of grapes in wineries. A third theory links the dance to the Aymara people from La Paz, where it is known as the "Fish Dance". This theory is supported by the discovery of cave paintings in the region depicting Morenada dancers.

The Caporales dance

The Caporales is a traditional Bolivian dance with Spanish origins. It is a legacy of the Spanish military guard or slave overseer, usually of mixed race, who wore boots and carried a whip. The dance was created and presented to the public for the first time in 1969 by the Estrada Pacheco brothers, inspired by the character of the 'Caporal'. The dance has a prominent religious aspect, with devotees dancing for the Virgin of Socavón, the patron saint of miners.

In the Caporales dance, men and women usually perform separately in a progressive march style. The male caporal costume depicts an old Spanish military guard, with heeled boots bearing large bells called 'cascabeles', a hat in the left hand, and a whip in the right. The female caporal dress consists of a minidress with matching underwear, skin-coloured pantyhose, fancy shoes, and a round top hat pinned to the hair. The costumes are adorned with colourful sequins. The dance involves a lot of jumping and is very active, with the men performing high jumps and stomping to make the bells jingle rhythmically.

The Caporales is a very popular dance, especially in carnivals and festivities such as the Oruro Carnival. It is most popular among young men and women due to its physical demands. The music is contagious and rhythmic, often drawing spectators to join in with claps and shoulder movements. The dance is also performed in other countries like Argentina, Chile, Peru, and the United States, with numerous groups and cultural associations dedicated to it.

The importance of the Virgin of Socavón

The Virgen del Socavón, or the Virgin of the Tunnel, is a monument in the mining city of Oruro, Bolivia. The statue is of the Virgin Mary holding a baby Jesus and is 147 feet (45 metres) tall. It is a highly significant statue for the people of Oruro and is considered the largest monument to Our Lady in Latin America.

The Virgen del Socavón is important for several reasons. Firstly, she is the patron saint of the city of Oruro, venerated especially by miners and folkloric Carnival dancers. The statue is a source of immense joy and pride for the people of Oruro, who believe that the Virgin protects their city and its people. This devotion to the Virgin is deeply rooted in the city's history, dating back to the colonial missionary period of Bolivia. According to legend, the Virgin del Socavón, or Our Lady of the Mineshaft, intervened to save the people of Oruro (then a small town called Uru Uru) from a terrible monster devil called Wari. The devil had sent four plagues to the town, and each time, the Virgin interceded and slayed the devil with a flaming candle.

The Virgin del Socavón is also significant because of her association with the Carnival of Oruro, a festival that takes place annually before Lent. During the Carnival, thousands of people march in procession through the streets, with some in elaborate costumes and brass bands. The Virgen del Socavón is honoured during this procession, and her image is featured in the Carnival's main dance, La Diablada. This dance represents the struggle between good and evil and the defeat of the seven deadly sins. The Carnival of Oruro has been recognised by UNESCO as part of the patrimony of humanity.

The statue of the Virgin del Socavón itself is also a significant feat, costing $1.2 million and taking four years to build. It is constructed from cement, iron, and fibreglass to withstand the fierce winds of the high plain on which Oruro is situated. The statue is a testament to the devotion of the people of Oruro to the Virgin and is a source of great pride for the city.

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