Today’s A Journey through Aesthetic Realms will be presented in Spanish, with subtitles in Arabic, Aulacese (Vietnamese), Chinese, English, French, German, Hungarian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Thai and Spanish.

Greetings, cheerful viewers, and welcome to A Journey through Aesthetic Realms on Supreme Master Television. Today, we will follow the notes of vibrant music to the picturesque country of Colombia to discover one of her most celebrated cultural traditions, folk dance.

The Republic of Colombia is located at the northernmost tip of South America, bordering Panama, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru and Ecuador. It is home to 45 million citizens and the world’s third largest Spanish- speaking population. Part of Colombia’s diverse geography includes the majestic presence of the Andes mountain range.

Each region of Colombia has its distinct combinations of cultural inputs from Native American, Spanish, African, Caribbean, as well as other European and Latin American origins. This is especially evident in its beautiful ethnic dances.

The Foundation for Folk Traditions of Colombia is an organization which was created to preserve the beautiful culture of Colombia through its folk traditions. It has participated in numerous events and folk festivals to showcase the country’s music and dances as well as the artists’ talents.

The Foundation has won several accolades, including a prize for best costumes as well as the folk dances award for seniors in the capital district of Bogotá over two consecutive years. We are honored to have with us today Ms. Mariela Silva Torres, co-founder and director of the Foundation for Folk Traditions of Colombia to share about her organization and the country’s colorful folk dances.

How did the Foundation for Folk Traditions of Colombia start?

Our group was created in May 2005. It is a group mostly for seniors, however, we wanted to be linked to young people because we want to share through the youth the legacy of our ancestors.

Could you tell us what is the main objective of the Foundation?

The main objective of the Foundation is to promote and develop the richness and the legacies of our ancestors through the generations so that they don’t forget we have cultural roots that have made us great and have made us known in other parts of the world for our rich culture.

Mr. Franklin Castillo is the co-founder of the Foundation for Folk Traditions of Colombia. He explains why this wonderful organization pays particular attention to recruiting the older generation.

We are the ones who have the cultural roots, the culture. We have the legacy of what we have seen from our culture. We also want to form, to make a group of older adults to set an example for the youth, for the children who come so that they realize that seniors can dance all kinds of dances.

Among Colombia’s many geographically defined areas, each has its own unique music and dance forms that are the pride of the people. Ms. Torres first introduces to us a dance genre from the Pacific region.

The Bullerengue is a ritual dance.

The women’s costumes are completely white because that symbolizes purity. In their hair, on the head, they wear a “pepa” headdress that is the hairstyle of women from the Caribbean and Pacific regions. It is of African origin. The dress is white as I said before, with a very loose-fitting blouse, tight in the waist with bolero, a lot of lace, the skirt is very wide because it’s typical from this region of Colombia and they dance barefoot.

The men’s costume is also white, and has a white loose shirt, white pants just rolled up above the ankle. They are barefoot, wearing a red scarf tied round the neck. And their typical rounded hat.

To accompany the colorful costumes and rhythmic dances, the lively music is played on traditional instruments.

Let us now enjoy an enthralling performance of Bullarengue by the Foundation for Folk Traditions of Colombia.

Stay with her, stay with her Shine during the night and stay with her

There is the beautiful moon And the morning star with her The stars surround her To make her look more beautiful

Stay with her, stay with her Shining in the night and stay with her Stay with her, stay with her Shine in the night and stay with her

I look to the light of the moon The stars and the shining star Walking on the beach They light my path

Stay with her, stay with her Shine in the night and stay with her Stay with her, stay with her Shine in the night and stay with her

My pretty house of palm What a lovely frame Stay with her, stay with her Where sweet birds sing And the nightingale is heard

Stay with her, stay with her Shine in the night and stay with her Stay with her, stay with her Shine in the night and stay with her

Indeed there are many kinds of folk dances in Colombia. Among them, Cumbia, along with Vallenato, are considered the national musical and folk dance style. Originating from the country’s Caribbean coast, Cumbia began as a courtship dance but has now come to symbolize freedom. Ms. Torres explains further about the Gaita dance style.

The Gaita is a variation of the Cumbia; it is performed in the Magadalena region and this choreography represents the rice harvest from the beginning, starting with the seeds until it ends with the harvest. The women’s costumes are composed of a loose skirt, adorned with lace and boleros. It is a costume of bright colors. Her earrings are very long.

She always wears a headdress. A headdress, and also wears as accessories the balai tool, which is part of the harvest. She matches with the man during the choreography. The man’s costume has a ‘guayabera’ or loose shirt usually in bright colors. It’s very loose-fitting. A scarf tied round the neck, a brimmed hat, the wicker basket that you see on his waist, called ‘catabro.’ There he puts the rice seeds, and from there the seeds are sown, are scattered. He also wears a machete that he uses at the time of harvest.

Please enjoy this festive Gaita dance performed by the Foundation for Folk Traditions of Colombia.

The drum sounds so nice Keeping time with the Gaita The drum resounds so nice Keeping time with the Gaita

And so Totó shouts out I’m going to the party at the square And so Totó shouts out I’m going to the party at the square

I’m going to the party at the square I’m going to the party at the square I’m going to the party at the square I’m going to the party at the square

The drum sounds so nice And the Gaita spreads delight The drum sounds so nice And the Gaita spreads delight

And so Totó shouts out For Patricia to dance along And so Totó shouts out For Patricia to dance along

For Patricia to dance along For Patricia to dance along For Patricia to dance along For Patricia to dance along

The drum sounds so nice And the Gaita so charming The drum sounds so nice And the Gaita so charming

And so Totó shouts out I’m going to the land of Falco And so Totó shouts out I’m going to the land of Falco

I’m going to the land of Falco I’m going to the land of Falco I’m going to the land of Falco I’m going to the land of Falco

What a fantastic performance! What a fantastic performance! These spirited dances truly reveal the beautiful hearts of the simple and contented Colombians. We will continue with part 2 of our show next Tuesday with more varieties of dances from other areas of Colombia.

For more information on the Foundation for Folk Traditions Colombia, please visit:

Happy viewers, thank you for being with us today for A Journey through Aesthetic Realms on Supreme Master Television. Up next is Vegetarianism: The Noble Way of Living, after Noteworthy News. May your soul dance with the eternal melody of the inner music.

Happy viewers, thank you for being with us today for A Journey through Aesthetic Realms on Supreme Master Television. Up next is Vegetarianism: The Noble Way of Living, after Noteworthy News. May your soul dance with the eternal melody of the inner music.

On this Lunar New Year of the Tiger, I’d like to send my respectful wishes to Supreme Master Ching Hai. May Supreme Master Ching Hai have bountiful health to continue with her spiritual teaching. As well, I’d like to wish Supreme Master Television viewers abundant health in a new year full of love and happiness.

May 2010 herald kindness and hope for us and coming generations. Together let us build a greener universe everyday. Please try to be veg, go green, save the planet. Be veg, go green, and save the planet.