This weekend, in the town of Villavicencio in Meta, the International Joropo Government took place and its participants were dazzled by their beauty and talent as they danced the most representative dance of the region: the Joropo.
However, one fact did not go unnoticed by those watching the live TV broadcast and those who attended the event. Mexican contestant Grecia Italy took to the stage and decided to keep going despite the inconveniences that got in her way.
As she performed the well-known twists of the folk dance, the skirt of her dress fell down. With charisma and spontaneity, however, he overcame the mishap and continued to dance with his partner. He was able to finish his presentation and didn’t win the title, but he did have a place on the podium: he took third place.
The Mexican is the current Joropo Queen of her country and wears the crown of the National Beauty Contest (CNB).
The rebirth of the Joropo, the maximum expression of the identity of the Llanero
What does the Joropo represent to the Llanero? The answer comes immediately from the mouths of those who live and feel this culture. For them, it represents the most important part of their identity as individuals and as a group.
That’s why, It is not surprising that the Joropo International Tournament, in its 54th edition, has received such a massive reception. Thousands of people attended the events planned to pay tribute to Llano culture.
And according to Jorge Eduardo Vásquez Maldonado, the Joropo is the highest celebration of the Llaneros. It is a “festival” in every sense as it represents gastronomy, livestock and dance. When such an event is presented, the Llanero and the Llanera want to show everyone what they’re made of. Therefore, they participate in the activities without any distinction.
For the sample: A team of three women appear on their respective horses in the sand. With a fixed gaze and a booming voice, he moves to “lock up the cattle” in a small gate.
It sounds simple, but in practice everything is difficult, especially considering that almost 50 oxen are running, easily avoiding the horses. The spirit of the women emerged and with courage they reached their goal: machismo is already a thing of the past.
This premise is made clear by looking at the huge poster announcing that the winner of the tournament will be America, one of the most important exponents of Llanera music. For Vásquez Maldonado, a Joropo teacher with many years of experience, The Llanero is always proud of its traditions and culture. That’s why they use these kinds of events to show who they are.
“The Joropo is the highest expression of the Colombian and Venezuelan Orinoquía,” he affirmed. A concept shared by Pablo Solano, a 50-year-old Araucanian who has been dancing Joropo for as long as he can remember. “The song and music of the planes flow through our veins,” he said.