Tobas (dance)

Culture of Bolivia
Part of a series on the

History
People
Languages Araona Aymara Ayoreo Baure Callahuaya Canichana Cavineña Cayubaba Chiquitano Guaraní Eastern Bolivian Guaraní Iñapari Itonama Leco Machiguenga language Movima Pacahuara Plautdietsch Puquina Quechua Reyesano Saraveca Sirionó Spanish Bolivian Spanish Tacana Tapieté Toromona Uru-Chipaya Uru Western Argentine Guaraní Wichí Lhamtés Nocten Wichí Lhamtés Vejoz Yaminawa Yuracaré
Cuisine Pique macho Salteñas Silpancho more
Festivals Carnaval de Oruro
Religion Roman Catholicism Islam Ekeko Pachamama Tiw Anchanchu
Art Architecture Neo-Tiwanakan architecture
Literature Writers
Music and performing arts Music
Media Cinema Bolivia TV Bolivisión ATB Bolivia Red Uno de Bolivia UNITEL Radio Televisión Popular Red Patria Nueva
Sport Olympics
Monuments Archaeological sites Chiripa El Fuerte de Samaipata Incallajta Iskanwaya Mollo culture Pumapunku Tiwanaku Buildings Palacio Quemado National Mint of Bolivia
Symbols Flag Coat of arms
Bolivia portal

The Tobas is a folk dance from Bolivia. The folkloric dance of the Tobas speaks of the ancient past of Bolivia. It has roots in a time when the Incas were the predominant force in the Andean highlands region. Tobas is an athletic dance comprising agile steps accentuated with many jumps and bounds.

History

The Tobas were a tribe of warriors who lived in the Chaco region of Bolivia. When the Incas came to conquer them, they were amazed by the rich culture of fierce warriors that they encountered. The Incas greatly admired the Tobas dance and they were taken from their Amazonian homeland by the Emperor Tupac Yupanqui. The dance and music of the Tobas has been reinterpreted by subsequent people of Bolivia like the Aymara and the Mestizos.

Today, Tobas is a prominent part of the annual carnivals. (Like the Carnaval de Oruro or the Bolivian Festival in Virginia.)

The Tobas dance culture is not only being kept alive in Bolivia, but also by various groups in Virginia (Centro Cultural Bolivia or CCB), Sweden (Centro Cultural Bolivia Norrkoping & Bolivia Kommittén Norrkoping) and Australia (Bolivia Marka).

Dance

The Tobas dance is a special representation of energy - a singular dance with impressive jumps performed by the dancers to impress the audience. This unique dance is performed during religious and other festivities as well as the Oruro Carnival.Not only do you need a good physique, but a lot of stamina and energy.

The dance steps have special names: Bolivar (quick with regular jumps); camba (very agile, one meter high jumps); chucu-chucu (with a faster rhythm that amuse the audience, in the foot tips, almost in the knees); and the cullahui jump.

Costume

The typical Tobas costume is head wear entirely made of feathers,decorated with jewels, a skirt and top decorated made with colorful fabrics,with beads and fringes on the bottom, with cows feet sewed onto fabric to tie around the ankle, spear or hatchet, bracelet of feathers, and an anklet of feathers.

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, January 16, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.