Llamerada: (Llama drivers dance)
Llamerada is one of the oldest dances of the bolivian
folklore; it belongs to the Aymara nation in its origins. Its original
name is "karuwani".
Its link with the llama and the auchenics in general dates back to the
pre-agriculture epoch, over forty centuries ago. Since those times, the
llama gives food, transport and cover. That is why it appears painted in
caves and ceramics and sculpted in stone.
For many pre-colombian cultures, dance was art and magic, for the
dancing to be produced in reality; is why the llama herder dancers would
imitate the scenes of herding in order to keep around the herd.
The llama herder dancing has changed in its magic sense and innovations
were imposed in the choreography, costumes, participants and music.
However, it has not stopped representing the relationship between the
Andean man and the auchenids.
The Andean round - Up
According to tradition, this dance goes back to a
human fence around the auchenid herds people would push the animals to
press together into a ring until they would reach them with their hands.
The llamas, alpacas, vicuņas caught were sheared; the old or injured
animals would become food stuff. The round up finished, the "huilancha"or
the sacrifice of the propitiatory llama was made, whose blood was
offered to gods.
Postilions and herders
According to another tradition, it recalls the Incan
postilions in charge of herding the auchenids. It also rememorates the
herders of colonial Potosi.
Under the current interpretation, it is a mimicking dance, because it
tries to imitate the daily life of the herders and those of the
shepherds; but it also represents the virtual linking with the llama,
that is why the costume of the dancers is elegant and it recovers old
signs of power.
Women and Costume
In most of our dances, women partaking just since
three decades ago, but in the llama herder dance a woman are in since
ancient times, because the position tasks or that of the herders to
Potosi was family activities.
The attire is a mixture of ancient elements, worn by the Aymara since
pre-colombian and colonial times until the XIX century, with parts of
the current Aymara clothes.
The hat is the most typical; it is square and embroidered with teaseling
made of woolen cloth; it recalls the hat that the Aymara authorities
would wear.
The man wears a woolen shirt, woolen cloth or silken cloth; the short
woolen cloth pants a bit down under the knees; woolen string socks;
typical sandals; a colorful bundling square piece tied up on his chest;
a chumpi or a multicolor sash that surrounds his waist; a rope hopped in
a counter sense of that of the bundling piece. In the most traditional
llameradas, men also wear a plaster mask with the lips gathered in a
whistling attitude.
Men and women hold a sling or korawa in their right hand, a symbol of
the shepherds and llama drivers, the main part of the choreography and
of the clothing. Most of the "steps" include the movement of
the sling pretending the driving or the throwing of stones.
The women wear one or more wide long polleras (typical kinds of skirts);
under the polleras are one or more underskirts or mancanchas made of
white fabric; a blouse, and on it a crossed bundling piece.
Colors have changed. The traditional black color is worn by the tatalas
(head drivers); the group, and this is one of the innovations wears
differing colors according to the fraternity and according to the
festivity
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