Joropo, a beautiful and authentic cultural dance that you absolutely have to experience as an outsider to feel the unique atmosphere. This dance is only performed in a few places in Colombia and I decided to travel to Villavicencio – about 3 to 4 hours from Bogotá – to experience it myself. My good friend Giselle lives there and I asked her if it was possible to attend a session. To my delight, I received the answer the same day that a dance association was open to my visit.

To my great surprise, the dance leader had asked the dancers to bring traditional clothing especially for my video recording. Upon arrival, I was pleasantly surprised by the warm welcome and the colorful scene that unfolded before my eyes.

The training started with the dancers dressed in beautiful, traditional costumes. It was a beautiful performance that immediately took me into the magic of Joropo. After about 20 minutes, I was given the chance to participate myself. Although I wanted to decline out of embarrassment, ‘no’ was not an option. During a short break I was given time to calm my nerves while the dancers changed into their training clothes.

It was an unforgettable experience and I am extremely grateful to the association and Giselle for this special day. The energy, passion and warmth of the Joropo dancers have left a lasting impression on me.