Cultural festivals celebrate traditional dance and music in Colombia and Peru

The 33rd National Festival of the Guabina Chiquinquireña and Folkloric Pilgrimage concluded in Chiquinquirá, Colombia. The top prize for the best dance interpretation of La Guabina was awarded to Greicy Hernández Oviedo and Josep David Zambrano of the Corporación Danzas de los Andes. The competition featured 17 folkloric groups from various Colombian regions, including Valle del Cauca, Bogotá, Antioquia, Santander, and Cundinamarca.

In Peru, the XLVIII Sikuris Virgen de Cancharani Contest was held at the Cancharani sanctuary. The winners across different series included Juventud Obrera in the ‘Un Solo Bombo’ category, Sikuris de Oro Huaruma Rosaspata in the ‘Varios Bombos’ category, and Sikuris Occopampa de Amantaní in the ‘Ayarachis e Isla Sikus’ category. The event included a traditional procession of the Virgin and served as a gathering for musicians and dancers to maintain Andean highland traditions.