Thousands of Bolivian dancers perform in traditional festival

Entertainment

Thousands of Bolivian dancers perform in traditional festival

Close

Thirty thousand people participated in the traditional Lord of the Great Power Festival.

19 June,2011 09:05 am

Thirty thousand Aymara dancers lined the streets of Bolivian capital La Paz to perform the ‘dance of the black slaves’ at the annual Lord of the Great Power Festival.Bedecked with ornate jewelry, embroidered shawls and traditional hats, the dancers stepped to the music, their colorful enchanted the crowd.Wearing shiny white costumes and masks, the men represented the African slaves who, according to folklore, worked in Bolivian silver mines before they escaped.While the brightness of the mens costumes symbolizes the beads of sweat from hard work, the rhythm of the traditional matraca percussion instrument symbolizes the sound of slaves chains.According to La Paz city officials, the annual festival generates 50 million dollars.