The story
World Meeting of Bolivian Dances in La Paz/Oruro
The Encuentro Mundial de Danzas Bolivianas is a coordinated, single-day folk dance event in which Bolivian troupes perform simultaneously across La Paz, Oruro, Sucre, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz and well over a hundred cities worldwide, asserting that dances like the diablada, morenada and caporales originated in Bolivia. La Paz performances run along the Prado from Plaza Murillo, while Oruro's take place at Plaza Pagador with fraternities from its own UNESCO-recognized Carnival. It is free, open-street and unticketed.
Bolivian folk dance groups have spent much of the past decade contesting how their traditions get labeled abroad, and the Encuentro Mundial de Danzas Bolivianas grew directly out of that fight.