After the pandemic, this festival has returned to its former venue, the Plaza del Torreón. Friday night started with a parade of the groups from Mijas, Bolivia and Peru from the Cultural Centre to the Torreón. The event was organised by the 'Grupo de Baile Sur de Andalucía de La Cala', directed by Rafi Cuevas, with the collaboration of the Culture Department, within the programme 'A la Fresca, Música en el Mar'.

"I've been dancing since 1974", says La Cala teacher Rafi Cuevas. "I love teaching and as the organiser of this festival, I can say there is a lot of work. I have Aida Herrera who does the paperwork, mothers and fathers who also get involved and the Department of Culture, of course. We all make this event possible. I think we have made a colourful festival with a large audience," said Cuevas. About the participating groups, Cuevas added that "everyone has brought us their culture and their dance forms. That's why we want the popular and traditional dances to be represented so that they don't get lost".

Then it was the turn of Reme Fernández's group 'Virgen de la Peña de Mijas' and, finally, the 'Fraternidad Artística Folclórica' y 'Cultural Salay Tukuypaj' from Bolivia. All of them performed the most traditional dances of their countries.

Zuly Mendoza, from 'Perú Multicolor Málaga', told us that "for us it means joy and excitement to be, and have the opportunity to show a little bit of our country with our dances. We rehearse our choreographies every Saturday in Huelin Park in Malaga. We have brought our original costumes from Peru", Mendoza added that "we are a group of friends who love to be together and to rescue and spread our dance and our customs". For her part, Machacarina Solís, a member of the Bolivian group, hopes to return to Mijas in other editions of this festival. "I represent the 'Fraternidad Artística Folclórica y 'Cultural Salay Tukuypaj del Campo de Gibraltar'. This is the first year we have been here, the people are happy and it has all been very nice".

Local dance groups

Mijas was well represented by the groups from the 'Universidad Popular de la Cala' de Mijas Pueblo.

The Peruvian Consul in Malaga, Alfonso Galán, was at the event at the Mijas Town Hall's invitation. "I am from Malaga", he said, "I have been travelling around Peru for more than 40 years. I thank the Mijas Town Hall for this invitation and for being able to represent the Peruvian community. I liked everything. I also know Bolivia. The mix of dances is wonderful. We share many things we carry within us: the imprint of Spain, food, language, religion...This country is a springboard for the Hispanic countries within the European Community", concluded the consul.

“We enjoyed a great meeting. We have resumed this festival in its natural setting, the Plaza del Torreón, and we are proud of the dance groups that we have in our town, so my thanks to all of them and to the two countries that have accompanied us today”  said the Councillor for Culture of Mijas Town Hall, Verónica Ensberg (PSOE).

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