Bolivia, Part 4: Carnaval in Oruro

People from all over the world come to Oruro, Bolivia, to watch and take part in Carnaval.  In 2015, Jude Law came to watch and it made the Bolivian news.  I went for the Saturday and Sunday part of Carnaval - the 14th and 15th of February - and did my best to capture the energy of Carnaval on film from  the stands.   Regardless of how the photos turned out, I'm so thankful I was able to see it.

The view of the main parade avenue from a pedestrian bridge // 14 february 2015

The view of the main parade avenue from a pedestrian bridge // 14 february 2015

Caporales, a dance created in the 1960s in Bolivia, and 2011 declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Plurinational State of Bolivia // 15 february 2015

Caporales, a dance created in the 1960s in Bolivia, and 2011 declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Plurinational State of Bolivia // 15 february 2015

Read more about the history of los caporales here.  // 15 february 2015

Read more about the history of los caporales here.  // 15 february 2015

Waving the Bolivian flag // 15 february 2015

Waving the Bolivian flag // 15 february 2015

For part of the time it rained, poured, and hailed, and the Carnaval went on // 15 february 2015

For part of the time it rained, poured, and hailed, and the Carnaval went on // 15 february 2015

Spinning dancers // 15 february 2015

Spinning dancers // 15 february 2015

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15 february 2015

15 february 2015

El diablo - the devil - character of Carnaval // 15 february 2015

El diablo - the devil - character of Carnaval // 15 february 2015

 Tinku dancers on Sunday morning...the stands were pretty empty at this point because a lot people were hungover.  Some of the performers were clearly hungover as well, ouch. // 15 february 2015

 

Tinku dancers on Sunday morning...the stands were pretty empty at this point because a lot people were hungover.  Some of the performers were clearly hungover as well, ouch. // 15 february 2015

The Tinku dance is a folkloric Andean dance that originated in Potosí, Bolivia.  It simulates fighting done in the pre-Incan period in the Andeas; "Tinku" in Quechua means 'meeting', and in Aymara means 'physical attack'.   Source: Wikipedia

Movement of dancers caught in the rain // 15 february 2015

Movement of dancers caught in the rain // 15 february 2015

Official guide to Carnaval 2015 showing the Devil character // 15 february 2015

Official guide to Carnaval 2015 showing the Devil character // 15 february 2015

15 february 2015

15 february 2015

I can't imagine dancing in high heels at high elevation for that long // 15 february 2015

I can't imagine dancing in high heels at high elevation for that long // 15 february 2015

15 february 2015

15 february 2015

A young spectator bundled up in knits, and carefully bundled to her mother's back // 15 february 2015

A young spectator bundled up in knits, and carefully bundled to her mother's back // 15 february 2015